Do I Need, or Will I Benifit from... A Protein Skimmer??

[G Santana]

If it ain't broke...
Your water change schedule on the size of your tank is obviously working exceedingly well.

 

[Auntjemimma]

What is your Ph?

 

[56cbr600rr]

What is your Ph?

fluctuates day/night, but always between 7.85-8.15.

 

[Hermie]

I am guessing that you have enough coral bioload (demand for nutrients) that a skimmer wouldnt vastly improve their growth rates. If you aren't seeing a ton of problematic algae and your corals are growing fast enough for your expectations (nanos sometimes are better to grow slower than faster for space concerns), then I suggest not changing anything.

If you are really itching to add something, a nano skimmer would probably give you some satisfaction (nutrient export and something "to do") something like the bubble magus qq2 size. But a skimmer can be more of an annoyance than a help if the maintainence is too much (is the juice worth the squeeze as BRS says) and it's another point of failure.

If you want more growth though, pH would be a good target to increase IMO. Especially if it's hovering around 8 like you said. You could add a skimmer with recirculating CO2 Scrubber and don't even use it for nutrient export, just tune the skimmer down so it does NOT produce skimmate, simply aerates your tank or scrubs the CO2.

Secondly you can go with Kalkwasser but that is a double edged sword so you have to be sure you're doing it right. Kalkwasser gave my tank the best growth it ever had but it can be very bad to overdose.

What do you want to do exactly? Sorry if that was already answered. I have a nano (I think I mentioned) about your size and while I want the SPS to grow faster, I don't really want everything to grow faster because I've run out of space already multiple times and I'm now in the pruning phase.

 

[flashsmith]

Having owned several aio tanks 50g and under. I don't think skimmers do much at all for smaller tanks. There's just not a decent HOB skimmer out there. Usually way under powered to help much. Floss carbon and purigen work for me just fine.

 

[56cbr600rr]

I am guessing that you have enough coral bioload (demand for nutrients) that a skimmer wouldnt vastly improve their growth rates. If you aren't seeing a ton of problematic algae and your corals are growing fast enough for your expectations (nanos sometimes are better to grow slower than faster for space concerns), then I suggest not changing anything.

If you are really itching to add something, a nano skimmer would probably give you some satisfaction (nutrient export and something "to do") something like the bubble magus qq2 size. But a skimmer can be more of an annoyance than a help if the maintainence is too much (is the juice worth the squeeze as BRS says) and it's another point of failure.

If you want more growth though, pH would be a good target to increase IMO. Especially if it's hovering around 8 like you said. You could add a skimmer with recirculating CO2 Scrubber and don't even use it for nutrient export, just tune the skimmer down so it does NOT produce skimmate, simply aerates your tank or scrubs the CO2.

Secondly you can go with Kalkwasser but that is a double edged sword so you have to be sure you're doing it right. Kalkwasser gave my tank the best growth it ever had but it can be very bad to overdose.

What do you want to do exactly? Sorry if that was already answered. I have a nano (I think I mentioned) about your size and while I want the SPS to grow faster, I don't really want everything to grow faster because I've run out of space already multiple times and I'm now in the pruning phase.

Don't really want to add anything... Happy with it as it is... Was just curious if there was an added benefit with the skimmer that I wasn't realizing. Everything is growing quite well as is. for example, the Avatar and Raja Rampage both started out with one eye, exaclty 13 months ago. And the green/orange scoly was in very bad health and almost all skeleton when I got it.

It's sounding like I'll leave it all alone most likely.

Also, I did use kalk before with RO before I got the Neptune DOS. It was about .2 higher that it is now in regards to ph. Stopped kalk 3 months ago and am seeing great growth on my JellyBean chalice still. From 3 eyes, to 9 eyes in 3-4 months..

 

[CanuckReefer]

Beauty! Let it ride!

 

[Duncan62]

not too familiar with the macros... Any suggestions or tips?

Caulerpa cheato even hair algea in a scrubber or sump will help. I have algea based filtration and haven't done WC in 4 years. If you're interested I'll post a couple pics.

 

[LifeOfAquatics]

I've got a small little 25 gallon tank with 5 fish and loaded with corals. I feed flakes every day. Brine shrimp, 2-3 days a week, and occasionlly fish eggs, clams, etc... I usually try and keep phospahtes around .08 and nitrates 10-15. In truth, I maintain this easily with a 4 to 5 gallon water change every 2-4 weeks. I do use a small uv sterilizer when it is dark in the tank.

Fish are healthy, tank is pest free, and corals are growing no problem.

Is there anything more a protein skimmer will do for me? Everything seems to be at a nice equilibrium at the moment and it seems a skimmer would add complication.

Am I missing anything? Will the skimmer pull things out of the water that I'm not realizing are there? Or keep plugging along like I have been?

just curious, what fish do you have in your tank?

 

[Dan_P]

I've got a small little 25 gallon tank with 5 fish and loaded with corals. I feed flakes every day. Brine shrimp, 2-3 days a week, and occasionlly fish eggs, clams, etc... I usually try and keep phospahtes around .08 and nitrates 10-15. In truth, I maintain this easily with a 4 to 5 gallon water change every 2-4 weeks. I do use a small uv sterilizer when it is dark in the tank.

Fish are healthy, tank is pest free, and corals are growing no problem.

Is there anything more a protein skimmer will do for me? Everything seems to be at a nice equilibrium at the moment and it seems a skimmer would add complication.

Am I missing anything? Will the skimmer pull things out of the water that I'm not realizing are there? Or keep plugging along like I have been?

From the appearance of your aquarium and the time it has been running, you are not missing anything. Let the coral health and growth be your gage of success.

 

[56cbr600rr]

just curious, what fish do you have in your tank?

just curious, what fish do you have in your tank?

-My favorite is "Circus" my male Green Mandarin. Had him for a year now.
-tail spot blenny
-clown fish
-6 line wrasse
-yellow watchman goby
-small anthias

thought I had 5 fish, 6 it is.

 

[IslandLifeReef]

Don't really want to add anything... Happy with it as it is... Was just curious if there was an added benefit with the skimmer that I wasn't realizing. Everything is growing quite well as is. for example, the Avatar and Raja Rampage both started out with one eye, exaclty 13 months ago. And the green/orange scoly was in very bad health and almost all skeleton when I got it.

It's sounding like I'll leave it all alone most likely.

Also, I did use kalk before with RO before I got the Neptune DOS. It was about .2 higher that it is now in regards to ph. Stopped kalk 3 months ago and am seeing great growth on my JellyBean chalice still. From 3 eyes, to 9 eyes in 3-4 months..

Yes, leave it alone. Tank looks great, why go change things. Your water changes seem to be doing the trick for you.