Quote:
Originally Posted by banditpowdercoat
Is because you make something, does that instantly make you an expert?  |
Nah that's not what I was getting at, I'm certainly no expert. It was sarcasm, kind of an inside joke to another thread
Skimmer ratings will never be accurate, what works for one won't work for another. The ratings are general guidelines and some common discretion is required from the buyer. However for the most part skimmer ratings aren't that off for the major brands (cheap novelty brands aside). I've used a Euro Reef 180 on a ~250 gallon decently stocked reef tank and it worked well for the system. Also your skimmer dependence actually decreases with a fish only, yes you can use a larger one and it can be beneficial but the higher nutrients won't necessarily cause a problem. Many people with FOWLR tanks don't even use skimmers and do quite well.
I can't see a bio-load rating being practical, how exactly do you rate bio-load? Either way it's common sense, if you plan on having a higher than normal bio-load for your tank you always have the option of using a larger skimmer. One could simply assume the rating is based on a standard load for the given volume.