Skimmer or no Skimmer??

[Key Equine]

Hello everyone,

I am starting up a 45 gallon SW tank which is going to be for seahorses, once I can find a captive bred supplier I trust...

I am planning to have a cleanup crew of snails, hermit crabs, and cleaner shrimp, and eventually four to six seahorses. I have an external filter as well as lots of live rock. I am wondering everyone's opinion on whether I need a protein skimmer or not. If so, what type do you recommend? Noise is a major factor for me since the tank is in our main living space.

Thank you!

[0sprey]

No sump?
If you need a HOT skimmer, I recommend the deltec. I've got the MCE600. Amazing skimmer. Super quiet, pulls a ton of crud out of the water, and needs very little maintenance. Comes with a compartment for chemical filtration media, too. The catch is that it's really quite expensive, as HOB skimmers go.
Never kept seahorses, so I'll leave any specific recommendations about them to those who have.

[Carmen]

I have never kept seahorses but read up on them since I had seriously considered it. From what I've read they require alot of feeding and therefore keeping a skimmer would be beneficial to keep up good water conditions. I had a 27G without skimmer and found myself with high nitrates only 4-5 months in. I would definately go with a skimmer and if I had any choice would try to plumb a sump as it offers so much more control over things and gives options for an insump skimmer (less finicky and less mess). I am much happier with a sump on my 72G! Much more forgiving!
Good luck and I hope you keep us filled in on your new adventure! Sounds exciting!

[o.c.d.]

I have kept seahorses.I would also say a good skimmer is a must, esp with seahorses. The don't have a stomach so they require min two feeding a day. Some may disagree but most will not. That type of feeding will add excessive nutrients into the system, so be prepared to clean you filter often. The better the skimmer the less often you will have to water change. Going with a sump will increase the amount of water vol and releave the cleaning of the filter. and allow you to get a bigger skimmer that will not be in the display. I also have the deltec mce 600 and it does make noise I've had to cushion the pump to quiet vibration and to air intake has no muffler so you can hear it sucking air. Still a very good skimmer for hang on version.

[Pan]

a skimmer is a must. Yes you must feed alot, simply due to the fact unless you have a constant supply of livefood (I have friends that drop 3 bottles of live pods in their tanks every month) most of the food you feed they miss
Good luck with your horses

Incidentally what sites have to gone to for research info? Possibly I or somene else might be able to point out a few extra places..

Reefcentral is not one of them....

[o.c.d.]

They can be very picky eaters, mine ate frozen mysis just had to turn down the flow so they could zero in on the food. Before you buy have the seller feed them in front of you then buy the same food being fed. Then you slowly try other foods.