skimmer selection help

[karazy]

Originally Posted by asmodeus

well rid the skimmer and get a good top off unit. Reef keeper maybe. I would get the 20 gal tip top shape. there was one oneRC that had a amazing unit SPs top ights controller you name it it had it and it has a sump too.

i dont exactly understand this sentence (no effence)
could you maybe say it in another way?

oh, and in my equipment section the baffle is 10" tall

[Myka]

I don't understand the theory behind not needing a skimmer for a small tank. If someone can provide a decent explanation for that I'm all ears.

IMO, a skimmer is just as useful on a 250g tank as on a 5g tank. It performs the same job with the same results. The Tunze Nano Skimmer is a bit on the expensive side, but is nice and small, and would be a great performer on a tank your size. If you want something cheaper, maybe try the Bubble Magus which I have heard a lot about, but I couldn't recommend on my own accord as I really know nothing about it.

[Skimmerking]

Ya i will let you know why.
skimming is great to extend the water changes that happens in your tank. A skimmer will pull excess nutrients in your tank, along with When you over skim you can actually pull Nitrates out too. like Wet skimming

Protein skimmers are one of the most important devices you can use to maintain water quality in a saltwater aquarium. Protein skimming removes organic pollutants before they break down into nitrates and phosphates. The improved water quality is beneficial to fish and corals and may reduce the frequency in which water changes are necessary. but you can do the same with good old Fashion WATER CHANGES. so when y ou have a tank that is 20 gal doing a5 gal water change or 10 gal every week is great since yo uare replacing the proper elements in the tank.


IMO for a tank that is 30 gal and smaller havinga protein skimmer is a waste of tiem since you are able to do water changes and have a huge impact on your tank with just WC, so why waste your money unless you are a equipment guru that needs one, then go for it ,

I would put the money towards something important like more salt....

[karazy]

very usefull info

what i think i might do is set it up without a skimmer, and run it and keep adding inhabitants(as i wont get a whole lotta skimmate when there isnt much in there)
and then if i ever feel like waterchanges arent enough, ill get a skimmer

[Skimmerking]

to your question what i mean is put the money to the tank like getting top notch equipment, there is a 20 gal SPs tank on RC that is totally amazing i will go look for it.

[karazy]

ooo, okay. that makes more sense when you say it that way

and i deffinaty have been trying to get some of the more top notch equipment, otherwise i would probably have my tank up
it's just a lil hard to do on allowances and holiday money(christmas,birthday, ect)
but so far i haven't really wimped out.

custom sump, oak stand, im getting a new tank because my one right now isnt in the best shape, and a 2x24w hagen GLO t5ho (which ill get another of)
oh, and im getting a RK2 (which is looking hard to get because its been discontinued, but if i ant get it ill get the reefkeeper lite)

[Skimmerking]

well if you are looking for tanks there are some nice ones that there is in the 4 sale forum here an there is a red sea max too.