[mr9iron]

Ok reefers, I am looking for people who have opinions on skimming there nanos. I would like to have input on why you should and why you shouldnt skimm your nano. I currently dont but have been considering more and more due to my increased bio load. All my parameters are fine I just want to get a general concensus.

[Aragorn]

Well, I vote no because it's easy to setup a refugium at 50-100% capacity of the main tank that can provide adequate filtration. JMO

[fishguy_8]

i voted no not only because i dont skim myself and dont have any problems....and not only because like aragorn stated you can do a refugium w/ ease....but also because i think if you have enough live rock and live sand and do a h20 change like every 3 weeks i dont see a need to export more nutrients. i personally am not a big skimming fan because a) its to my understanding that when you send water through the skimmer you lose alot of zooxanthellae and other helpful organisms in the water that you dont see. b) i think that on a nano tank that if you put a skimmer on the tank from my experience it causes too much of a current jmo however it does depend on your selection in corals. c) probibly my worst reason is its just another thing that needs maintaining (cleaning).
Jon

[mastaJ]

Nope...With a light fish load and regular water changes IMHO it is not nessacary...

[suekey1]

I voted "no" because we have a nano without a skimmer and it's doing better than the other two larger tanks with skimmers. We check parameters all the time and do a weekly 10% water change religiously. The corals are getting so big they will ultimately end up in one of the larger tanks. We have a 12 gallon with 10+ lbs of live rock and a 2 " sand base, 2 clowns, 2 shrimp gobies and a cleaner shrimp. Lighting is a PC.

[Crustaceo Mutoid]

I voted yes since it is built into my 13 gallon system and my tank has been setup now for almost 5 years! I do not do weekly water changes because of it. I replenish all key elements that the skimming takes out of the tank with additives . If you would like to see my setup it is shown on the thread with all the nano photos attached.

[GreenLincoln]

I voted undecided, but I would learn toward "yes." Protein skimming also aerates the the water and removes small debris that isn't visible. These small stanks become polluted quite easily unless you use some method of nutruient export. Bacteria in the natural filter (rock, sand) will eventually break down nutruients, but the process requires the enire nitrification cycle, including ammonia and nitrite (ack!). In a very small enclosed system such as my 7 gallon, I wonder if my only fish suffers from burning gills by Friday night just before I do a 1 gallon water change on Saturday??? Since I'm rather new to microtanks, someone help me out here...how do YOU ensure that your livestock are comfortable?

[organicreefer]

personally,i wouldnt set up any marine tank without a skimmer.how could removing that nasty smelling brown shi be a bad thing?jmo

[reefhead]

water change , water change, water change

[SHUMALA]

I voted no because there's already not enough space inside a nano. And an extra pump for the skimmer does not make things better.

I believe that water changes, macro export, not overfeeding or overstocking is the key.

Of course, I don't skim in my 7G so I might be biased here....

[mr9iron]

Wow, what a turn out, keep em coming guys. I personally am still up in the air about skimming, Ive heard that skimming removes alot of trace elements does anyone have any scientific information on this subject?

[srgtkoons]

No I have three nano tanks, all of them are around 8 gal with 8 gal sumps. All have identical setup on lighting, and maintenance. Only difference is that two have skimmers and one doesnt. The one that doesnt has the same corals as the others, basically frags from my main tank. It has a small compartment in the sump with a 4 inch sandbed and various macro algae with a 13W light. The one without the skimmer has faster growthrates, higher bioload, rightnow its housing about 20 baby bangaii cardinals and suffering absolutely NO water quality issues, I do have the cardinals split intwo two groups, the larger ones in the refuge and the smaller ones in the display. The larger ones are now descimating my pod population, waiting for cycle on larger growout tank to complete. Aside from the huge different in growth rates on my skimmed tanks and my unskimmed tanks its just easier to maintain, Its alot faster to clip some caulerpa then it is to clean out nasty skimmer collection cups, plus it was cheaper to set up my tank. Who can argue against what i feel is a better way that also happened to be cheaper?

[mr9iron]

Well reefers, give me some ideas for a refugium on my nano, with all instructuions and I will set one up. Need some major help cause im not a diy guy. Ive wanted to do one for a long time but I need help. Any ideas?

[srgtkoons]

talk to chris at nano-reef.com i believe he has a new design coming out for a nano with a refugium compartment. I eventually plan to build and market my systems which as of now seem to work really well. But its difficult being friends with chris i almost hate to compete with him for business.