skimmer size?

Gilraen Took · 08-30-2006, 10:39 AM

I think that I may end up going for a 29 instead of a 20. I can always put it on my dresser(don't worry, it can hold me along with 35 gallons of water, it should be fine

) but what skimmer should I go for? My marine store is trying to sell me on a super skimmer for up to 65 gallons of water. Wouldn't that be overdoing it though? I'm still not going to have the tank overstocked, so it wouldn't need to be anything massive to work well, yet I don't want to go with something too small either, since that'll be my only filtration other than my LR. Most of the websites I've found don't say what size the skimmer is rated up to.

Also, how many powerheads would I need in this scenario: One skimmer, and one aquaclear filter, turned into a fuge. Prolly will get the one(forget the product name) that turns over 300 gallons per hour. The fuge will be on the back(though a side would work if I have room, which I should) so where should the skimmer and powerhead(s)? be placed in relation to that?

motorslave · 08-30-2006, 12:11 PM

Ahh yes, the "up to" ratings! Many skimmer makers overrate the skimmers they make. Not all but many. The skimmer is the most important piece of equipment you will buy for your tank. Dont be afraid to go big on it! Do you have or will you have a sump? What type of system will this be? Getting a really big skimmer that is well over the system size is almost an unspoken absolute when you are doing an SPS system, and wont hurt any other system. Keep in mind that most of us end up getting a larger tank at some point so purchases that can be used on a larger system are always a smart buy that saves money in the long run. Plus, you really dont have to worry about over doing it with a skimmer! Water being too clean isnt much of a worry! For a hang on skimmer check out the Remora skimmers as they are widely used and tons of folks swear by them!

Robert

Gilraen Took · 08-30-2006, 10:29 PM

Haven't got any of the tank yet. Will be setting it up in a year or 2, and am figuring out what I need first. I'm just going to have softies. Zoos, shrooms and xenia. Probably won't have a sump. I don't have the room for it. I am going to have a fuge though.

EDIT: Okay, yea, it was this one http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...roduct=ES33000 Oops, also says it is an in-sump one... and since I likely won't HAVE a sump...

Gilraen Took · 08-31-2006, 06:39 PM

Still no opinions on what sort I should go for? I've been told the nano ones that live aquaria's dry goods site has are good, but I'd likely need more than one on that larger tank. And I can't seem to figure out anything else.

DevilBoy · 08-31-2006, 06:43 PM

my suggestion would be to look into the Aqua C Remora or Aqua C Remora Pro

Loverotties · 08-31-2006, 06:49 PM

If you want xenia you don't want a great skimmer!They seem not to do good in good water that is skimmed good.

Gilraen Took · 09-01-2006, 12:44 AM

So should I get something like a nano skimmer that would not be large enough for the tank? Or should I just get a HOB and keep that up and running with more water changes instead? Would the smaller skimmer idea work, or would it overwork the skimmer? I don't want to burn it out by making it work too hard(if that is even possible ??? )

If I ended up going the HOB route, it would be about 10X water turnover rate per hour, right? And then where would I be left with the fuge, another 10X turnover rate, or a bit less? Though I think the smaller filters of the sort I'll be making into a fuge would be too small... How do the shrooms and zoos do in not so perfectly skimmed water? Are they still happy also? What about ricordea, I've recently found a very lovely sort, lol just needed to find the right colour to set my heart in love with it

*sighs*, and what about gorgonians? Just for some more interest and some height. Can't really find any other sort of corals that I like that aren't agressive, which is something I don't want to deal with

Unless someone can offer up another sort of interesting branching-ish type of coral that is not agressive, will do well with my other corals, is easy for a beginner and do well under pc lighting. Was thinking the purple gorgos, the feathering kind. I've read they do well?