To Skim or not to Skim

[KimPossible]

Ok, I've come to the place where I'm debating whether or not I need this additional filtration.

My 55gal. tank is fine right now, parameters are stable; however, I have been adding more corals and inverts and am up to
a small colt
3 colonies of polyps
pulsing xenia
Fan worm
Coming soon
christmas tree worm

I have a total of 9 fish. 6 of which will never clear 3" - 2 right at 3" and 1 Majestic
39 members in Cleaning Crew
and 60lbs of LR

I am running
2 - 280 Bio Filters
1 - 226 Sweeping Power Head (Whats up with 6 in one tank??? Is it preference or am i mis informed ) My Bio Filters produce lots of flow, no dead spots that i can tell....so far

and of course a heater and lighting.

I'd like to hear some of you that run with and without, why do you perfer your way. I've been looking into them, but now I need some practical experience

TIA - Kim

 

[Navarre]

with the amount of fish you have in your system i would strongly advise using a skimmer. I used one on my 40 gallon tank and it did a superb job. My 100 gallon went skimmerless for about 7 months and this worked great also but this was because the system i ws using was designed to run skimmerless.

The beauty of a skimmer means it removes unwanted things fromthe water even before it enters the bio cycle so it can make a dramatic impact on the nitrogen cycle even though it doesnt do bio filtraion like liverock does.

If you feel a little unsure then try a skimmer that underskims as this will be a comprimise then.

 

[Salt Freak]

the prizm skimmer is a great skimmer that undersims

 

[ostrow]

Kim, look on RC perhaps in the AZ clubs for a used Euro-Reef or ASM skimmer. They are brainless easy to set up and use and awesome. For your tank, a ER 5-2 or ASM G-1 should be fine.

I will have a 5-2 late-spring or early-summer to sell but you can't wait that long.

 

[KimPossible]

Ostro, Sorry to be such an air head....but.... what is the RC )


EDIT : Never mind "Reef Central"

 

[Navarre]

RC= Reef Central (another forum)

 

[leon]

RC= Reef Central (another forum)

AHHHHHHH!!!, right to tell!, your gonna get done!

 

[ostrow]

I only try to point there in particular situations, one being Kim's. She's in Az, there is a huge Az reef club (2 I think) and a lot of buy/sell traffic there. Plus, the general selling forums there are good.

I also point to Randy and Dr. Ron there for chemistry and critter questions/problems, respectively.

 

[Great Lakes]

Kim,
I did not skim for the first year.
I had heard many pros and cons on it.
Since I have been skimming however, I would never turn back.
When you see what the skimmer removes....ugh.

I use the turbofloter. A little underated since I stepped up to the 180 perhaps, but hundreds of crabs and snails help me keep on top of things.

GL

 

[KimPossible]

I think I might go with the underskimming as Nav suggested. I'll start looking in that direction.
Are there any models/Brands out there that are known for just that...underskimming Have a 55gal. Looked into the ER 5-2 and ASM G-1 There is $100. price difference.
In your opinions, which perfoms to my expectations and which is the better value.

The ASM is for a 75gal
The ER is up to 100 gal

I haven't found anything out there for less than a 75gal

 

[Navarre]

Redsea Prizm is very popular and a consistant underskimmer. Popular so lots of spare parts if it goes wrong

 

[jflowers]

When you see what the skimmer removes....ugh.

The waste in my skimmers reaction cup REALLY stinks, I can't imagine that in the water!

Jon

 

[KimPossible]

The waste in my skimmers reaction cup REALLY stinks, I can't imagine that in the water!

decided to skim this weekend. Now... which one do i buy...my lfs doesn't like the prizms....i always feel funny not taking his advice, you should have seen the dosing return.. I brought in all the bottles i had purchased.... i wrote dosing on the cap and the word "SHAKE" on um'. I didn't want to thow them away so i gave them to him for his personal tanks. He was like..... are you sure IMO....., i did well in my response after good advice here and really trying to learn.
Well, i've got today to decide what is gonna be

As always... thanks all !

 

[Aquascaper]

I have a Red Sea Berlin Skimmer and a Red Sea Prizm Skimmer. I only used the Berlin for a few weeks until my first 4 foot cracked then when I got the new 4 foot with the free Prizm I just ran that in the sump. To say the Prizm underskims is an understatment Compared to the Berlin it removes about 50% of the organic waste (if that) and always produces a very wet residue even with the valve shut. When I upgrade the tank I will be installing the Berlin again

 

[ostrow]

ASMs and Euro-Reefs work exactly on the same principle, use the same pump/impeller. Trust me, the extra expense is worth it, well worth it, over the berlins and turbos. Very easy to set up and work great.

Only difference is the materials used. ASMs are lighter, cheaper material and thus the lower cost. They work great. But don't bash it against anything. The ERs are much tougher.

Bottom line: when I do my upgrade this summer, no way I can shell out $800 for the ER. I'll be going ASM unless I can find a sweet used deal on a large ER.

Check out ebay and RC, people often sell them. I saw an ASM G-1 on RC for cheap a few days back.

But think next upgrade, I wish I'd gone larger than my 5-2.