Refugee or skimmer

[Perthegallon]

Should I do a refugee or a skimmer I only have room for one it’s a 45 gallon display

 

[Spare time]

Depends. I prefer refugium so I don't have to do water changes. What is your main goal with either of them?

 

[Perthegallon]

Depends. I prefer refugium so I don't have to do water changes. What is your main goal with either of them?

Not really sure what would ever do for me that would be different then the other

 

[Spare time]

Not really sure what would ever do for me that would be different then the other

Protein skimmers are handy if you have a heavy fish load or like to carbon dose. They are also handy for some medications that require skimming. Refugiums are better for removing nitrates and phosphates. If you don't have a heavy fish load, then a good light and a refugium is the way to go. If you have lots of fish or some really big ones that poop a lot, a skimmer may be a better choice. The only work you have to do with the fuge is make sure the algae doesn't get shaded by others and that you dose the proper trace elements.

 

[Perthegallon]

Protein skimmers are handy if you have a heavy fish load or like to carbon dose. They are also handy for some medications that require skimming. Refugiums are better for removing nitrates and phosphates. If you don't have a heavy fish load, then a good light and a refugium is the way to go. If you have lots of fish or some really big ones that poop a lot, a skimmer may be a better choice. The only work you have to do with the fuge is make sure the algae doesn't get shaded by others and that you dose the proper trace elements.

Could I do a water change every month to fix the trade element issue?

 

[Spare time]

Could I do a water change every month to fix the trade element issue?

No they consume it too fast. It is pretty easy to dose trace though. From my experience, the macro ends up if I don't dose any trace. They die sometime less than a month

 

[X-37B]

Depends. I prefer refugium so I don't have to do water changes. What is your main goal with either of them?

I run a skimmer, dose trace, and run a, no scheduled water change system.
For me its one less thing to maintain.
Looks like the op has a skimmer already.
If thats the tank their is no room for a fuge imo.

 

[Crabby48]

Protein skimmers are handy if you have a heavy fish load or like to carbon dose. They are also handy for some medications that require skimming. Refugiums are better for removing nitrates and phosphates. If you don't have a heavy fish load, then a good light and a refugium is the way to go. If you have lots of fish or some really big ones that poop a lot, a skimmer may be a better choice. The only work you have to do with the fuge is make sure the algae doesn't get shaded by others and that you dose the proper trace elements.

In my little experience fuges are way more efficient then a skimmer. Hardest part is dialing in fuge light so I don’t remove to much nnutrients

 

[HB AL]

Skimmer

 

[Perthegallon]

Skimmer

What is the lowest amount of hours I can start with on the lighting

 

[Joeg]

Is there room on the back of your display for a small HOB fuge? That could be the Best of Both Worlds (...cue up Van Hagar).

 

[Fernthereefer]

If possible, how about a DIY chaeto reactor ?

I like the stability that macroalgae provides to the water parameters, C02, PO4, N03. But I could not be without a protein skimmer to remove organics. Maybe I am overthinking it.

 

[this is me]

If I have to choose, I would choose the skimmer over the refuge.
You can always go a chaeto reactor like someone suggested.

 

[HNR]

I would also go with a skimmer. I feel like with a skimmer there's more room for error (in case you accidentally dose something or over feed) and the effect is more immediate than a fuge in that a skimmer pulls out organics before they can break down while a fuge pulls out nutrients. You can also carbon dose with a skimmer to get rid of water changes/lower nutrients directly which I believe is more efficient than a fuge.

 

[Perthegallon]

So what I think I’m going to do is use a acclimation box to hold the macro and put it next to the skimmer but I’m assuming I won’t need to big of a box

 

[Perthegallon]

Is there room on the back of your display for a small HOB fuge? That could be the Best of Both Worlds (...cue up Van Hagar).

Could I do one on the back of a sump?

 

[joseserrano]

skimmer, you'll get more out of that than the small amount of macro you can grow in that compartment.

 

[Perthegallon]

I did this but it’s not turning but there is water flow going through it