Newbie question

[A. grandis]

For some reason this really thick haired GHA grows out of the tiny piece of live rock that my mini zoas were fragged on, and nowhere else in the tank. It will grow out between the heads it’s very annoying. Tweezers are definitely the way to go, but that is by far the most stressful part of my tank maintenance! I’m always so worried I will accidentally stab one of them...the minis are so small it would be like using a crane to take off your hat. (The picture is post-maintenance)

In nature we see much more than that. Not to worry too much.
Try to control your nutrients and when the system get older it will look much better..

 

[Magellan]

In nature we see much more than that. Not to worry too much.
Try to control your nutrients and when the system get older it will look much better..

I do an ok job I think, I have undetectable nitrates and phosphates. (I know they are there!). But the tank is only 6 months old so I’m being patient and keeping up with my water changes, it looks better every day.

But serious question: should I run a skimmer? I have a older style 28g JBJ AIO tank that I do 5g water changes every week, run Purigen, Phosguard, and lots of biomedia in addition to filter floss that I clean regularly. I have an ATO set up as well. My parameters are solid, and I have a very happy Goni. I’ve seen theories that Gonis do better in tanks w/o skimmers, and I’m hesitant to change anything. I feel like it will only get better long term, but skimmers are such a “duh” component of most people’s equipment that I keep wondering if I’m messing up.

 

[Magellan]

You're welcome. I recently contacted Julian Sprung about my zoas and has confirmed that they are zoanthus sp. Nice to know that these aren't the highly toxic palythoa. My zoas do close sometimes if my emerald crab crawls on top of it just like your hermit. I too am waiting for my lfs to get better zoa colors. Really wanna get some mushrooms bc my tank is mostly zoa.

I have a green Ricordea shroom that was one of my first coral purchases, it likes low light and low flow and has gotten MUCH larger than the original frag. How do you like your emerald crab? I’ve heard mixed reviews and can’t ever talk myself into getting one, but it would look so cool scuttling around on the bottom -.-

 

[A. grandis]

I do an ok job I think, I have undetectable nitrates and phosphates. (I know they are there!). But the tank is only 6 months old so I’m being patient and keeping up with my water changes, it looks better every day.

But serious question: should I run a skimmer? I have a older style 28g JBJ AIO tank that I do 5g water changes every week, run Purigen, Phosguard, and lots of biomedia in addition to filter floss that I clean regularly. I have an ATO set up as well. My parameters are solid, and I have a very happy Goni. I’ve seen theories that Gonis do better in tanks w/o skimmers, and I’m hesitant to change anything. I feel like it will only get better long term, but skimmers are such a “duh” component of most people’s equipment that I keep wondering if I’m messing up.

Skimmer is the only thing I've ever had in my sump for all my 25 + years of reefkeeping. I run carbon when needed and filter socks to collect detritus. That's all!!!!
Phosphate/nitrate control is done by feeding the fishes wisely and performing water changes.
Yes, get a skimmer running there. There is absolutely nothing in this world that will substitute a nice skimmer running 24/7!!!

 

[Magellan]

Skimmer is the only thing I've ever had in my sump for all my 25 + years of reefkeeping. I run carbon when needed and filter socks to collect detritus. That's all!!!!
Phosphate/nitrate control is done by feeding the fishes wisely and performing water changes.
Yes, get a skimmer running there. There is absolutely nothing in this world that will substitute a nice skimmer running 24/7!!!

See, that word “nice” is another thing that’s made me hesitate. I don’t have a sump, it’s an AIO and there’s very little room in the back for anything besides the media basket, I can’t even fit the heater back there. The options for nano tanks are pretty limited, and I feel like they would add even more heat to the tank. (It gets 2 frozen water bottles a day, I live in NC and it gets hot! Still need a heater for the nighttime tho, I like my a/c!). anything you would recommend?

