I do need a skimmer.

[MizTanks]

After running my tank for a couple of months now, with weekly WC and at the moment a very small bio-load.
It's obvious that I'll have to run some type of skimmer. There is a film on top of the water, which shows up about 3 days after a WC. I can only see it getting worse as my bio-load increases.

Hydro Koralia has an awesome little nano skimmer. Hydor Koralia Nano/Slim-Skim Internal Protein Skimmer (http://www.marinedepot.com/Hydor_Koralia_Slim_Skim_Internal_Protein_Skimmer_I n_Sump_Venturi_Needle_Wheel_Protein_Skimmers-Hydor_USA-HD00771-FIPSISNW-vi.html)

As you can see it's an internal. Would I be able to put this into my fuge in stead of the tank? There's no way I can put it in tank with my light setup.

[whitetiger61]

how deep is your sump ..i forgot..im old...lol

Rick

[MizTanks]

Chit!! My fuge is only 11 1/2 tall. But the freaking fuge light covers the entire fuge except for the intake chamber, which is were the intake tube is and runs the full length of the fuge. So it looks like I'll need and external skimmer. :crying:

[whitetiger61]

yeah that ones not gonna work..fuge is deep enough but the light takes it out of the equation..sorry

Rick

[jimsflies]

You need a surface skimmer...not a protein skimmer. A protein skimmer will not help with the film on your water. You need to make the intake of your fuge take water from the surface of your tank then you won't have any film on the top. To do that you need to essentially put the intake in a "cup" that is at the water surface...then water entering the cup will come from the surface. Your tank will look much better and have better oxygen exchange.

[binford4000]

skimmers a must IMO. Here's a link to a nice unit that could do a great job and remove the slime for sure.


Reef Octopus BH 1000 Hang on Back Protein Skimmer by CoralVue - AquaCave (http://www.aquacave.com/reef-octopus-bh-1000-hang-br-on-back-protein-skimmer-br-by-coralvue-2347.html)

Or you could haggle with this reefer,I would negoatiate the price since it has a crack!!! This is a great lil skimmer tho.


http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/equipment-sales-trades/reef-octopus-bh-2000-a-13520/

[MizTanks]

Ok~I'm a mess it's official~I'm going to cut some slots into the pre skimmer box that Heidi gave me or just get a 6.99 surface skimmer which will make me have to change my pump. Which ever comes first.

[jimsflies]

Yes, all you need is a skimmer box to rid yourself of the surface film. We can debate the need for a protein skimmer all day long...but it alone won't help the scum that is floating on top of your water.

[schminksbro]

I would recommend a protein skimmer. A surface skimmer will mix the proteins into the water but it won't remove them. A good protein skimmer is worth it's weight in gold in my humble opinion.

[MizTanks]

What is the scum floating on top?

[jimsflies]

I would recommend a protein skimmer. A surface skimmer will mix the proteins into the water but it won't remove them. A good protein skimmer is worth it's weight in gold in my humble opinion.

Some sort of surface skimmer will entrain them into the water where they at least stand a chance of being consumed. Even the protein skimmer she is going to need some sort of intake from the surface to get at the stuff floating there. Right now the fuge is just intaking water a few inches below the surface.

I still contend that all of the protein skimmers for this size tank are a waste of money....I would call them inefficient water heaters. Now if Jamie wants to put a 50 gallon sump under this tank...we can talk protein skimmers.

[jimsflies]

What is the scum floating on top?

"Proteins" and fine detritus..and possibly even fines from your sand bed since your tank is still pretty young.

[MizTanks]

Nothing to worry about yet though right?

[jimsflies]

Just do water changes like you have been. Get that $6.99 pre-skimmer on your intake and it will remove the scum from the water surface. Some of that floating stuff will even be eaten by your corals and microfauna in the tank.

[zenpytho]

Just do water changes like you have been. Get that $6.99 pre-skimmer on your intake and it will remove the scum from the water surface. Some of that floating stuff will even be eaten by your corals and microfauna in the tank.
u can also just point a powerhead towards water surface to disturb surface of water that breaks it up and kinda gives you a lil shimmer to lol

[zenpytho]

u can also just point a powerhead towards water surface to disturb surface of water that breaks it up and kinda gives you a lil shimmer to lol
sorry jim didnt mean to quote ya lol

[MizTanks]

sorry jim didnt mean to quote ya lol

I do have 1x250 Koralia pointed at the surface + the output is half surface. I got da shimmers going on big time :)

[Sir Patrick]

A protein skimmer will definitly help with the film on the surface of the water, but so will the surface skimmer, as long as the surface skimmer is hooked up to somthing with carbon, floss, or some other type of physical filtration.

