Alternative for skimmer?

[sweetcoralina]

Hi. I was researching for a skimmer and realized there’s not enough space in the back chamber of my aio for one… I’m going to keep anthias in this so at some point I’ll be feeding quite frequently. While I’ve been considering doing a macroalgae tank I do have a tomini tang in the set up already. Another thought is a refugium in display hoping the chaeto will absorb the excess nitrate. I do have a butterfly in the tank too I’m worry if there’s no skimmer the water quality will be too bad for the fish, even with a refugium. I do 10-15% water change every week and vacuum the sand bed while I’m at it. Also moving the sand to even it as the flow always blow it around. Will it be okay to not have a skimmer or there’s some other way to do this?

 

[19Mateo83]

Hi. I was researching for a skimmer and realized there’s not enough space in the back chamber of my aio for one… I’m going to keep anthias in this so at some point I’ll be feeding quite frequently. While I’ve been considering doing a macroalgae tank I do have a tomini tang in the set up already. Another thought is a refugium in display hoping the chaeto will absorb the excess nitrate. I do have a butterfly in the tank too I’m worry if there’s no skimmer the water quality will be too bad for the fish, even with a refugium. I do 10-15% water change every week and vacuum the sand bed while I’m at it. Also moving the sand to even it as the flow always blow it around. Will it be okay to not have a skimmer or there’s some other way to do this?

Hang on back skimmer?

 

[Naekuh]

I do not think i could ever setup a large tank without a skimmer.
They pull out so much nasty stuff, and also promote so much gas exchange, not running one is like being given a handicap.

How much space do you have in the rear AIO chambers?

 

[AydenLincoln]

I have a Waterbox too plenty of space for a HOB skimmer. I recommend an IceCap one.

 

[Devaji]

you got a few options here.
there are HOB fuges and ATS as well as drop in ATS...

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

For that size tank and bioload I would prefer to have a skimmer

 

[exnisstech]

There's a recent thread here with some info that may be of use.

Are protein skimmers really an essential piece of reef keeping equipment?

Protein Skimmers – Are They Really Necessary? Share your thoughts and experience with or without a skimmer on your reef tank! Are protein skimmers really an essential piece of reefing equipment? image via @jphilip813

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Cell]

I feel like you should be able to find one that fits, maybe a tad undersized if anything. People are putting nano skimmers in 10G AIO's after all.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

There's a recent thread here with some info that may be of use.

Are protein skimmers really an essential piece of reef keeping equipment?

Protein Skimmers – Are They Really Necessary? Share your thoughts and experience with or without a skimmer on your reef tank! Are protein skimmers really an essential piece of reefing equipment? image via @jphilip813

www.reef2reef.com

I second this thread, it's filled with good information in regards to your question

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

That's a huge AIO, I'm with the hob skimmer crowd, or would maybe try a Tunze 9004 dc skimmer. Should fit in a chamber as I ran one on a smaller waterbox aio tank.

Otherwise, be prepared for large W/C's when it's established, like 15-20% weekly (my salt budget dies typing that).

 

[JustAnotherNanoTank]

I don’t know how many gallons that is, or the size of the space you have, but the Fiji Cube NSK 70 is tiny and is doing a great job. Even a small one doing as much as it can is better than none!

 

[Devaji]

I ran the reef octo HOB skimmer on a 40br holing tank for many many months did a great job.
but my 1st choice for skimmers would be one that fits in the chamber.

 

[sweetcoralina]

That's a huge AIO, I'm with the hob skimmer crowd, or would maybe try a Tunze 9004 dc skimmer. Should fit in a chamber as I ran one on a smaller waterbox aio tank.

Otherwise, be prepared for large W/C's when it's established, like 15-20% weekly (my salt budget dies typing that).

I want to try the Tunze 9012 dc but because my light mount I am not sure can it fit in there, if it can get in at all. The 9004 I just feel it's not strong enough for a tank this size. I am already doing 15% weekly right now.

 

[sweetcoralina]

I ran the reef octo HOB skimmer on a 40br holing tank for many many months did a great job.
but my 1st choice for skimmers would be one that fits in the chamber.

That's the one I want to try but my tank is pretty close to the wall so not sure if I have enough space. For the refugium options I worry about the nutrient will turn into ammonia first before nitrate so it might be not as good for sensitive fish... I was considering a refugium in display with a ball of chaeto in it but I don't see much people doing that.

 

[sweetcoralina]

I do not think i could ever setup a large tank without a skimmer.
They pull out so much nasty stuff, and also promote so much gas exchange, not running one is like being given a handicap.

How much space do you have in the rear AIO chambers?

I basically used every chamber but I think I can move something around...

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I want to try the Tunze 9012 dc but because my light mount I am not sure can it fit in there, if it can get in at all. The 9004 I just feel it's not strong enough for a tank this size. I am already doing 15% weekly right now.

How many gallons, didn't see that in the post, it looks like it's the big 4ft aio from the photo?

It's easy enough to know if it fits, get out the measuring tape and go from there.

It sounds like you may of put the cart before the horse with choosing a aio tank. The convenience of them goes away quick when you want to 'add' anything to them.

 

[sweetcoralina]

How many gallons, didn't see that in the post, it looks like it's the big 4ft aio from the photo?

It's easy enough to know if it fits, get out the measuring tape and go from there.

It sounds like you may of put the cart before the horse with choosing a aio tank. The convenience of them goes away quick when you want to 'add' anything to them.

Yeah it's a 4ft 65g, this is my first tank and I was thinking aio will be "convenient" but then realize it's actually not lol

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Yeah it's a 4ft 65g, this is my first tank and I was thinking aio will be "convenient" but then realize it's actually not lol

Yup. I got back into the hobby in 2018 with a waterbox aio, loved the low iron glass, loved the convenience, hated the PITA part of dealing with equipment for the aio. Sold it after 9 months and went to a sump setup again.

 

[spartanman22]

Not sure what all you've got in there, but the Waterbox 65.4 has a skimmer chamber with dimensions of 5.9"×4.7"×17.7" and the Tunze DOC Comline 9012 is 5.5"x4.3"x16.3". So it should fit. I ran a Tunze DOC Comline 9004 on my 40 gallon SPS dominant AIO. That tank was heavily stocked (think I had 8-9 fish in that tank).