Ok, so I was at my local fish store Wonderful World Of Fish, to look at what was in stock since I haven't been there for about a month because of my car being crashed while parked:irked: and its finally fixed. I start talking to one of the workers who I'm pretty cool with. So we get into a conversation..hows your fish tank... it's fine...blah blah blah. So he finally asked me do I have a protein skimmer... no I don't have one.. he starts lecturing me on how I should get one its essential because at night when I get corals they'll have an all out war with toxins!!:scratch: So I'm like oookkk? but I've read many forums which people don't use skimmers.. and he's like "Well, you can try but when you get corals they bleach and die and all that other stuff.....So i ended up buying a Oceanic biocube protein skimmer which is so far a piece of crap... ok back to the question do I need a protein skimmer on my 20 gallon tank.. I do 5 gallon water changes every week.....
Skimmer on a 20 Gallon????
- Thread starter ReefRookie08
- Start date
- Location
- poughquag, ny
how many and what type of fish ? what corals what other filtration do yu have ?
- Location
- poughquag, ny
the canister will turn into a nitrate factory, s id get rid of it, get a hob fuge or buy a hob filter and turn it into a fuge, six line will be aggressive towards alot of type of fish, what type of food u using ? ro-di water ? what are you using for flow ?
- Location
- 11756
I've been running a skimmer-less 40g for about 20 months now. I think the key to keeping the tank skimmerless is to add stock SLOWLY. I waited about 3 months before getting my first fish and only added fish 1 at a time unless they had to be a pair. Fish were added far apart as well, to give the tanks bacteria some time to handle the extra load.
I honestly don't feel like a skimmer is a necessity on a smaller tank, doing 5g water changes weekly should be way more than enough to keep your tank healthy.
If you just bought the skimmer see if you can return it.
I honestly don't feel like a skimmer is a necessity on a smaller tank, doing 5g water changes weekly should be way more than enough to keep your tank healthy.
If you just bought the skimmer see if you can return it.
NO, but it won't hurt.
Im not getting rid of my canister I've spent to much money changing things so for now I'm not going to do anything. Anyways I clean it out every week as well. Yes i use a ro/di system. I feed prime reef flakes every 2 days ,and 2 nano powerheads plus the canister output tube for flow
- Location
- Westbury L.i
i would use the canister filter for chemical media(phosban/carbon)...you have LR and sand in the tank which is already your biological..so dont need more in your canister...
you will need a ATO to keep the water level constant or that skimmer will do no justice for you except more oxygenation.....i would return it and get a ATO first..
you will need a ATO to keep the water level constant or that skimmer will do no justice for you except more oxygenation.....i would return it and get a ATO first..
- Location
- 11756
Automatic Top Off 
- Location
- Far Rockaway 11691
biocube protein skimmer is crap. reminds me of when i bought a seaclone skimmer a long time ago. lol
- Location
- Far Rockaway 11691
Well that is the thing about reefing. When you first start up if you buy things without doing a great deal of research you will end up having to change your equipment.
I used to take advice from other people and Local fish stores. And i think i have upgraded everything in my tank that was recommended to me. taking it slow and researching equipment purchases will save you alot of headache
I used to take advice from other people and Local fish stores. And i think i have upgraded everything in my tank that was recommended to me. taking it slow and researching equipment purchases will save you alot of headache
Chef I'm pretty sure I said I'm not changing anything for NOW....anyways I plan on taking out the bio balls and sponges in the canister and adding chemical media(phosban/carbon) like ponicz suggested..... thanks ponicz. Thats giving real advice helping people out with what equipment they have so far and making the best of it.
You are going to have to remove that stuff slowly. Also I suggest a skimmer on any reef tank if no skimmer on the tank you should do very frequent water changes.
Canister filters are ok if they are cleaned frequently as well. Media changed as well frequently. I had one on my 55 because sumps are not allowed by my condo association rules. It did get costly but cleaned once a week I had no problems.
Canister filters are ok if they are cleaned frequently as well. Media changed as well frequently. I had one on my 55 because sumps are not allowed by my condo association rules. It did get costly but cleaned once a week I had no problems.
- Location
- Far Rockaway 11691
he is talking about bioballs and sponges. taking it all out all at once wont be a good thing. its taking out all beneficial bacteria at once
- Location
- 11756
bio-balls, i'd assume
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