Over Skimming?

[Jflip2002]

Is it possible to overskim? I have a CPR on my 29g tank, and it doesnt really seem to work too great. It works just enough to keep the tank clean, and its rated for up to 65g. On my 65g, can I put a skimmer rated up to 125g? Or would that take out too much waste? Some people say you need to find an equilibrium (sp?), but IVe seen some peoples skimmers, theyre probably way more than they need lol.

I was thinking about putting the coralife skimmer on the back of my tank, rated up to 125g. And I was going to replumb it, so the fresh water goes into a HOB refugium. I was very tempted to get the CPR skimmer and fuge all in one, but Im not too impressed with CPR. So I was going to go this route. That way I can run carbon, as tim has said would be beneficial.

My tank I'll be running is a 24x24x24 60g cube, with about 60-70 lbs of LR and Id say about 2" of sand along the bottom.

I plan on having my 2 percs, my LM blennie, probably some other gobies or blennies (some fish that doesnt swim, but scoots), and either a scribbled rabbitfish or a young small powder blue tang (He'll go into my FOWLR tank once he gets too large, but thats another topic).

Any advice, would my plan be ok?

[Wiskey]

It really depends on the coral your trying to keep, I have managed to skim enough to bleach SPS coral, but then feeding more or getting more fish would save that problem.

But you could always get a big skimmer, and if you start having problems related to a sterile tank you could skim drier (removing less) and feed more and solve it.

I always buy a huge skimmer then tune it back if I need to.

Whiskey

[ChrisPrusha]

Why 2" of sand? That might be too shallow to see any benefits.

I like the idea of using a bigger skimmer.

[Jflip2002]

Well I think thats about standard isnt it? Im not using a ruler or anything, Im just eying it. It looks like 2" to me. With a ruler mine right now is 3 3/4", so Id like to keep it the same. I guess I use big inches lol.

[mdcorcoran]

it's a good idea to have a skimmer rated for twice the size of your tank.

[Geoff]

if you have a sand bed it is very difficult to overskimm. if you have a BB tank it is possible. i am on the knife edge right now. when i get my shipment of 20 fish, than it will be much more difficult for me to overskimm.

G~

[reefermike1]

youre gonna add 20 fish at once geoff??

[Geoff]

Originally Posted by reefermike1

youre gonna add 20 fish at once geoff??

yep,

a couple odd things about my system which makes me think i should be fine:

1. it has been running for over a year.
2. i have 45' worth of drain line. this area will quickly break down any ammonia and nitrite very quickly.
3. i have a decent sized skimmer which i am only running at half power anyway.

right now if i do not feed the tank 2 small cubes of frozen food a day my corals start to receed. i need more DOC's in the tank. my skimmer is running at half power and it is a bugger to keep tuned. i want to run the skimmer all out. if i have to be adding food to the tank to keep the corals happy, i would rather be it used by something, like more fishies.

most of the fish will be small. i am also getting a special deal, so i need to get that many fish in order to get the deal.

i do not recommend this to anybody who does not know the capacity of thier system. i am pretty confident in my ability of my system to handle the extra bioload. even still ,i am a bit nervous about adding that many fish.

G~