Protien Skimmer

[ymh1253]

I have had my 30 gal reef tank running smooth for nearly 2 years without ever using a protien skimmer, I was told by the local pet store that I should have 1 in my tank... My question is..being everything is running good the way it is should I even bother adding a protien skimmer or should I just let it go the way it is?..could adding a skimmer actually end up harming my tank by interupting my tanks already excelent water parimeters? thx

 

[Donya]

30gal is in the range where if you're keeping up on your WCs and haven't overstocked you should be ok without. So, "don't fix it if it isn't broken" would be my answer if everything is in check and animals are thriving. As far as adverse effects, a skimmer will remove things from the water column that might be used up by other organisms in the tank, so it's possible that it could slow growth of some things like algae. I doubt adding a skimmer would ever cause a catastrophe, but someone else with more skimmer experience will have to chime in on that (I've only used a small, home-made skimmer on one tank in the past and haven't used one on any tank since).

 

[ymh1253]

30gal is in the range where if you're keeping up on your WCs and haven't overstocked you should be ok without. So, "don't fix it if it isn't broken" would be my answer if everything is in check and animals are thriving. As far as adverse effects, a skimmer will remove things from the water column that might be used up by other organisms in the tank, so it's possible that it could slow growth of some things like algae. I doubt adding a skimmer would ever cause a catastrophe, but someone else with more skimmer experience will have to chime in on that (I've only used a small, home-made skimmer on one tank in the past and haven't used one on any tank since).

Thanx for the reply. I was thinking the same thing..don't fix what isint broken. Aside from a little hair algea growing on the back of the tank, everything seems good, coral,fish,inverts. I actually havent even done a water change in 6 months or so, from what I have been reading there are many aquarists that say water changes are unnessesary as long as the water parimetres stay in check. would you agree?

 

[sorgan]

Right skimmers are not essential but they do help in certain tanks.
Like donya said they strip the water of organics which is both good and bad, on one hand they remove waste and oily protiens that cause pollution but they also remove small food particles (phyto, rotifers etc)

To say you haven't done a W/C for 6 months is a bit misleading, do you dose your tank with anything? Calcium? Essentials? Because many of us use W/C as a primary means to replenish the mineral content of our water as well as using it as a nitrate remover.

Do you run calcium? Nitrate/phosphate reactor? What's your stocking? Do you have a sump? DSB? Dose a carbon source? Add minerals to top up water? Do you dance in front of your tank naked at a new moon doing the purer water jig?
Do you test your water on a regular basis? If so what are your stats? Anyone can say that something works/fails for them but without other information it's hard to advise or congratulate ) )

Tbh my water changes are down from weekly to fortnightly just because my stats are starting to even out (just started a few different corals off) however the other tank I have planned (which is 15g) will need to be skimmed heavily and will be subject to weekly 30% W/C but that's a different story.

 

[dannywrc]

i wouldnt bother adding one if all your levels are good. what sort of set up do you have? 6 months without a water changes and no skimmer. your filtration must be pretty good.

 

[ymh1253]

Right skimmers are not essential but they do help in certain tanks.
Like donya said they strip the water of organics which is both good and bad, on one hand they remove waste and oily protiens that cause pollution but they also remove small food particles (phyto, rotifers etc)

To say you haven't done a W/C for 6 months is a bit misleading, do you dose your tank with anything? Calcium? Essentials? Because many of us use W/C as a primary means to replenish the mineral content of our water as well as using it as a nitrate remover.

Do you run calcium? Nitrate/phosphate reactor? What's your stocking? Do you have a sump? DSB? Dose a carbon source? Add minerals to top up water? Do you dance in front of your tank naked at a new moon doing the purer water jig?
Do you test your water on a regular basis? If so what are your stats? Anyone can say that something works/fails for them but without other information it's hard to advise or congratulate ) )

Tbh my water changes are down from weekly to fortnightly just because my stats are starting to even out (just started a few different corals off) however the other tank I have planned (which is 15g) will need to be skimmed heavily and will be subject to weekly 30% W/C but that's a different story.

All I add to the water is reef iodide once a week and conditioned top-up water every other day. my amonia is 0, ph 8.2, nitrites 0, nitrates 10 ppm, and carbonate hardness is 12 drops. I have never tested for calcium levels. The equipment I use is.. a fluval 305 cannister filter (just carbon), and also a mellenium 3000 bio-filter, and another double filter just for added water flow. I also have 2, 105 powerheads for added water circulation. I am using t-5 lighting, and a 100 watt heater. I have roughly 30 pounds of carribean liverock, and 2 inches of live-sand along the bottom. Tank inhabitants include, 2 Ocellaris clowns, a bi-color blennie, a scooter blenny,a yellow-tail blue demsel, and a domino demsel. Inverts include, 10 blue-legged hermit crabs, a reef lobster, a sea urchin,and a brittle sea-star. Corals include 2 button polyp colonies, a cabbage leather coral, and a mushroom coral. all of which seem to be flourishing. I really hate to start adding things being the tank is already running good. Any more advice?.thx for the help.

 

[sorgan]

Well you have no hard corals so the calcium should be pretty stable.
I would have to agree with if it ain't broke don't fix it but TBH I still think water changes are important

 

[Donya]

Do you dance in front of your tank naked at a new moon doing the purer water jig?

So many people forget this step...it's a shame really. After all, it's not just good for the tank, it counts as a bit of exercise too!

 

[rdp50734]

Do you dance in front of your tank naked at a new moon doing the purer water jig?

So many people forget this step...it's a shame really. After all, it's not just good for the tank, it counts as a bit of exercise too!

This is actually bad for you!

I once did it and the mother in law walked in, beat me up and called me a pervert!

 

[sorgan]

I said pure water jig not water porn shuffle