Do I Need A Protein Skimmer For 125Litre Fowlr?

[natwood]

I am about to set up my first ever marine tank within the next week or so. I'm going to have FOWLR, and am going to be starting with just two Ocellaris Clownfish. I currently have the following equipment:

Juwel Rio 125
2 x Juwel High-Lite light tubes (80cm, 2 x 28 watt)
Juwel Bio Compact filter including pump set 600 and filter media
Juwel Heater (100 Watt)

I'm just wondering if I need to get a protein skimmer as my LFS didn't suggest it when I purchased my tank. I've also read varying articles online about whether they are necessary or not. When I decide to add more than a couple of fish I'm planning on getting an Eheim Pro3 (350 litre), would I need a protein skimmer when I get to this point?

Any advice would be great ^-^

 

[mattyg12uk]

I am about to set up my first ever marine tank within the next week or so. I'm going to have FOWLR, and am going to be starting with just two Ocellaris Clownfish. I currently have the following equipment:

Juwel Rio 125
2 x Juwel High-Lite light tubes (80cm, 2 x 28 watt)
Juwel Bio Compact filter including pump set 600 and filter media
Juwel Heater (100 Watt)

I'm just wondering if I need to get a protein skimmer as my LFS didn't suggest it when I purchased my tank. I've also read varying articles online about whether they are necessary or not. When I decide to add more than a couple of fish I'm planning on getting an Eheim Pro3 (350 litre), would I need a protein skimmer when I get to this point?

Any advice would be great ^-^

Im new to all this to but i would think that a skimmer would be a good idea, however some dont use one and with regular water changes do just fine but i think im correct in thinking that people mostly have small nanos to do this. Im not sure on the model you have mentioned but there are some very knowledgeable but on here who will give better advice than me.

 

[ben1987]

i would reccomend one too

 

[AdAndrews]

i would reccomend one too

im new to this too, but i thought you only needed one in tanks with a higher fish stocking? whats the circumstance when one would be needed, Ben?

 

[natwood]

Thanks for your advice. I think I might just set up my tank and see how it goes with my couple of clowns, then I'll get a protein skimmer when I want to add more fish.

 

[AK77]

Hi Nat and welcome to the lighter side of fishkeeping. That's what your purse will be from now on lol.

If you are planning on remaining with just a FOWLR tank, then you can probably just get away with frequent water changes, although to be perfectly honest, you'll soon get hacked off with lugging large containers of water around.

If you at some point in the future are thinking about keeping corals, then definitely invest in a protein skimmer. A FOWLR is essentially a naked reef. You'll get the bug to cover it with eye candy soon enough . It might also be worth starting a journal in the journals section of the forum, that way people can keep abreast of your tanks development and can quickly come to your aid should you have a problem.

 

[natwood]

Hi Nat and welcome to the lighter side of fishkeeping. That's what your purse will be from now on lol.

If you are planning on remaining with just a FOWLR tank, then you can probably just get away with frequent water changes, although to be perfectly honest, you'll soon get hacked off with lugging large containers of water around.

If you at some point in the future are thinking about keeping corals, then definitely invest in a protein skimmer. A FOWLR is essentially a naked reef. You'll get the bug to cover it with eye candy soon enough . It might also be worth starting a journal in the journals section of the forum, that way people can keep abreast of your tanks development and can quickly come to your aid should you have a problem.

Thanks for the information. Yeah I think I might get annoyed at the frequent water changes, and I've got a feeling I may want some corals in the future.

I've just been having a read about different protein skimmers and am looking at the TMC V2 120 litre skimmer. Do you know if this would be any good? Also, is this one (or any others) quiet/silent?

 

[ben1987]

i would reccomend one too

im new to this too, but i thought you only needed one in tanks with a higher fish stocking? whats the circumstance when one would be needed, Ben?

having run a tank with and without one, id just never have a tank without now. Better water quality, less cleaning, less maintainance. Just makes life easier, especially if its your first tank - more margin for error i guess.

You prbably dont need one for a FOWL with very low stocking,but you always go into a LFS and think 'ooo thats nice' Id also put moeny on most FOWL being a reef eventually aswel

Hi Nat and welcome to the lighter side of fishkeeping. That's what your purse will be from now on lol.

If you are planning on remaining with just a FOWLR tank, then you can probably just get away with frequent water changes, although to be perfectly honest, you'll soon get hacked off with lugging large containers of water around.

If you at some point in the future are thinking about keeping corals, then definitely invest in a protein skimmer. A FOWLR is essentially a naked reef. You'll get the bug to cover it with eye candy soon enough . It might also be worth starting a journal in the journals section of the forum, that way people can keep abreast of your tanks development and can quickly come to your aid should you have a problem.