 

[Magellan]

This is what I’m working with (note my pineapple sponge infestation lol)

 

[bigmike69]

I have a green Ricordea shroom that was one of my first coral purchases, it likes low light and low flow and has gotten MUCH larger than the original frag. How do you like your emerald crab? I’ve heard mixed reviews and can’t ever talk myself into getting one, but it would look so cool scuttling around on the bottom -.-

Ricordea is nice! I'm looking to get a purple rhodactis, beautiful color. My emerald crab has been fine in my tank, pretty much ate 95% of my algae problem. I spot feed about once or twice a week with mysis. Never had a problem with them attacking my fish or corals [emoji16]. Guess it just depends if the crab is crabby or not haha (throw em in the sump if they are mean)

 

[vetteguy53081]

In addition to use of carbon aim slight flow towards zoas to help expel the mucus and keep their surface free of substance from tank

 

[Magellan]

Ricordea is nice! I'm looking to get a purple rhodactis, beautiful color. My emerald crab has been fine in my tank, pretty much ate 95% of my algae problem. I spot feed about once or twice a week with mysis. Never had a problem with them attacking my fish or corals [emoji16]. Guess it just depends if the crab is crabby or not haha (throw em in the sump if they are mean)

Your crab sounds like my sea urchin! How long have you had him? Also, you just made me want a purple rhodactis...

 

[A. grandis]

See, that word “nice” is another thing that’s made me hesitate. I don’t have a sump, it’s an AIO and there’s very little room in the back for anything besides the media basket, I can’t even fit the heater back there. The options for nano tanks are pretty limited, and I feel like they would add even more heat to the tank. (It gets 2 frozen water bottles a day, I live in NC and it gets hot! Still need a heater for the nighttime tho, I like my a/c!). anything you would recommend?

You need to look for nano skimmers and see which one will fit there.
An example: Tunze 9004:

Some people say water changes are sufficient to substitute skimmers, but in reality partial water changes should be performed within a limit!!!!!
Normally 10% is what should be done, not half of the system, for example!
Some systems will need it weekly, some twice a month and some other systems should be fine having it done once a month. That depends on the bioload and needs of that particular system (percentage-wise), not the fact that it's a nano with it's low volume and therefore easy to perform.
Everything in a nano should be percentage-wise compared to bigger systems.

You could also try to find a hang-on skimmer.
Anyway,
Good luck to you.

 

[vetteguy53081]

See also the icecap 70. Compact and really pulls the gunk out

 

[bigmike69]

Your crab sounds like my sea urchin! How long have you had him? Also, you just made me want a purple rhodactis...

Had my emerald for about a year. I also love my nassarius snails that help with sifting the sand. All i need for cuc. Crazy enough a few days ago i found a small banded sea star that hitchhiked on a zoa frag.

 

[Magellan]

Had my emerald for about a year. I also love my nassarius snails that help with sifting the sand. All i need for cuc. Crazy enough a few days ago i found a small banded sea star that hitchhiked on a zoa frag.

Oh man, that emerald must be putting in work! I have a couple of nassarius but mostly they just stay buried and I don’t see them much. I have a lawnmower blenny, blue legged hermit crabs and a bunch of different snails. It’s been interesting to see the progression of their impact on the tank as it’s started to mature...when there was lots of algae they didn’t have to work hard to find food, but now that most of it is gone they are almost always out and about and keep things looking nice.

 

[Magellan]

You need to look for nano skimmers and see which one will fit there.
An example: Tunze 9004:

Some people say water changes are sufficient to substitute skimmers, but in reality partial water changes should be performed within a limit!!!!!
Normally 10% is what should be done, not half of the system, for example!
Some systems will need it weekly, some twice a month and some other systems should be fine having it done once a month. That depends on the bioload and needs of that particular system (percentage-wise), not the fact that it's a nano with it's low volume and therefore easy to perform.
Everything in a nano should be percentage-wise compared to bigger systems.

You could also try to find a hang-on skimmer.
Anyway,
Good luck to you.

