Protein Skimmer Media Question Urgent**

[Lucyintheseawithdiamonds]

New to the hobby I have a 75 gallon FOWLR set up. I have a cora life protein skimmer that I was going to get with a canister filter (until I set up my sump and get an RO/DI filter). My friend who use to have a beautiful reef tank advised me to just run the tank with the protein skimmer with media inside of it, instead of a canister filter and protein skimmer. I've done a lot of looking around and really have not seen a lot of explanations on why this would work or how to set it up properly. I imagine it would be set up in the same fashion as a canister filter assuming the way the water flows through it is similar. I know the dumbest question asked is the one never asked. I have a singapore angelfish, black edge moray, yellow head moray, and a few fish on the way that deserve the proper care. I've only lost fish due to my eels and realized the shape and size i purchase them are critical if i want to save money. With that said will this work and if so what biological, mechanical and chemical filtration do you recommend? I've recently read carbon could possibly have a bad effect on the tank although it was mentioning corals and such being affected by that. I learned through research that since I love my eels im gonna have to do a separate tank for a reef. Thank you ahead of time. Cheers.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Canister filters can be great filtration for reef tanks. Issue is they have to be opened and cleaned regularly or else they can cause nitrates to spike. If it's a fowlr and you do consistent weekly water changes, you can run without a canister filter and just wait until you add on your sump

 

[Lucyintheseawithdiamonds]

That's good news, thank you! Any media you would suggest? I tend to lean faithfully towards sea chem products the science behind it sells me. But always open to suggestions.

 

[Billdogg]

I have never heard of putting anything in a skimmer other than bubbles and water. Any media you might use will just reduce the bubbles and therefore the effectiveness of the skimmer.

That being said, before I'd use a canister again I'd get a couple reactors - the TLF or BRS style both work well - and run activated carbon in one, with the other in reserve for GFO. The carbon is great at removing various toxins from the water as well as DOC's that get make the water look yellow. GFO is a valuable tool to combat excess Phosphates, but because a small amount of PO4 is essential for your creatures, should not be used unless/until needed.

HTH!