Best skimmer for a biocube 32?

[moistowlette11]

Looking to get a skimmer for my new biocube 32, but I can see I have limited options... anyone have any ideas?

 

[Mjrenz]

Looking to get a skimmer for my new biocube 32, but I can see I have limited options... anyone have any ideas?

Any of the nano skimmers that will fit in the back really aren't worth buying. If you're planning on removing the top to upgrade lighting you could use a hob skimmer but otherwise you can be successful without one. Water changes in a smaller tank are usually enough for nutrient removal

 

[Mjrenz]

I would, however, suggest that you get a uv sterilizer. The 9 watt green killing machine is a good choice for a biocube

 

[moistowlette11]

Will weekly water changes work if I am just planning on Soft coral and LPS?

 

[Mjrenz]

Will weekly water changes work if I am just planning on Soft coral and LPS?

Before I decided to pipe my biocube to a sump, 5 gallon weekly water changes worked just fine for me. Unless you're overfeeding that's usually plenty

 

[Mjrenz]

Also, welcome to the forum! There's a lot of great advice available here

 

[BestMomEver]

Welcome to the reef! I run a Tunze 9001 nano skimmer in my 32 Biocube. Works well.

 

[Mjrenz]

Welcome to the reef! I run a Tunze 9001 nano skimmer in my 32 Biocube. Works well.

Before I added the sump I looked around for skimmers that would work but never found one that I thought would be good enough. I don't think I came upon the tunze you have though. I really do like having a skimmer now so that may be a viable option for her.

 

[robottaway]

I bought a quite used 14G Biocube 18-20 months ago. It came with some nice extras including an Intank media basket, heater and the infamous Coralife Biocube skimmer. I hadn't put the skimmer in having read many threads/reviews stating it was next to worthless. Was battling a bit of GHA trouble (likely due to being overstocked & overfed) so as part of war decided I would throw it in. I had no reason not to give it a try. So I'll state first that it most definitely requires having auto top off, the ability for it to skim deteriorates quickly as water level changes. That said after getting it locked in I am pulling some nasty brownish green skim. It has been mostly set and forget, but will require me to swap the air stone at some point and has to be dumped and cleaned every 5-6 days. I will snap a pic when I get home and post up the last 4-5 days of skim. The water looks crystal clear. I can go 2-3 days longer w/o cleaning the glass. Best of all the GHA problem seems to be managed now.

I am running topless with a Kessil H80 and the skimmer sticks up quite a bit. Not sure if it would fit the way I'm setup with with hood on. I had it lower at first but had to keep the air pump at very low level to prevent overflow. By moving skimmer up I was able to kick air pump up, generate a lot more bubbles, and seems I'm able to generate a much darker skim.