[sambo]

I was just looking for some input as to whether or not i should purchase a protein skimmer. I have a 29 gallon tank with 1 whisper filter on the back. Being that i am young with no job, i have not yet purchased a skimmer and did not plan to. But, would it be a good idea to buy one? If so, how are seaclones? I have heard good and bad things.

[Reefland]

A protein skimmer should be included in any marine system if you ask me. There aren't too many better ways at removing organic waste before it causes a problem.

As for brands, there are many out there and you get what you pay for. Seaclones are not very reputable. CPR and Remora's are much better HOT skimmers.

[Poseidon]

If you doubt the usefulness of a skimmer, just take a peak at any Tank of the Month, from this board, or any other, they all have HUGE skimmers, some even have 2!

A protein skimmer is certainly an Imprortant addition to your system, next time you are in the LFS take a wiff of the sludge in the skimmer cup! Now realize that sludge WAS circulating in the tank water! Pretty gross Huh??

[Arctic Fox]

Personally, I like the Red Sea Berlin Airlift 60 for my 29 gallon. However it seems to me that most of the time I really don't need it. The only time I really seem to need it is when the water gets a little too warm and have an algae bloom. I've run it for months and test the water and turned it off for months and test the water and the water test out pretty much the same no matter what. Just make sure you have some good macro algae growing and a bunch of GOOD live rock and you'll be fine.

Either way it doesn't hurt to have one and you can even make one yourself really cheap

[Poseidon]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

Personally, I like the Red Sea Berlin Airlift 60 for my 29 gallon. However it seems to me that most of the time I really don't need it. The only time I really seem to need it is when the water gets a little too warm and have an algae bloom. I've run it for months and test the water and turned it off for months and test the water and the water test out pretty much the same no matter what. Just make sure you have some good macro algae growing and a bunch of GOOD live rock and you'll be fine.

Either way it doesn't hurt to have one and you can even make one yourself really cheap

I think all that this proves is the Airlift 60 is not a good skimmer. Besides there is no test for dissolved organic waste. Your analogy just shows you have a bacteria bed capable of removing NH3 and NO2, did you test for NO3 by chance? That is one area where you can see the effectiveness of the skimmer, since the waste is removed BEFORE it is broken down to NO3...

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by Poseidon

I think all that this proves is the Airlift 60 is not a good skimmer. Besides there is no test for dissolved organic waste. Your analogy just shows you have a bacteria bed capable of removing NH3 and NO2, did you test for NO3 by chance? That is one area where you can see the effectiveness of the skimmer, since the waste is removed BEFORE it is broken down to NO3...

Ammonia averages 0
Nitrite averages 0
NO3 stays between 4 and 16 all the time and averages about 6 or 7


as for the skimmer, maybe you're right, maybe it is useless because you raise a good point. Either way I usually don't have it plugged in.

[cesar]

For how many hours would you run the skimmer? Would it be on 24/7 or just for a couple of hours? I have a friend that turns his on at night time only.

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by cesar

For how many hours would you run the skimmer? Would it be on 24/7 or just for a couple of hours? I have a friend that turns his on at night time only.

24/7 when it's on just untill the water clears up

[Reefland]

Skimmers should be ran full time, only shutting down when it is being cleaned. Some people will shut down the skimmer while they feed their tank which is ok too.

I can assure you that a good protein skimmer will always pull dissolved organic material from the water of any tank, always. If anyone is running a skimmer that is not pulling out nasty, smelly skimmate then your skimmer is not adjusted correctly or it's simply worthless. I fill up a 32oz. cup of skimmate about every 4 days.

[Poseidon]

Yup, my skimmer which is not as nice as Scott's pulls out at least 20 oz of nastiness every 6-7 days! Trust me you want a good skimmer, you don't want that crud in your tank! Plus it is an excellent way to increase levels of dissolved Oxygen in your tank. The advantages of a good skimmer are to GOOD to overlook!

[Samper]

This is a good time to find out what everyone is using.

On my nano I'm using a seaclone 100
on my 75 in the making I have a euro reef es 8-2.

WHAT IS EVERYONE USING?

[Poseidon]

I am using the Kent Nautilus driven by a Mag 12. Works well, but I bet a My Reef would have been a better choice!

[zhenya]

On a very lightly stocked aquarium I could see that it could be run skimmerless, however if you have large bioload I don't think it is really menageable to run aquarium without one.

I use Myreef MR-2 on my 110g tank and AquaC EV-120 on 75g tank, which I think is underskimmed.

[Samper]

Do you guys feel that the ER Es 8-2 will be adequate on the 75 with a 50 gallon sump and a 20g fuge?

[Reefland]

Running an MR-1 with a MAG 18 on our 75.

[cesar]

Even if you have a small tank like a 20 Gallon? Im going to get one ASAP

[sirspeedy77]

Skimmer makes all the difference... I only have a airstone skimmer that sits in the tank part way, but it does the job, and it keeps the tank amzingly clean. The crap that these things dredge out is purely disgusting.

[sambo]

I gave in a purchased the Red Sea Prizm with the deluxe upgrade kit, and i am glad i did. I can't believe how much crap im pulling out of my water. Thanks for your help folks!

[Kevin McG]

I have a seaclone 100 on my 29 reef. it starting collecting after only 2 days!

[sambo]

Originally Posted by Kevin McG

I have a seaclone 100 on my 29 reef. it starting collecting after only 2 days!

Mine was collecting in minutes I am actually quite pleased with the prizm's performance.