Adding a skimmer to existing skimmerless reef

[Morg591]

Im wondering what kind of changes to expect and if there is anything that I should know before I add a skimmer to my existing setup. I have a 75gallon reef with a home made ecosystem style sump that I built out of a 29 gallon tank. The tank has been setup since christmas and everything is doing fine so far. I just aquired a seaclone vortex skimmer and was going to hang it on the side of the 29 gallon sump. Is there any kind of problem with doing this? Opinions?? Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge and for your comments.

 

[Ben1]

If you add a seaclone you will see NO difference. This is the WORST skimmer on the market. I would use a lee's counter current any day over a seaclone. It has some major design flaws. The cyclone riuns the skimmer, it gives very little actual contact between the bubbles and the water.


I think if your running a correct ecosystem a skimmer isnt good. You should have a DSB in the sump composed of miricle mud which is used to fuel the growth of macros.

In and case if you want to go with a skimmer get something else, maybe Euro-reef, Aqua-C, Myreef, PM bullet, ect.

 

[Anonymous]

If you have macro algae in your sump/refuge you may experience some die off or a decrease in growth rate. The skimmer will remove some of the food and nutrients that the macros eat.

 

[Morg591]

The seaclone skimmer that I have has had the center cyclone tube cut down so that it is only an inch high... now there is lots of contact with the water for the bubbles.

My initial idea was to skim perhaps one day a week. About half way betwen my water changes. I do 6 gallons of water changes on saturday so I was thinking of skimming only on wednesdays and adding my suppliments on wednesday night after I stop skimmming.

To me it makes sense but I have about 5 months experience so I might not see the error of my ways.