I am with Andy though- I am pro- skimmer.

When i get any type of surface film at all- its time to clean the skimmer, or there is somthing causing the skimmer to not function efficiantly.

A skimmer also helps with 02 exchange in a very big way. Gotta recomend one. Is it absolutely necessary? No, but will it help, in many ways? Yes.

No hurry Miz, but find yourself a protein skimmer, of some sort. On a tank that size, it doesnt even need to be a very efficiant one, but add one, in the near future.

Just my 2 cents.

[MizTanks]

OMG! I just ordered a $10 free shipping surface skimmer from EBay. Protein skimmers are so expensive! Just for a nano tank they're $100+
I'll just suck up the foam with a turkey baster-LMAO!

[Sir Patrick]

I thought you already had a surface skimmer?

[Sir Patrick]

There are so many skimmers out there that will work in your hob fuge, for less than $50.

[schminksbro]

Octopus hang on skimmers work quite well. Jamie is talking about growing some sps corals in her tank and I would contend that without a skimmer she will never win the input vs removal battle essential for her success. The water changes necessary to maintain a tolerable nutrient level will be a constant shock to the system which will make stability very difficult to achieve. The tank will basically never mature. I would wager that her NO3 will never get below 20-30 ppm and stay there.

Some sort of surface skimmer will entrain them into the water where they at least stand a chance of being consumed. Even the protein skimmer she is going to need some sort of intake from the surface to get at the stuff floating there. Right now the fuge is just intaking water a few inches below the surface.

I still contend that all of the protein skimmers for this size tank are a waste of money....I would call them inefficient water heaters. Now if Jamie wants to put a 50 gallon sump under this tank...we can talk protein skimmers.

[MizTanks]

There are so many skimmers out there that will work in your hob fuge, for less than $50.

Where? I've been to so many sights looking and haven't found one yet under $100

[binford4000]

There are so many skimmers out there that will work in your hob fuge, for less than $50.

This is true.But I have found that you usually get what you pay for.It's hard to swallow that fact at times.If you choose a cheaper product it's pretty much a given you'll replace it as your tank mature's.I think your spot on about putting slots in the skim box to help remove the the film layer your concerned about at this time.As you stock the tank consider a skimmer,I never meant you had to have one now.The HOB skimmer I recomended has a skimmer bucket and is well known for it's production value in small systems which are inherantly more difficult to maintan as you already know. I am replaceing a Kent skimmer in about a month with a cone skimmer and if you can make it work on your system we'll make a sweat deal for ya.Let me know how much room you have in the sump.It's rated for 300 gal and will be the last one you'll ever need on this tank.And yup this is a UPer to UPer deal ha ha ha :redneck:

[bigbill]

You need a surface skimmer...not a protein skimmer. A protein skimmer will not help with the film on your water. You need to make the intake of your fuge take water from the surface of your tank then you won't have any film on the top. To do that you need to essentially put the intake in a "cup" that is at the water surface...then water entering the cup will come from the surface. Your tank will look much better and have better oxygen exchange.

+ one on skimmer wont take the foam off

[jimsflies]

I'm pro-skimmer too...When you guys find a small form factor skimmer that actually works let me know. I've owned three skimmers in my short time in this hobby...a deltec mc500, a remora aquaC, and a EuroReef RS80. None of them were worth the plastic they were made from. Someone told me I needed to mesh mod the euro reef...but I never got around to that.

I think if you are under 30 gallons, your best bet even if you are keeping sps is a weekly water change and keeping your bioload in check.

[MizTanks]

Jim, this is the one I've been reading about. I originally had asked if this one could go into my fuge. But discovered that my lights would be in the way.

http://reefbuilders.com/2011/03/12/hydor-slim-skim/

[Sir Patrick]

New Glazer Pico Skimmer wants to play with your organics (http://reefbuilders.com/2011/03/07/glazer-pico-skimmer/)

[MizTanks]

New Glazer Pico Skimmer wants to play with your organics (http://reefbuilders.com/2011/03/07/glazer-pico-skimmer/)

Sir, I was looking at that one too. Not quit sure I understand how it works though. Any idea?
There's a couple others there I was looking at too.

Also could you explain to me how having a skimmer in my fuge or hob-ing on the fuge would keep my tank skim free?

[Sir Patrick]

By skim-free, do you mean film on your water surface free?