skimming for softies.

Gilraen Took · 09-21-2006, 01:39 PM

Well, I keep getting mixed reviews... I know I need to skim the tank, but I don't know how much to do. I know I want a ricordea and a lot of zoos in the tank(29gal), and I was thinking about having xenia, just for some difference in height. From what I've read everywhere the xenia's need to have a bit dirtier water to grow well, and as long as it is not extreme one way or another the rics and zoos will be fine in that also.

On the other hand people are also reccomending the top of the line skimmers, and telling me to get one that will pull out everything from the water, which will end up hurting(also, just from what I've read, since a few people have said their xenias have started to die back when they have started skimming more) the xenia, and still not affect the other corals too much.

So my question: Which would be better? Skim hard and have some of my stuff not do too well, or skim a bit lighter and have them do better? About all I definately know about what I am going to do is that I'm gonna have about 500 gph from my 'fuge. Dunno how much extra(still can't get a straight answer about if I'd need additional powerheads or not) and that I am going to have Some sort of skimmer on it, just don't know what kind yet(basically what I'm asking is for someone to reccomend one, I was going to use one brand, someone else says a different one is "better" etc)... They'll be kept under PC lights, if that makes any difference with an ocellaris clown, a clown goby and later down the road a rainfords goby. I'll also have a mix of snails(10 max) and about 2-4 small hermits. Maybe a cleaner or peppermint shrimp too. I have no clue about how much live rock yet, depends on how much looks good in the tank, and a sand bed of about 2" max.

Wiskey · 09-22-2006, 10:32 AM

I'm not going to reccomend anything, but I will tell you that on my 50G softie tank I have a TurboFloater 1000 In sump with the upgraded Oceanrunner needle wheel pump. This skimmer is rated for a 250 Gallon tank.

When I first put it on, with my low fish load (currently 3 fish because I am too lazy to buy more) it really cleaned the tank up, too much for the softies IMHO. By looking at them you could tell they wern't happy, so I turned the skimmer back, and started skimming dryer. Problem solved, and now I don't have to empty the cup as often.

Whiskey

110galreef · 09-26-2006, 07:59 PM

I say skim hard, but not super overkill...like and ASM G4+ or MRC 2 on a 29..............it seems this notion of dirty water is a little misleading. If for some reason you see your zoos or softies suffering (doubt it) then add some filter foods once in a while!

what skimmers are you looking at?

110galreef · 09-26-2006, 08:01 PM

Depending on room...get and ASM G2 or Aqua C remore PRO(mag pump)

These will skim very well and not be to overkill!

REEFSTOCK · 10-06-2006, 05:13 PM

You don't need to skim. But, it doesn't hurt if you do.

You never know when the water quality will go astray because of a dead animal or something. The skimmer offers extra protection is all. You can always feed more to compensate if you feel you are not getting the growth you would like to see.

pledosophy · 10-08-2006, 02:51 AM

I don't skim. I do run refugiums, the larger the better. i do keep a lot of liverock, more then recommended. My corals thrive.

IMHO skimmer are detrimental to the growth rate of corals. It is highly possible to keep your water quality up without the use of a skimmer.

On the powerhead issue not only do you not need one in your refugium, you don't want one.

Coral magazine did an article about Ecosystems and featured display tanks from WindowtotheSea.com. Read the article. look at the pics. Not only did he not skim, he never fed his corals, only added calcium, I woul dlove if my tnks looked half as good as his.

IME with propagation tanks the best growth rates I saw were with huge refugiums that produced enogh fauna to feed the corals. Shimek spoke about there being over 1,000,000 particles of food that passed over a 3 square foot area of the reef in the ocea. Our tanks can't come close but IMO the more natural live fauna we have the better. I also dose with Phyto Feast by Reed's. My tanks are overfed, corals grow great, no skimmer, and believe it or not no filter. Just a ton of LR, and a sump that's set like a refugium.

JME

REEFSTOCK · 10-08-2006, 10:44 AM

nice recount. I would love to set up a huge basement refugium and have a 32x32 cube upstairs

BLEEZY · 10-08-2006, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pledosophy

I don't skim. I do run refugiums, the larger the better. i do keep a lot of liverock, more then recommended. My corals thrive.

IMHO skimmer are detrimental to the growth rate of corals. It is highly possible to keep your water quality up without the use of a skimmer.

On the powerhead issue not only do you not need one in your refugium, you don't want one.

Coral magazine did an article about Ecosystems and featured display tanks from WindowtotheSea.com. Read the article. look at the pics. Not only did he not skim, he never fed his corals, only added calcium, I woul dlove if my tnks looked half as good as his.

IME with propagation tanks the best growth rates I saw were with huge refugiums that produced enogh fauna to feed the corals. Shimek spoke about there being over 1,000,000 particles of food that passed over a 3 square foot area of the reef in the ocea. Our tanks can't come close but IMO the more natural live fauna we have the better. I also dose with Phyto Feast by Reed's. My tanks are overfed, corals grow great, no skimmer, and believe it or not no filter. Just a ton of LR, and a sump that's set like a refugium.

JME

i saw the ad in coral magazine, and i think their sucess is due to the small fish load and good feeding regimen.delbeek and sprung argue shimeks proposal about those food items, there is no way with any math you could findthat many food items at one square foot of reef. if you want to read some more on providing live fauna in your tank, i reccomend the reef aquarium vol.3 delbeek & sprung.