why do u need pro. skimmer for reef tank

tminard20 · 03-30-2007, 08:34 PM

why do you need a protein skimmer for a reef tank? is there really that much waste from them?

Fly Guy · 03-30-2007, 09:35 PM

You dont "NEED" a protein skimmer to keep a happy healthy reef tank.........but if you dont use one you will either need to do LOTS of water changes, or be content with looking at a tank with algae issues.

As far as if they really pull that much waste from the water. Yes, watch a quality skimmer in action and it can strip gallons of junk from seemingly clean water if the tank is stocked very much at all.

tminard20 · 03-30-2007, 10:56 PM

well how often would i need to be doin water changes? i just want it to be really quiet and i want a more natural looking tank without a hugge protein skimmer..

Fly Guy · 03-30-2007, 11:00 PM

Honestly, if i ran without a skimmer i would change 50% at LEAST once a week, and still wouldnt be pleased with my water quality. That and id be spending at least $250 a month in salt.

How big is your tank?? If you have a really small tank, like less than 20 gallons, then doing water changes instead of running a skimmer is more feasible. The types of corals you keep can play a part in this as well. If you are just keeping corals that can tolerate dirtier water, then dirtier water is more acceptable.

You could add a sump under the tank and put the skimmer in it so you dont have to look at it. Im assuming you dont already have a sump as you mention youdont want to look at the skimmer.......

tminard20 · 03-31-2007, 01:31 AM

i dont know what a sump is..but i have a protein skimmer for my 50 gallon community fish tank

Geoff · 04-01-2007, 08:51 PM

a sump is a tank that is usually located below the main tank. it is a place to put the heater/skimmer and other uglies.

G~

Jflip2002 · 04-01-2007, 08:59 PM

You wouldnt believe the difference in a Fish only tank and a reef tank if you dont compare them. I always thought my CPR skimmer just wasnt good, and my superskimmer was great. Well I did a flip flop. And this CPR skimmer that wasnt any good in my fish only tank, just really cleaned tons in my reef tank, and the superskimmer didnt work well in the fish only tank. I find that hard to believe that the skimmers stopped working, rather than there just isnt near the junk in a f ish only tank, as there is in the reef tank.

First thing you need is a tank, second thing you need is saltwater, third thing you need is a good skimmer.

dkling · 04-08-2007, 03:14 PM

You could very easely run a fish olny w/o a skimmer, But wirh a reef I would not recommend it.
The bigger the better, as much money as you will have invested in the reef
I would not cut any corners with water quality.

MIO · 04-26-2007, 03:27 AM

Geeze guys why are you scaring him??? 50% water change? WOW. I dont think so. A skimmer is good but if you have the right mixture of live stock, live sand and live rock you cqan still get away with 20%. Back in the day 1997 when I had my first Eclipse 40 gal Tank I never used a skimmer and all my Tank was perfectly healthy.

betamed · 04-26-2007, 08:14 AM

I would not run my tank without a skimmer, but if you had a small tank lightly stocked regular water changes could be done. In the end it will be more work and may even cost more then setting up a sump and putting good skimmer in it.

Geoff · 04-26-2007, 11:08 AM

MIO- how did you remove the wastes? sand beds/LR does not make wastes vanish. eventually you will need to take out the trash. weather it is thorough water changes removing detritus or using a skimmer and spot removal of detritus during water changes.

the mid-late 90's was a bad time for reefers.

a whole lot of miss information was going around. i am glad to be back in the BB days again. wish i never changed over my BB to DSB in the mid 90's.

G~

RedBird · 04-26-2007, 11:12 AM

I run a skimmer part-time on my sps reef. I was starving my sps so I cut it back. I have no algae/PO4/NO3 issues. It all depends on how dirty your tank is and what type of other nutrient export you have. I do 10% weekly water changes and have a remote dsb fuge with chaeto. You'll have to monitor your own situation and be wary of numbers other people throw at you.

MIO · 04-26-2007, 11:17 AM

Geoff I'm just saying Yes a skimmer is somthing you need but can get by without. Just vac the sand bed during wc and as long as there is not a big load in the tank it'll do fine. You can get by with a hang on filter. If the guy doesnt have the 2 bills to pick up a skimmer I think he'll be okay without it. I mean I was for about 3 yrs. But 50% wc is exsessive. 20% with a vac is good enough.

Geoff · 04-26-2007, 11:24 AM

as long as everyone knows the limitations of each method of reef keeping, it is all good.

G~