I change out 5 gallons every 7-10 days on a 28g, but not all at once. I like to do 2 small changes if possible so I can export more detritus and wash off my filter bags. I’m kinda OCD about my tank but I work from home and enjoy it. My parameters are really solid and have been for a long time, and it seems that the GHA and cyano cycles (praise be the aquarium gods that never got too bad!) have come and gone. Will a skimmer just make my maintenance easier, or are there added benefits that I won’t see without one?

 

[A. grandis]

I change out 5 gallons every 7-10 days on a 28g, but not all at once. I like to do 2 small changes if possible so I can export more detritus and wash off my filter bags. I’m kinda OCD about my tank but I work from home and enjoy it. My parameters are really solid and have been for a long time, and it seems that the GHA and cyano cycles (praise be the aquarium gods that never got too bad!) have come and gone. Will a skimmer just make my maintenance easier, or are there added benefits that I won’t see without one?

Skimmer does not substitute water changes.
With the skimmer we are able to export junk constantly and therefore you can do less water changes to replace trace elements and remove detritus.
There are no aquarium gods. There is only one God, the creator or everything.

 

[bigmike69]

I change out 5 gallons every 7-10 days on a 28g, but not all at once. I like to do 2 small changes if possible so I can export more detritus and wash off my filter bags. I’m kinda OCD about my tank but I work from home and enjoy it. My parameters are really solid and have been for a long time, and it seems that the GHA and cyano cycles (praise be the aquarium gods that never got too bad!) have come and gone. Will a skimmer just make my maintenance easier, or are there added benefits that I won’t see without one?

I don't even run any skimmers in my 30. I just do 10 gal water changes every week and a half or 2 [emoji16]. Water quality has been stable and well. But then again i dont have much livestock in my tank.

 

[A. grandis]

There are many ways to keep reef tanks.
Skimmers aren't something indispensable.
Just so the newbies know...
I believe the skimmer will keep a better stability with less percentage of water changes and the ability of removing organics and other substances 24/7 is a great tool. It helps to export phosphates if kalkwasser is used. It helps to control nitrates removing the organic substances before they brake down and release nitrogen compounds. Just my view.
But not indispensable.

 

[bigmike69]

There are many ways to keep reef tanks.
Skimmers aren't something indispensable.
Just so the newbies know...
I believe the skimmer will keep a better stability with less percentage of water changes and the ability of removing organics and other substances 24/7 is a great tool. It helps to export phosphates if kalkwasser is used. It helps to control nitrates removing the organic substances before they brake down and release nitrogen compounds. Just my view.
But not indispensable.

I mean the other dude doesnt really have to buy a skimmer. I find it easier to diy my stuff... plastic tubing and wood airstone would be good enough for me(nano tanks)

 

[Magellan]

There are many ways to keep reef tanks.
Skimmers aren't something indispensable.
Just so the newbies know...
I believe the skimmer will keep a better stability with less percentage of water changes and the ability of removing organics and other substances 24/7 is a great tool. It helps to export phosphates if kalkwasser is used. It helps to control nitrates removing the organic substances before they brake down and release nitrogen compounds. Just my view.
But not indispensable.

That’s actually part of my reasoning. I don’t dose anything except trace elements, reef roids, and alk. My calcium stays around 400, which seems to be enough to keep everything happy and growing. My long term goal is to continue to use this tank to learn as much as I can about the hobby and the different corals (I have alittle bit of everything in there) and eventually upgrade to something larger and figure out how to plumb a sump. This tank is so primitive it runs off a 150w metal halide bulb...no ramp up, just 8 hours a day plus some blue LEDs in the corners of the hood. But hey...this is what my Pocillapora looked like when I brought it home from the LFS. The second picture is from a couple days ago (maybe 3 months apart). When I got the tank the bulb was all white but I have a blue tinted one now.

 

[A. grandis]

I mean the other dude doesnt really have to buy a skimmer. I find it easier to diy my stuff... plastic tubing and wood airstone would be good enough for me(nano tanks)

Agreed. DIY is good, if he wants.