New tank/protein skimmer

[BeachBumTX]

I am 2 months in on my 120g. Billiard is still low. Only have 4 chromis. Cycle is complete....zero on ammonia and nitrite. Jave minimal nitrates. Ugly stage is just starting. Adding some cuc today and some more fish in weeks to come.

At what point should I start running a protein skimmer? No corals yet. Letting the ugly stage finish up. No rush on corals.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Run a protein skimmer from day 1
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

It will have no change or effect on cycling or "ugly stages" which is a new reefer term.
D

 

[zdrc]

I would wait until you have higher nutrients. A skimmer is not a necessary item for a reef tank, it's just one tool of many used to control wastes like nitrates and phosphates. Since your nitrates are already low, I don't see a reason to run one right now. If you do run it now, you increase the risk of bottoming out your nutrients and inviting dinos and cyano to take off. I would just let the tank stabilize.

You could run it, like monkeyCmonkeyDo said, but there really doesn't seem to be a reason to start using it based on what you've said.

 

[BeachBumTX]

It will have no change or effect on cycling or "ugly stages" which is a new reefer term.
D

Figured I didn't need it with bioload so low. Only reason I already have a skimmer is I bought it when I was building the tank and sump. Wanted to know the exact foot print of it.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Skimmers fluctuate up and down off the present doc levels. They aren't meant to skim 24/7.
D

 

[Aaron75]

Ya, I'd set it up and let it run, even if you just run it very dry because it's not pulling much. It can't really hurt.