Protein skimmer a must?

[gemini9]

I'm following a CPR Bak-Pak 2 on ebay ready for purchase. But before I spend the 140 bucks, I wanted to know if it's worth it to have in my tank along side of my HOB Marineland Penguin 350 filter. I am starting a FOWL. I have 160ppm nitrates at the moment. Will a protein skimmer remove nitrates? I don't have a sump yet and won't have one until later down the road. Maybe.

 

[Reef.ductionist]

Fish only with live rock? I think if you dont overfeed and keep your carbon and keep your filter really clean you dont need the skimmer.
My .02$

 

[Dalmatia]

I ran a 39g for a couple of years with no skimmer, just a aquaclear 70 and 2 small hydor pumps...Tank did amazing.

 

[Dalmatia]

Sorry I have a pic of it still!!!
It's been a while, but I was wrong on the filter, it was a whisper 80 hob.

 

[gemini9]

Never had a trouble with nitrates? Mine are off the charts for some reason

 

[Dalmatia]

Well not really cause I used my established rock which had a huge bio load
Do you have anything in your tank (fish coral or inverts)?

 

[Dalmatia]

If you don't try doing a 100% water change and see where it stands than.

 

[Reef.ductionist]

For my tank I added a fuge at the rear and light it with the 55.00 coralife fuge light and run it 24/7 with chaeto in it, in addition I use a carbon/floss filter and have one bag of purigen. I change my carbon and floss about once every 5 days and have had this setup and running for about 8 weeks now with no algae blooms. My tank is fairly heavily stocked so I keep a close eye on flow etcetc

 

[gemini9]

I don't have any fish in there yet so a large water change might help. I was considering cheato for in my main display as a temporary basis. If my lfs has any. Maybe I'll try changing my filters/carbon more often than every 2 weeks and change them every week instead. I duno...

 

[Reefing Madness]

If your tank just finished cycling, its not uncommon to have to do several very large water changes to get the Nitrates down.
Is a skimmer necessary, no, but you must have a large supply of salt handy for all the water changes necessary to keep your water params in line.

 

[PatW]

Skimmers are a method of nutrient export. On smaller tanks, you can accomplish similar results with big water changes.

 

[gar732]

What size is your tank? For something like a 12 gallon tank I'd say water changes will get you by. For something larger I'd say go with the skimmer. For $140 I would buy a used aquamaxx hob-1, it's a beast of a skimmer and has nothing but great reviews.

 

[gemini9]

It's a 30 gallon tank. I'll be purchasing my skimmer this weekend. I did a 20% water change again today and nitrates are still over 160ppm so I'm gonna order the skimmer and see if that helps. Each water change is costing me $8 and it's starting to add up. at $16 a week in water, I gotta do something here. Can't keep this up forever.

 

[gemini9]

Is the Aquamaxx pump an in-water pump like what's on the octopus or bakpak? I hear the in-water pumps are much more quiet than those located outside the tank.

 

[81Shaun]

What size is your tank? For something like a 12 gallon tank I'd say water changes will get you by. For something larger I'd say go with the skimmer. For $140 I would buy a used aquamaxx hob-1, it's a beast of a skimmer and has nothing but great reviews.

just out of curiosity but where can you get a aquamaxx hob1 for $140.00? im looking into one for a 28 nano and every aquamaxx hob1 ive seen is going for over $200.00