Considering a skimmer

[parker313]

I'm considering getting a skimmer b/c I want to make sure my tank is running at its best.

Since it's only 10g, would one of these be sufficient?

Miniflotor - Click for more info

or...

Skilter - Click for more info

Thanks!

 

[impur]

Both of those would be a waste of money IMO, but if I HAD to pick one, i'd go with the minifloater. In a 10g if you keep up on weekly WCs you really don't need a skimmer.

 

[ste2k3]

The one by aquamedic in the picture is not the minifloter, its the midifloter.

AB AquaMedic

like impur said, on a 10 gallon, theres no real need for a skimmer, you would be better haveing a little refugium with algae if anything. what are you going to be keeping?

ste

 

[parker313]

OK, thanks for the advice. I am staying current on the WCs so that's good. With those skimmers being SO inexpensive compared to the bigger ones, I figured they may not be worth it.

The filter I'm running is an AquaClear 30 (150 by the old numbers I think). I have the biological filter media in there and then ceramic disks (not the Hagen brand ones, but higher end ones).

Right now, I have my fish, snails and hermit crabs and a few soft corals. I have brown polyps, a red mushroom, a finger leather, a toadstool mushroom and a couple rocks with zoos on them. I plan on pretty much just having softies, may get a couple lps, like maybe a candy cane.

 

[ostrow]

I haven't done a nano but it seems to me one of the major issues with crashes is waste in the tank, which can quickly poison the water. Water changes help, but a skimmer will remove waste from the water preventing it from settling on rock, etc.

I would think a skimmer would be essential, based on that logic.

If you do get one, definitely go with the Aquamedic over the skilter, which would be a waste of money IMO.

 

[parker313]

So far, I've been fine with nitrate levels not rising too quickly but I don't want to press my luck. I've got things going so well in there that I want to keep on top of things and make sure everything stays stable.

The picture I included of the mini/midi-floater is just what liveaquaria had as their picture, but they did have botht the mini and midi.

I'll check around and see if I can get one for a reasonable price.

Is there anything that could be detrimental about having a skimmer? If there's not, then I may get one just to be on the safe side.

--Kristin

 

[impur]

Considering the corals you plan to keep, I wouldn't waste the money on a skimmer. My nano has been going strong for a year now, no skimmer at all. I do weekly 1-2 gallon WCs and have an AC500 moded to a fuge. I haven't had a single nitrate, ammonia, nitrite, or phosphate problem to date.

For your nano, if you REALLY want to spend money on a skimmer, why not try your hand at a DIY skimmer. www.nano-reef.com has a great little nano skimmer in the DIY section called the "smallest external skimmer you have seen." Easy to make, cheap, and works 3 times better than the skimmers you posted.

 

[parker313]

That sounds like a fun project! Maybe I'll take a look at it.

I thought I'd seen some of your posts over there

 

[ostrow]

A fuge would be great if you can do it. If not I see no harm in a skimmer at all. I think it would benefit.

Yes, in a nano you can have a year, two and all is fine but with that small a tank you are very likely to have a crash before long. I've seen a lot of them go and go fast in the Chicago club, and these people have had skimmers and/or fuges running.

A small nano is much harder to keep stable than a larger body of water.

 

[parker313]

A small nano is much harder to keep stable than a larger body of water.

Without a doubt! That's why I'm trying to take preventative measures to help prevent/avoid/delay/minimize/whatever a big crash. I'm also looking at a fuge - I've seen where you can diy one out of an AC filter...

 

[impur]

Heres that skimmer, its up to about 40 pages now though. The most important info is in the beginning pages:
http/www.nano-reef.com/forums/showthread...&threadid=30941

The AC500 fuge mod is great. I did it on my 10gal. Heres a pic:

 

[Salt Freak]

There is a lot of say on skimming but my preference is to underskime a tank because it soesn't take out all the elements. I use the prizm once or twice a week for 24 hours once or twice a weeek.

 

[parker313]

I think the skimmer might be above my DIY skills ) ) )

The AC500 fuge is more up my alley.

Thanks impur and c_f!

 

[Salt Freak]

I'm just curios parker what kind of lights are you running on the 10g.

 

[Aquascaper]

The organic waste that builds up in a tank occupies the top few inches of water only, this is what a skimmer skims to remove it. If you remove the top level of water with each water change running skimmerless is a real possiblility IMO.