How important is a protein skimmer for you ?

[vetteguy53081]

We all see tanks with issues or with levels of nitrates and more. Often, a post is made to get a skimmer but rarely is there a reason as to why? Is it truly important to have one?
I feel it is very important to have as it reduces water changes by removing compounds which cause levels of ammonia , nitrate and Phosphates by creating bubbles which rises and overflows into a collection cup for dispensing. Its easy enough to clean and maintain while producing foam that offers results as well as added oxygen to the system.
There has been question as to whether or not, its a necessity. If your tank has a bioload, a skimmer is your friend.

Do you run a skimmer and what type?
Have you seen positive results with your unit and what are they?
Why did you choose the unit you are using?

I currently use an IceCap K3 series which is constantly removing gunk. As a Backup, I have a new Vertex skimmer in the box. Ice cap has been both quiet and reliable. Previously I used the Aqua Maxx Q3 cone which also fantastic but the collection cup tended to stick when it came time to empty it. Prior to that, Reef Octopus and reef Octo versions as well as Older Nyos and Deltec unit.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

I use an Aquamaxx 1.5 HOB
I love it, works great.
I picked it because it was the biggest HOB at the time with an external motor.
I would buy this again if anything happened to it. it's been running for 2.5 years without issue.

 

[workhz]

Red Sea 300. Works great but I just use it to aerate now. One of my baffles failed so regulating water height (other than by ato) went away and it’s too sensitive without a proper chamber. It’s been like that for a year and I don’t see any negative effects (not too much bio load and softies).

 

[archercorals]

I think the air ration it provides is unbeat. Ppl chase oh so much. A good skimmer csb give you a consistent bump

 

[vetteguy53081]

I use an Aquamaxx 1.5 HOB
I love it, works great.
I picked it because it was the biggest HOB at the time with an external motor.
I would buy this again if anything happened to it. it's been running for 2.5 years without issue.

AquaMaxx is no doubt a quality component.

 

[Gtinnel]

I probably wouldn’t run a tank without a skimmer. I have no evidence to prove it but I’d imagine it has to help with oxygenating the water.

My Reef tank is using a vertex omega 180i that I picked up as the company was going under so I got it for a steal from BRS. The thing is a little finicky to adjust but once it’s working it does a phenomenal job.

On my FOWLR I am using either an old bubble king mini, which I was given free with the tank, or I have been putting the IOAOI skimmer that I got for free on the tank. The bubble king is an older ac pump model but it still does a wonderful job, and couldn’t be easier to remove the cup and clean. The IOAOI does a great job when it is on the tank, but can’t compete with the bubble king (which I wouldn’t expect it to). For being a budget skimmer it does a good job though.

In the past I have used one of the earliest Reef Octopus models which skimmed well but I don’t care for the way they used a vertical pipe as the outlet. It caused way too much water splashing. I have also used a sea clone in the past. That thing was nearly worthless.

 

[EricR]

No skimmer,,, no sump,,, no room.
40 gallons with low bio-load and struggle more with low nutrients than high.
*if I had the room, I'd probably opt for one though

 

[vetteguy53081]

No skimmer,,, no sump,,, no room.
40 gallons with low bio-load and struggle more with low nutrients than high.
*if I had the room, I'd probably opt for one though

For your tank, if you ever have the need, the Ice Cap K1-50 would be ideal and it hangs if you dont have the room to run it internally

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Imo, all I have to do is see - smell what comes out of the water using a skimmer to know it's best practice to use a skimmer

 

[exnisstech]

I run 4 tanks but one is just for misfit nems and coral. This tank I do nothing to except an occasional wc with water removed from my 180g.
The other 3 are mixed reef tanks. All have similar filtration with the exception of skimmers. All have socks and fuge with chaeto. All tanks are fed the same frozen food multiple times a day. Water changes are very small performed every other day but not religiously.

Newest tank has been up 3.5 months. 75g total volume. I'm running a reef octopus 110 ss in this one. Reason I'm running a skimmer is because I'm using a method Sunny x laid out in one of his articles using reef snow and MB7 and a skimmer is recommended. I'll continue to run this skimmer as long as I'm following that method. Last night's testing had N at 3.8 P at 0.14. My LPS seem to like a little more N so I dosed some nitrate. This skimmer pulls very little out of the water.

Next tank is about 40ish g total volume. Tank has been running several years but rock was changed out a little over a year ago and it went through a reset. No skimmer in this tank. Last night's test has N at 9.8 and P at 0.12 I'm good with that.

