Protein skimmer?

[dakine]

I have a fairly new 40g fish only tank (been running about a month now with a couple damsels and a small maroon clown) and all seems to be going well, but I've heard conflicting things about protein skimmers. Some people swear by them and say they are totally necessary while others say not to waste my money. I don't have a sump and I'm running an Eheim cannister filter now. Do I need a skimmer?

 

[Anonymous]

yea you do... especially with that setup. the canister filter and the protein skimmer remove different things in different ways. the protein skimmer manually removes organic waste and such in your water by causing it to foam, and the foam collects in a little cup which you empty every few days.

if you don't use a skimmer it will take about two days for a nice protein slick to develop on the water's surface...

 

[Anonymous]

Just a thought...try running one and stick your nose in the collection cup. After a little time, you will understand why you'd want to get that stuff out of your tank. It's really nasty.
All the best.
~wings~

 

[dakine]

any brands/types of skimmers you'd recommend?

 

[Anonymous]

Dakine....

After a little time

Sounds like you're recommending an ineffective one to me.. :wink:

Names like Euroreef and ESV are good.. - But for a tank that size, AquaC should do the trick too!

I have a 30 and run a Euroreef though if that says anything.... - Overkill is sorta hard to come by.

 

[pr0teus]

A good skimmer is AquaC's Remora. I have one on my 29 and it works great. Another one to look at is the CPR BakPak, but the Remora performs better in my opinion.

If you're looking to buy a skimmer online, Premium Aquatics and Marine Depot are 2 good places to order from. The Remora will cost around $160 dollars.

 

[Len]

I would never regard a protein skimmer as a waste of money. I highly recommend every reefkeeper employ them, if just as a tolerance for error

AquaC and Precision Marine makes good hang-on skimmers that are easy to add to the tank (Remora and HOT-1 respectively). If you have a sump, I second the Euroreef line.

 

[dakine]

Great, thanks for the info. I'll check out the hang on skimmers first, but I'm afraid the space between the upper edge of the tank and the canopy won't give me much clearance (maybe 4 inches).

 

[Len]

Most hang-on skimmers don't need much clearance above the tank, just behind it as everything is pretty much located behind the tank. If you have 5" or so behind the tank and 2" above the tank (below the canopy), you're in fine shape.

 

[Anonymous]

I keep my skimmer in the sump so that it's out of site. Depending on your setup, you may be able to do that, because too many gadgets on the ouside of the tank (imho) spoils the looks of the tank. I'm running with an Oceanic model 4. Works great.
HTH,
~wings~

 

[dakine]

Thanks again for all of your help, I picked up the CPR Bak-Pak2 (they had a special at the LFS). It really seems to be working well in my 40g. I've heard that the Rio powerhead it comes with is junk and to upgrade. Any ideas there??

 

[Anonymous]

yes, good choice on the skimmer. if it breaks down consider the aquaC remora hang on ... it's what i use and was highly recommended.


get a maxijet powerhead to replace your rio