Consensus on Protein Skimming

[Unarce]

From another thread, I've been prompted to reconsider the use of a protein skimmer. My back can sure use a cutback on water changes.

It's been well over a decade since I've actually used one, so I'm not up to speed on the current technology or methods being used today. I'd really like to hear from some of you on how your skimmer is being utilized. Manner of use, schedule, problems, brands to avoid, etc.

I particularly would like to hear from those that have SPS only tanks. Thanks.

 

[taikonaut]

Protein skimmer typically are run 24/7. Most SPS keepers use venturi-based skimmer, not air-stone.

For my 110 gal SPS tank, I use a AquaC RemoraPro. The tank is too big for the skimmer, but with minimal nutrient input, it is doing its job in keeping ANN at 0/0/0.

 

[Len]

My skimmer runs 24/7. I have tried going skimmerless, but after a month into the experiment, my corals were not as expanded nor did they grow as fast. The water also quickly yellowed even with use of carbon, so the skimmer went back on.

I use an Euroreef CS6-2. Judging by the opinions posted in this community, Euroreef is highly recommended. I know I can recommend them heartily. Cleaning requires me to unscrew the collection cup and clean it. That's about it. Everything else is set and forget.

It's a needle-wheel (apsirating) design that has been around a long time, but the Euroreef employs it well. Not much new technology is out; the newest design is AquaC's spray injection, and that's about it.

 

[Unarce]

Are you both running calcium reactors? I rely on 2 part additives to maintain calcium/alk. Are there still concerns about skimmers extracting bottled supplements?

 

[Len]

I'm running a Ca reactor. I also use B-ionic. I'm sure the skimmer skims a lot of the supplements we add, but IME the stuff a skimmer takes out > the stuff we want left in the water.

 

[Anonymous]

Euroreef CS6-2. Running 24/7.
I've run tanks skimmerless without problems, but water clarity and SPS growth is better with a skimmer in my experience.
Note: Some species of corals may do better without a skimmer. Lagunal types do better with more nutrients in the water sometimes.
I should mention that I do believe that overskimming is possible. Corals are predators and need SOME food in the water. How much, or what type is open for debate. I just make sure my skimmer is no larger than it needs to be to keep desolved nutrients from causing algae blooms.

Jim

 

[taikonaut]

Ditto. I use ca rxtor too, and not an avid supporter of chemical additive/supplement other than usual water change and ca rxtor.

The benefit of a skimmer outweight the issue of skimming the "good stuffs" out, at least for most of the critters that we want to keep. This is why we use it 24/7 although we are aware of the negative aspect.

 

[Unarce]

What do you do when you feed phtoplankton (DT's)? Do you continue to run your skimmer?

 

[cdeakle]

I use DT's and I always run my skimmer 24-7, ALWAYS.

 

[Unarce]

Everyone, thanks for your input. I'm getting conflicting input between what I'm reading here and my expert resource out in the field. My concerns are more along the lines of what the expert explained.

As of now, I've decided against adding a skimmer. I figure that after 11 years without one, I'm not going to see much benefit out of adding one. I think my desire to decrease the frequency of water changes was a poor reason in the first place. Maybe I'm getting lazy.

Also, it's recommended by the manufacturer of DT's that the skimmer be turned off for a few hours when feeding.

Thanks, again.

 

[Anonymous]

Everyone, thanks for your input. I'm getting conflicting input between what I'm reading here and my expert resource out in the field. My concerns are more along the lines of what the expert explained.

As of now, I've decided against adding a skimmer. I figure that after 11 years without one, I'm not going to see much benefit out of adding one. I think my desire to decrease the frequency of water changes was a poor reason in the first place. Maybe I'm getting lazy.

Also, it's recommended by the manufacturer of DT's that the skimmer be turned off for a few hours when feeding.

Care to elaborate as to who your "expert" recource is, his or her quaifications, and what "out in the field" means in this context?
By all means, if you have info - share it.

Jim

 

[Anonymous]

heya.

i think it depends on your setup. i generally consider a skimmer a good thing for the tank, if for nothing else than to keep the surface free of that narsty protein slick. i use and aquaC remora pro on my 30g tank. the skimmer is rated up to 60g. i've had no problems with it. it is a venturi skimmer, not airstone. it's of good construction and i think it was a good buy, as far as skimmers go. i clear the skimmer byproduct out like every other day or so. it's generally about a quarter measuring cup in volume, and it reeks and i'm glad it's not in my tank. i don't stop it during feeding - your skimmer stops foaming then anyhow, and so thats a good time to dose etc ... so for like an hour after you feed, your skimmer is just a water pump anyhow, so why turn it off during those times? i suppose people like to reduce the current so the fish can grab stuff.

i'm sure it's possible to construct a system w/o a skimmer, but then again, the expense of the aqua c remora pro is not that bad at all. if you can afford this hobby in the first place, you can afford to get a skimmer.

