Protein Skimmer

[Bethy]

So i am looking for a new protein skimmer. What do you guys recommend? I have a 55 gallon, fowlr, no sump, canister filtration. Right now have a crappy seaclone that in order for it to work right, it spews microbubbles all over in the display tank I want a hang on one like the seaclone.
thanks

[oyam123]

dont bother.....just do water changes and have 60-70# of LR in the tank.
only affordable HOB skimmers are the Octopus, and they start at about $150

[Loverotties]

There good and so is Coralife.

[AquaNuts]

love our Euro Reef--costs more but is worth it because it has less headaches like other brands we have had in the past

[Bethy]

Originally Posted by oyam123

dont bother.....just do water changes and have 60-70# of LR in the tank.
only affordable HOB skimmers are the Octopus, and they start at about $150

Does anyone else thing i shouldnt bother to get a new skimmer? I have do 65lbs live rock. or should i get one?

[jenglish]

well, Fish are more tolerant of nutrient levels than corals. You can definately get by without one depending on your Bioload and WC schedule. I personally always run one b/c I like a little wiggle room. You have to ask yourself am I ever going to have a bad week and skip my wc for the week. If the answer is yes (like it is for me) then I reccomend a skimmer. AquaC remora, Octopus and coralife are the standard brands that are effective and economical

[Bethy]

wc for the week? i was told to do it monthly

[Neuticle]

I have a Prizm on my 100gal reef, it's less than ideal, but it pulls out 20 oz of goop every two days. I got my Prizm for $35 new, I'm definitely getting my money's worth.

Compared to a $500 skimmer it probably does suck, but we can't all have an $8K fish tank

[jenglish]

Originally Posted by Bethy

wc for the week? i was told to do it monthly

usually its 25% monthly or 10% weekly. If you have a good skimmer then 25% a month may be ok. If you are running skimmerless I would suggest the 10% a week. Really the only way to know for sure what is the best WC schudule for your tank is to test the water right before and after you do a WC. If after a month your parameters are not in a range you are comfy with before a w/c then maybe a bi weekly or weekly schedule is for you. I w/c my nano every week or every other week and it has an oversized skimmer. My FW and past FOWLR tanks I have done monthly w/c. theres no hard and fast rule.

[oyam123]

Octopus HOB skimmers are about $100 at SWE in Mpls.