Last tank about 220g total volume. Tank running close to 8 years. Skimmer is a reef octopus 200 INT but I took this skimmer off line a few weeks ago because it needs cleaned and wasn't removing anything. Testing last night had N at 2.9 and P at 0.42. I dosed some nitrate to that tank.

So for me I'm really not seeing much of an effect with or without a skimmer. What I find really interesting is that so many people say they are awesome at gas exchange and helping with pH. I tested pH at the same time last night using Hanna tester. The pH on tank one with the skimmer was 8.3 Tank two with no skimmer pH 8.2 Tank three with no skimmer pH 8.3 so I'm not seeing this benifit from the additional gas exchange as well as not much effect on N and P also

 

[X-37B]

On my old 120, current 80, I run a Tunze 9430dc.

On my 45 I run a 9410dc with a 9410 as backup.

On my 20 I run a diy air driven skimmer.

I prefer the underrated Tunze skimmers as they are set and forget.

 

[j.falk]

I have a question, how do you make a skimmer have a drier skimmate? I added a new skimmer to my tank last night and within an hour it had filled up 1/4th of the collection cup...but the skim was very wet and I have the skimmer turned down to the lowest setting it will go. I'd like something a little drier that takes a lot longer to fill up the cup as there is no way I would trust this thing to run overnight without overflowing.

 

[X-37B]

I have a question, how do you make a skimmer have a drier skimmate? I added a new skimmer to my tank last night and within an hour it had filled up 1/4th of the collection cup...but the skim was very wet and I have the skimmer turned down to the lowest setting it will go. I'd like something a little drier that takes a lot longer to fill up the cup as there is no way I would trust this thing to run overnight without overflowing.

Only was is to raise the skimmer.
You can make a stand. Both of my skimmers sit on stands for optimal performance.

 

[Miami Reef]

For me, it depends on the water volume and livestock. In my current tank, I would certainly not run it without a skimmer.

 

[Troylee]

I have a question, how do you make a skimmer have a drier skimmate? I added a new skimmer to my tank last night and within an hour it had filled up 1/4th of the collection cup...but the skim was very wet and I have the skimmer turned down to the lowest setting it will go. I'd like something a little drier that takes a lot longer to fill up the cup as there is no way I would trust this thing to run overnight without overflowing.

Set it on a platform to raise it up… 5” of water works great for just that!

 

[Salty_Northerner]

I use a tunze doc combline dc 9004 skimmer. Reason why I bought it was because it fits the second chamber of my WB and it's been running for a week now. It's pulling out a bit of fish poo but also to help oxygenate the water. Also was a big assistant in cleaning the water from the fine sand dust. As for nutrients it's going to be very helpful as I'll be loading this WB up with alot more fish and Coral in the very near future.

 

[zoomonster]

I have pretty much run a heavy bioload with lots of fish, lots of corals and both like to be fed so I have always run a skimmer with ozone at that.

I run a Reef Octopus XP3000Int that after running almost continuously for over 9 years is one of the only pieces of original equipment in this tank. Bought it because it was about the biggest skimmer that would fit in my sump and stand. Going to start on a little 32g build this weekend and guess what it's going to get another RO (or maybe Tunze) if I do decide to add a skimmer to it.

Waste removal before it turns into nitrate or other stuff, aeration/oxygenation and the ozone helps break down organics to be skimmed off and serves the same purpose as UV.

 

[j.falk]

Hmm....that vetteguy sure does like to talk about skimmers.

 

[apb03]

I have the Nyos Quantum 160. Had an issue recently where it was out of commission for a good 2 weeks (a combination of Chemiclean and user error on my part) and found my Nutrients were actually quite stable with my Refugium and Filter roller running.

That said, there's something about the skimmer that makes me feel like I'm taking good care of my tank. Maybe it's all the brown junk that would otherwise not be removed that I can visually see, I dunno. Certainly feels psychological.

 

[ReefGeezer]

Do you run a skimmer and what type?

Yes. I have a BUbble Magnus Curve 7 running right now.

Have you seen positive results with your unit and what are they?

Results are mixed. While the observable DOC level indicators are reduced when the skimmer is operating properly, N&P levels get too low in a very short period. I end up feeding more and still adding some ammonia and phosphate. The Curve 7 is flaky and tends to overflow if you look at it funny. I think that reduces it's overall effectiveness at least a little in the long term.

Why did you choose the unit you are using?

I used to run a old Reef Octo 150 NWS External. Great skimmer, but it was oversized for my 90. While it was great when the tank was young, it got to be too effective as my tank matured. The Curve 7 is much less effective, has a smaller footprint, is very quiet, and seems to not be too effective when I adjust it very dry.