 

[Anonymous]

i run my skimmer 24/7...also

 

[Anonymous]

I'm with Jim on the idea that certain corals will do better in unskimmed situations.

I have an SPS tank that is unskimmed, and it does get a bit yellow even with carbon. The SPS corals grow just as fast as they did in an overskimmed tank, however, and a Trachyphyllia I have is doing much better in the unskimmed tank. There are so many other variables that it's really impossible to compare the two tanks. I think it's possible to keep SPS either way, and the decision is really up to you. Eric Borneman has an unskimmed tank, and may have some good advice for you.

I'll agree with Len (and many others) on the Euroreef. Where exactly are you in Norcal? If in the BA, Tropical Paradise in San Leandro sells them for as cheap as MO.

 

[Anonymous]

. Eric Borneman has an unskimmed tank, and may have some good advice for you.

Ahhh...yes, forgot about that. I believe all his tanks are unskimmed if I'm not mistaken.

Jim

 

[taikonaut]

There are certainly many "right" ways to do thing in this hobby, and if either way (skim/unskim) works for you, by all mean, stick to it.

I do both skimmer and non-skimmer setups, and both works. But if you really want to cut down the nitrate problem with infrequent water change, there is no better advice other than getthing a good skimmer if you don't already have one already. I feel this is the general consense, right?

 

[Anonymous]

What do you do when you feed phtoplankton (DT's)? Do you continue to run your skimmer?

i think it's a good idea to turn skimmers down, or off, for an hour or two when feeding any micro particle sized food, for the simple reason of letting the food stay in circulation longer in the tank, and keeping the skimmer from 'overskimming' while the food is first introduced

 

[taikonaut]

I agree it is always a good idea to shut down the skimmer while feeding DT, but for me the risk of forgeting to turn the skimmer back on may outweight the benefit. If you know how many time I flooded my carpet, you will know how forgetful I am...

...where were I... oh, yeah, one more thing that I want to mention .... I hate to bring any math into any qualitive discussion like this, but if you do any mean residency time calculation on DT, assuming the skimmer removes 50% of it from the water it processes, and with turnover rate of, says, 10% per hour, you may feel that it is not going to make a lot of difference afterall.... just dose a little bit more, and waste the DT on the skimmer's cup I guess...

 

[Unarce]

JimM,

I really don't want to give out the name of the individual that advised against it, but I will say about 99% of coral propagators probably use his product. He also associates regularly with Dr. Shimek.

It just turns out that my system is 'too' clean for a protein skimmer. I have a low fish load, shallow sand bed, and algae/clam are my primary nutrient export. I'm afraid that the skimmer will just pull out the larvae that all my SPS thrive on.

Hwarang,

Price was never an issue. A skimmer is pretty reasonable compared to everything else. I just decided long ago not to take that route.

MW,

My company is in the South Bay, but I mostly telecommute. I've heard a lot of good things about Tropical Paradise, and my friend promised to take me there some day. I don't frequent LFS too often since I only keep rare SPS in my tank, and can only mostly find those from private distributors.

THANKS AGAIN, EVERYBODY!

 

[dgasmd]

Has anyone ever seen any pictures of Borneman's tank anywhere? If you have, could you post a link so I can see it.

I run a skimmer 24/7 and a Ca reactor 24/7 too. I do agree that with some corals, poor skimmer is better than good skimming. Maybe even skimmerless is best for them. However, most, if not all, are soft corals and some LPS. I think the idea of overskimming is unrealistic to most of us. Can you over skimm a tank? Sure, connect the RK2 mammoth unit at the National Aquarium in Baltimore to a 20g tank and you will over skimm it. Most of us don't have that kind of power to water volume ratio, so I say we can't skim snough. I keep SPS corals only, so that is even more of a statement.
As far as DT, I would only use it if I had corals that would benefit from it. Are you sure what you ahve does benefit from it? If you have enough fish in your tank, you are probably already feeding your corals more than you'll ever know.