Thanks for the information. Yeah I think I might get annoyed at the frequent water changes, and I've got a feeling I may want some corals in the future.

I've just been having a read about different protein skimmers and am looking at the TMC V2 120 litre skimmer. Do you know if this would be any good? Also, is this one (or any others) quiet/silent?

you usually double up on a skimmer. If you have say 125L tank go for one rated at least 250L therefore the V2 400 would be a better choice for you. If you can find a second hand deltec mce300 or an mce 600 they are btter skimmers all round.

 

[AdAndrews]

You prbably dont need one for a FOWL with very low stocking,but you always go into a LFS and think 'ooo thats nice' Id also put moeny on most FOWL being a reef eventually aswel

I know what you mean lol, im tempted already,

 

[ben1987]

When i buy a new tank...il be buying everything good in the first place then i wont need to buy twice and il be taking my time. Everything about my last tanks that i havent liked is because ive rushed!

 

[seffieuk]

nat, look forward to seeing you start a journel, oh and congratualtions on your jump over to the salty side

Seffie x

 

[natwood]

i would reccomend one too

im new to this too, but i thought you only needed one in tanks with a higher fish stocking? whats the circumstance when one would be needed, Ben?

having run a tank with and without one, id just never have a tank without now. Better water quality, less cleaning, less maintainance. Just makes life easier, especially if its your first tank - more margin for error i guess.

You prbably dont need one for a FOWL with very low stocking,but you always go into a LFS and think 'ooo thats nice' Id also put moeny on most FOWL being a reef eventually aswel

Hi Nat and welcome to the lighter side of fishkeeping. That's what your purse will be from now on lol.

If you are planning on remaining with just a FOWLR tank, then you can probably just get away with frequent water changes, although to be perfectly honest, you'll soon get hacked off with lugging large containers of water around.

If you at some point in the future are thinking about keeping corals, then definitely invest in a protein skimmer. A FOWLR is essentially a naked reef. You'll get the bug to cover it with eye candy soon enough . It might also be worth starting a journal in the journals section of the forum, that way people can keep abreast of your tanks development and can quickly come to your aid should you have a problem.

Thanks for the information. Yeah I think I might get annoyed at the frequent water changes, and I've got a feeling I may want some corals in the future.

I've just been having a read about different protein skimmers and am looking at the TMC V2 120 litre skimmer. Do you know if this would be any good? Also, is this one (or any others) quiet/silent?

you usually double up on a skimmer. If you have say 125L tank go for one rated at least 250L therefore the V2 400 would be a better choice for you. If you can find a second hand deltec mce300 or an mce 600 they are btter skimmers all round.

Thanks for the information, I'm looking at the Deltec MCE300 now. Do you know if these are quiet? The tank's going in my bedroom so it needs to be pretty much silent. Or can you turn it off at night? Or is that defeating the object of having a skimmer?

Also, does having a skimmer affect my stocking quantity? I was going to get another filter (Eheim) if I wanted to add more fish, but now I'm wondering if I'll need to.

 

[AK77]

Deltec are one of the most highly regarded manufacturers of marine equipment. High quality although at a high price. My tank is in my room, and I have a Red Sea Prizm Pro Deluxe (what a mouthful). Its can get a little bit noisey sometimes, but on the whole, you just get used to it and forget its even there. I should imagine the Deltec skimmers are quiter than the prizms.

You could turn it off at night, although its not as effective as leaving it running all the time but, certainly beats not having one at all. You could put it on a timer if you find the noise does distract you at nights.

Having a skimmer, MAY give you the option to have an extra fish, over an identical tank without a skimmer. However it will depend on the species, as some grow bigger than others and may be messier eaters. If you are planning on keeping corals, then I would stick to a moderate stocking level, rather than pushing the envelope, as fish poop generates nitrates and phosphates, both of which are harmful to corals and you may struggle to keep the levels in check, so bear that in mind.

You don't require an external filter. If you are having a FOWLR tank, the live rock is your filtration system. Like the filter sponges in your eheim, the live rock houses the bacteria that feeds on ammonia from fish detritus, breaking it down into nitrites, then nitrates. You can dispense with an external all together. The only benefit a filter would be, is if you remove the sponges and fill the canister with live rock rubble, or use it as a fluidized reactor for running activated carbon or phosphate remover (phosban/rowaphos).

 

[ben1987]

deltec skimmers are fairly quiet. None is perfectly silent though, there the hum of a pump and then the noise of air being taken in. Not overly noisey though

 

[AK77]

deltec skimmers are fairly quiet. None is perfectly silent though, there the hum of a pump and then the noise of air being taken in. Not overly noisey though

Yeah, my dog snoring is far, far worse. Sometimes I have to lob a pillow at her bed in the corner of my room. That and when she's barking in her sleep lol.