How to know when to start using skimmer?

[Sonatine]

Currently, my 32.5 gal AIO is running without a skimmer. It’s the Fluval flex and is running with the filter it came with. I bought a skimmer but haven’t quite figured when to use it yet.

I’ve held off because my nitrates are reading 0-5 so I’m not sure there’d be much point yet. The tank only has 2 fish in it plus some snails. Ultimate plan is 5ish fish with soft corals down the road. I’ve read mixed opinions on when to start the skimmer. Any thoughts?

 

[Jbell370]

I started mine right away, gives a chance to break in and doesn't hurt to aerate the water.

 

[D3DPrintedThingz]

You may never end up needing a skimmer.

 

[Magic031707]

IMO, depends on bioload and managing to keep nitrates under control..just my 2 cents.

 

[landlubber]

i wouldn't be too quick to add one without a bioload. Filtration equipment is so efficient these days that it can quickly deplete the nutrients in your tank making it near impossible to grow any coral.
If you do decide to implement one, skim dry and keep an eye on both PO4 and NO3 so you can manage input and output of nutrients

 

[ReefGeezer]

It really depends. If you add a lot of corals and few fish in a manner that minimizes nitrates, phosphates, and dissolved organic carbon, you may never need it. If you add a lot of fish, or simply feed the fish you have too heavily, you might need it quickly. Let the testing and your eyes tell you when to start. If nitrates and phosphates are rising, Cyano or algae starts to appear, or the water seems yellow or a foam starts to build up, it's probably time.

 

[Idech]

i wouldn't be too quick to add one without a bioload. Filtration equipment is so efficient these days that it can quickly deplete the nutrients in your tank making it near impossible to grow any coral.
If you do decide to implement one, skim dry and keep an eye on both PO4 and NO3 so you can manage input and output of nutrients

My thoughts exactly. I have had problems with dinos and I believe it is due to using a skimmer too soon, thus not giving the chance to my new ecosystem to build.

 

[Sonatine]

It really depends. If you add a lot of corals and few fish in a manner that minimizes nitrates, phosphates, and dissolved organic carbon, you may never need it. If you add a lot of fish, or simply feed the fish you have too heavily, you might need it quickly. Let the testing and your eyes tell you when to start. If nitrates and phosphates are rising, Cyano or algae starts to appear, or the water seems yellow or a foam starts to build up, it's probably time.

It’s interesting that you mentioned observation as well as testing. My tests are saying nitrates are negligible and phos <0.05, but I’m starting to get some Cyanobacteria. Granted, I’m he tank is only 5ish weeks old so that may be inevitable. But my eyes and tests don’t quite agree. I just bulked up my CUC, maybe I’ll see how that goes first.

 

[ReefGeezer]

It’s interesting that you mentioned observation as well as testing. My tests are saying nitrates are negligible and phos <0.05, but I’m starting to get some Cyanobacteria. Granted, I’m he tank is only 5ish weeks old so that may be inevitable. But my eyes and tests don’t quite agree. I just bulked up my CUC, maybe I’ll see how that goes first.

Inorganic nitrates and phosphates (the ones your test kit can see) are not the only source of nitrogen and phosphate available to Cyanobacteria. They can use organic compounds to get them. Some of those can be removed by GAC and skimming. It could be time to start the skimmer. Watch your feeding also. It is really easy to over feed a couple of fish in a new tank. I'd almost bet you are feeding more than you need.

The secret is maintaining a balance... feeding enough to meet the needs, but not so much as to create excess nutrients, including dissolved organics, and skimming just enough to limit dissolved organics without completely stripping nutrients from the system. Unfortunately, there isn't a formula to follow. It is trial and error.

 

[killer2001]

The first month of cycling my tank I used my skimmer for aeration only, and afterwards slowly started to collect skimmate as bioload increases. Now I'm at about 8 hours a day on/off cycle for my skimmer.

 

[ReefGeezer]

Oh... you have two fish and are reading nitrates. I assumed the cycle was complete.

 

[Sonatine]

Inorganic nitrates and phosphates (the ones your test kit can see) are not the only source of nitrogen and phosphate available to Cyanobacteria. They can use organic compounds to get them. Some of those can be removed by GAC and skimming. It could be time to start the skimmer. Watch your feeding also. It is really easy to over feed a couple of fish in a new tank. I'd almost bet you are feeding more than you need.

