Red Sea Prizm

[Dinoflorist]

Hi, I'm finally ready to get a protien skimmer. I need to get a hang on skimmer because my tank is only 20g and I've been thinking about the Red Sea Prizm skimmer. What do you think?

 

[ChrisV]

nooo not the prizm anything but prizm or seaclone...

 

[ChrisRD]

The AquaC Remora is a nice hang-on skimmer for that size tank...

 

[Baianotang]

hummmm its hard geting a skimmer for that size tank as it's difficult to justify the hight cost of a good skimmer, the prizm "100" gallon is quite loud. I've seen nice small tanks whith seaclone's but i'ts up to your personal prefferences.

 

[shawnz28]

Prisms arent the greatest skimmer but they would handle a small tank like a 20g fine.

 

[mountainbiker619]

CPR bakpac

 

[shawnz28]

I agree with above if you have a bit more money a bakpak or a excalibur hangon would be money better spent, it just depends on your budget

 

[Dinoflorist]

Well budget is a concern, but I think that in the end getting a skimmer that can handle larger tanks would be a better value, because someday I do plan on taking this tank to a bigger size. It seems worth the extra 30-50 bucks to get one that won't be obsolete when I expand.

Unless there is such a thing as having too much skimming power in a small tank. Is there?

 

[badgergoth]

If you see fish swimming around confused in your skimmate, then it's too much

As far as I know, you can't overskim a tank.

 

[HClH2OFish]

As far as I know, you can't overskim a tank.

That's what I've heard as well.
I've got a 25g high with the Prizm. No problems. It was a bit of a pain initially setting it up to get it tuned just right, but can't beat if for the price ($35 from a guy on this board)
I've got the one with the 18vane impeller. It's supposed to be much quieter than the 12vane. Mine runs nice and quiet. It didn't have the attachment to skim the surface of the tank, but you can get those at a LFS for under $20 and hook it up. Works like a charm and easier than doing some of the DYI mods on it.

Just my $.02

 

[fishfanatic2]

Ive got a 29 with the prizm, no probs. A little piainy with the priming, but it does the job well. Plus its pretty cheap as skimmers go.

 

[Anonymous]

I used a prizm skimmer on my 29 gallon and it worked ok but I would strongly consider Remora in stead. Seems people are happy with that one.

 

[Dinoflorist]

I have another quick question; one that would seem very naive, I'm sure, but I must know!

Do protein skimmers smell bad?

That is, does their skimmate produce an odor that I will be smelling if the tank is in my room (which it is)? It seems like if it is removing such nasty organics and sludgy filth that reason stands that it would smell bad, but its a matter of proximity. Inches, feet, rooms, etc. I wouldn't expect it could smell TOO bad or nobody would have them.

 

[samw]

I have another quick question; one that would seem very naive, I'm sure, but I must know!

Do protein skimmers smell bad?

That is, does their skimmate produce an odor that I will be smelling if the tank is in my room (which it is)? It seems like if it is removing such nasty organics and sludgy filth that reason stands that it would smell bad, but its a matter of proximity. Inches, feet, rooms, etc. I wouldn't expect it could smell TOO bad or nobody would have them.

Yes, but I add some carbon in the collector cup and that seems to help reduce the smell a lot!

 

[Dubge]

You do not smell it as much until you open the collection cup! I was also told that if you add Kalk to the cup it help get rid of the stank.....I can not even take the smell when I clean my cup, 2x a week

 

[Dinoflorist]

whoa that stinks! Do you clean the cup and put the waste in the trash can? Or down the sink or what? I wouldn't know what to do with something so very foul.

 

[Dubge]

I run the hot water and dump it down the drain or flush it. When I was using the prizm or bacpak it was not bad but now that I am using Euro reef, when the cup gets full I can smell it from under the stand and when I clean it, it is the worst low tide smell I have smelt EVER IN LIFE!!!

 

[Anonymous]

I run the hot water and dump it down the drain or flush it. When I was using the prizm or bacpak it was not bad but now that I am using Euro reef, when the cup gets full I can smell it from under the stand and when I clean it, it is the worst low tide smell I have smelt EVER IN LIFE!!!

Sounds like your skimmer is doin a grat job. The other skimmers are mediocre skimmers in my opinion but hey!.......I have a Seaclone 150 on my hundred gallon. Works about as well as the Prizm.

 

[Dubge]

Sounds like your skimmer is doin a grat job. The other skimmers are mediocre skimmers in my opinion but hey!.......I have a Seaclone 150 on my hundred gallon. Works about as well as the Prizm.

Yes the Euro Reef skimmer was the best thing I have ever purchased for my tank