protein skimmer the end all be all?

Pistondog · Apr 15, 2021

Sorry meant to link

Pros vs Cons: Live Rock vs Dry Rock

There are many pros and cons for starting a new aquarium with Live Rock or Dry Rock. Many people choose to setup their tank with both live and dry rock. So what do you think is best and what are the pros and cons of both of these options?

www.reef2reef.com

afk-47 · Apr 15, 2021

Pistondog said:
Sorry meant to link

Pros vs Cons: Live Rock vs Dry Rock

There are many pros and cons for starting a new aquarium with Live Rock or Dry Rock. Many people choose to setup their tank with both live and dry rock. So what do you think is best and what are the pros and cons of both of these options?

www.reef2reef.com

I choose live sand with dry rock. For it, it came down to cost. Live rock at my lfs is 8 $/lb which would have really eaten up a lot of my budget. I am willing to save the money to buy more stuff and just tough it out. Just my train of thought on this subject.

Pistondog · Apr 15, 2021

afk-47 said:
I choose live sand with dry rock. For it, it came down to cost. Live rock at my lfs is 8 $/lb which would have really eaten up a lot of my budget. I am willing to save the money to buy more stuff and just tough it out. Just my train of thought on this subject.

That is expensive. You can get rock from the ocean shipped to you for $5/lb. (Gulfliverock.com)
Some do a hybrid some dry, some live, to get the biodiversity that comes with ocean rock.

afk-47 · Apr 15, 2021

Pistondog said:
That is expensive. You can get rock from the ocean shipped to you for $5/lb. (Gulfliverock.com)
Some do a hybrid some dry, some live, to get the biodiversity that comes with ocean rock.

I have about 80-90 pounds right now but could maybe sub out about 35lbs with live. Wish I would have known these prices man. I would have just gotten all it in live. Wonder if I can return what I got and how much it would cost to ship back...

Pistondog · Apr 15, 2021

Glad you can consider it now.

ZoWhat · Apr 15, 2021

... I mean, why trust in a technology that has been around since the late 1960s and proven to clean and oxygenate the water?

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JCM · Apr 15, 2021

Pistondog said:
That is expensive. You can get rock from the ocean shipped to you for $5/lb. (Gulfliverock.com)
Some do a hybrid some dry, some live, to get the biodiversity that comes with ocean rock.

This is what I did. 35 lbs live from Gulf Live Rock, 15 lbs live from KP, and 15 lbs dry from BRS. couldn't be happier.

afk-47 · Apr 15, 2021

I am between these 3. any help?

Classic 150INT 6”

eSsence S-130

RSK 300

PeterC99 · Apr 15, 2021

afk-47 said:
I am between these 3. any help?

Classic 150INT 6”
eSsence S-130
RSK 300

Recommend a skimmer with a DC pump which is controllable. Found that skimmers with AC pumps run at one speed and produce erratic skimmate.

Timfish · Apr 15, 2021

Keep in mind skimmers don't remove the hydrophillic stuff that promotes pathogenic shifts in coral holobionts.

Unseen players shape benthic competition on coral reefs - PubMed

Recent work has shown that hydrophilic and hydrophobic organic matter (OM) from algae disrupts the function of the coral holobiont and promotes the invasion of opportunistic pathogens, leading to coral morbidity and mortality. Here we refer to these dynamics as the (3)DAM [dissolved organic...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

afk-47 · Apr 15, 2021

PeterC99 said:
Recommend a skimmer with a DC pump which is controllable. Found that skimmers with AC pumps run at one speed and produce erratic skimmate.

I understand but im a baller on a budget over here

fachatga · Apr 15, 2021

I often think of things as upside and downside. What’s the downside? None. What’s the upside? Cleaner water. Maybe you don’t really need it. But it only can help. Why not. I would.