Filtration for Nano Tank

[RobberyinCSharp1824]

Hi all,

I currently have a 20gal IM Nuvo Fusion tank that has a notorious habit of accumulating gunk (algae, detritus, etc) in the back system, and there's always kind of a film lingering at the top of my tank. Water changes really don't mitigate the issue, unfortunately. I would really like to avoid having another HOB filtration system on my tank. It was noisy, visually unappealing, and salt creep 10x worse than I have ever seen it. That being said, my water was much clearer. Since my tank is only 20gals, most have told me that a protein skimmer and/or reactor is a little excessive and that water changes should handle any excess waste.

I have been struggling with phosphates and nitrates throughout owning the tank, with varying algae blooms, so I am finally considering just buying the protein skimmer and a mini reactor with a phosphate remover.

Does anyone know if the protein skimmer and reactor will help with the muck in my tank?

Thanks!

 

[brandon429]

Based on your description it sounds like you could take a handful of sand and drop it down as a test, or take a turkey baster to areas of the tank to see if large detritus clouds could be made. If that's the case you want to apply that equipment to a tank restored from that condition, not reactive to it

Installing skimming to uptake the waste effluent from removable sinks in the tank, slick producing sources, isn't ideal

Whatever you install will be amplified by being installed in a clean exported tank
Those equipments won't stop the need for repeat occasional cleaning

I can't see how skipping the absolute tank clean out can beat not skipping it


A twenty is easy, we have one being rip cleaned + substrate reset in our rip cleaning thread. Variations in flow, catch points in the tank (# live rock) and care habits affect that mulm

Skimmers and gfo work best when the tank is kept clean and they are offsetting fish waste, and then many don't use gfo they run cleaner

 

[RobberyinCSharp1824]

Based on your description it sounds like you could take a handful of sand and drop it down as a test, or take a turkey baster to areas of the tank to see if large detritus clouds could be made. If that's the case you want to apply that equipment to a tank restored from that condition, not reactive to it

Installing skimming to uptake the waste effluent from removable sinks in the tank, slick producing sources, isn't the same as using them to offset the bioloading you want for visual appeal...fish and some holding ability so you aren't cleaning constantly.

Whatever you install will be amplified by being installed in a clean exported tank
Those equipments won't stop the need for repeat occasional cleaning

I can't see how skipping the absolute tank clean out can beat not skipping it


A twenty is easy, we have one being rip cleaned + substrate reset in our rip cleaning thread. Variations in flow, catch points in the tank (# live rock) and care habits affect that mulm

Skimmers and gfo are there to catch what leaks from it degrading in the tank. To have it degrade in the tank isn't required...

Thanks! If I were to really scrub down the tank, do you think it'll be worth my while to add the skimmer anyways?

 

[brandon429]

Sure yes

I get see my friend here John Cole's tank and his oversized skimmer is key to managing waste

But he does the anti detritus mode, that's not left out

I too would have a large skimmer if my tank could house one. Skimming allows you to feed nicely and paired with other designs in the tank that concentrate inevitable waste into collectable areas long term management is easy

 

[RobberyinCSharp1824]

Sure yes

I get see my friend here John Cole's tank and his oversized skimmer is key to managing waste

But he does the anti detritus mode, that's not left out

I too would have a large skimmer if my tank could house one. Skimming allows you to feed nicely and paired with other designs in the tank that concentrate inevitable waste into collectable areas long term management is easy

Thanks for your help!