The secret is maintaining a balance... feeding enough to meet the needs, but not so much as to create excess nutrients, including dissolved organics, and skimming just enough to limit dissolved organics without completely stripping nutrients from the system. Unfortunately, there isn't a formula to follow. It is trial and error.

I think you are probably right about the overfeeding. I’ve had some shy feeders and the only way to get them to eat was by ensuring plenty of food drifted by them at just the right speed/height… and my aim isn’t good. Fortunately they’re getting more confident.

Maybe it’s time to break out the skimmer this weekend

Oh... you have two fish and are reading nitrates. I assumed the cycle was complete.

And the cycle is complete. Ammonia and nitrites have been zero for weeks.

I think someone else was asking about cycling.

 

[christwendt]

Currently, my 32.5 gal AIO is running without a skimmer. It’s the Fluval flex and is running with the filter it came with. I bought a skimmer but haven’t quite figured when to use it yet.

I’ve held off because my nitrates are reading 0-5 so I’m not sure there’d be much point yet. The tank only has 2 fish in it plus some snails. Ultimate plan is 5ish fish with soft corals down the road. I’ve read mixed opinions on when to start the skimmer. Any thoughts?

Tank is 6 months old for me. No skimmer it’s sitting next to it. Reason is it’s 100 gallons with one small fish. My nitrates are 5-10 and phosphates I have to manually dose. If I added a skimmer right now my nitrate would be zero along with my phosphate. Corrals would be ticked and Dino’s would have a benefit to grow. Mora of story. Every tank is different. Start skimming when you need to based of your waste (phos and nitrates).

 

[Sonatine]

Now I'm leaning away from starting it right now. Phos and nitrate are both bottomed out; I haven't dosed anything, and my water changes have been ~15% every 7-10 days, so nothing extravagant (just hungry nuisance algae lol). And that's even with fairly heavy feeding. I'd like the extra surface agitation, but I'm not sure it's worth giving fuel to the cyano and possibly dinos that I'm starting to grow. I guess I'll just... watch it? See how it goes? I added one more fish, maybe that'll help a little.

 

[ReefGeezer]

I am just getting into the hobby. My 72-gal tank is now 8 weeks old. I have some soft coral and about 10 fish. The man at the store I bought the system told me to wait about three months before starting the protein skimmer. He said bacteria need to form in the sand. Is this good advice?

I don't think specifying a time period for doing anything is ever advisable. Personally, I would have started the skimmer as soon as the cycle was done. I don't think the skimmer has any bearing of the growth of the bacteria the man at the store was talking about. I guarantee that if I had a fairly new 72 gallon tank with 10 fish in it, I'd be running that skimmer.

 

[Spare time]

I only like them in tanks with extreme fish load with no refugium possible or, in tanks where aeration is a concern

 

[shootingstar_reef]

Now I'm leaning away from starting it right now. Phos and nitrate are both bottomed out; I haven't dosed anything, and my water changes have been ~15% every 7-10 days, so nothing extravagant (just hungry nuisance algae lol). And that's even with fairly heavy feeding. I'd like the extra surface agitation, but I'm not sure it's worth giving fuel to the cyano and possibly dinos that I'm starting to grow. I guess I'll just... watch it? See how it goes? I added one more fish, maybe that'll help a little.

It is still way too early, you have no excess nutrients. I have a 45g that is still fine without a skimmer, and if I added one I don't know how I would keep nutrients up. You have a much smaller system, and it may never need one.

My indication that I would ever need one is if my nutrients start rising dramatically and I am not able to bring them down.

 

[Sonatine]

It is still way too early, you have no excess nutrients. I have a 45g that is still fine without a skimmer, and if I added one I don't know how I would keep nutrients up. You have a much smaller system, and it may never need one.

My indication that I would ever need one is if my nutrients start rising dramatically and I am not able to bring them down.

I'm reaching that conclusion too. For now my plan is to get a better nitrate test (API is terrible, but it's all I've got for now), and get my shiny new powerhead installed. The skimmer will stay on the shelf for now.