Should I get a new skimmer or a fleece roller?

[jonny4ever]

So I have a 60 breeder. 5 fish, feed pretty heavy. I have a small 10g sump all at 1 level with no baffles, I have a filter sock and a tunze 9001 skimmer. My nutrients stay low even with low water changes but I do plan on adding a few smaller fish/shrimp and bottom dwellers but I’d like to upgrade my filtrate first. What do you guys recommend?

 

[Natural_Reefer]

The filter roller will definitely help filtering out detritus and your current skimmer might be enough to remove nutrients. It will also help the water to stay clear. However, the filter roller has consumable media so that is an on going cost (and might be pricey depend on the brand you pick).
Larger skimmer will be good as well and one time expense.

 

[jonny4ever]

The filter roller will definitely help filtering out detritus and your current skimmer might be enough to remove nutrients. It will also help the water to stay clear. However, the filter roller has consumable media so that is an on going cost (and might be pricey depend on the brand you pick).
Larger skimmer will be good as well and one time expense.

Must be nice not having to swap and clean filter socks everyday though. I heard some rolls last anywhere from 1-2 months. It’s my main reason for wanting it, I use felt socks that clog every 3-4 days

 

[Natural_Reefer]

Must be nice not having to swap and clean filter socks everyday though. I heard some rolls last anywhere from 1-2 months. It’s my main reason for wanting it, I use felt socks that clog every 3-4 days

Yes, I started using Roller Filter about 3 months ago with the Bubble Magus medium size. The 1st 2 rolls lasted about 10 days (at $20 each). So it might get expensive depending on how dirty your tank get but at 60gal I don't think it will be so bad. Plus I don't think you will have so may fishes for the size of the tank.

 

[jonny4ever]

Yes, I started using Roller Filter about 3 months ago with the Bubble Magus medium size. The 1st 2 rolls lasted about 10 days (at $20 each). So it might get expensive depending on how dirty your tank get but at 60gal I don't think it will be so bad. Plus I don't think you will have so may fishes for the size of the tank.

I’m thinking about having maybe 8-10 fish in the tank. Wanna add a yellow coris wrasse, a pair of cardinals and a blenny of some sort

 

[NotoriousDMC]

Filter rollers are amazing and a “must” for me now. I’ve had both a ClariSea and now the Reefmat only RSR 300XL.

 

[dmsc2fs]

It looks like the skimmer you are using is undersized for your system. You may be in a position that even with a mat you would need to upgrade the skimmer down the road. If your plan is to only replace one and no option for replacing both I think you are better off with a larger skimmer for the load you are thinking. If you could upgrade the skimmer and add a mat if you did it over time I would add the mat and use your current skimmer.

My guess is with a good roller mat you can keep your current skimmer. The only way to know; however, is to put it in production and see how it works. If your current skimmer isn't sufficient with a mat you could upgrade later.

I have a Redsea 1200 and a Clarisea 5000 on two different tanks. One thing to keep in mind is something I discovered. This is a design feature in the Clarisea but it turned into a flaw for me. I have the 5000 in a 90g tank and mounted in the standard location it would not consume enough mat to not throw an alarm. If the Clarisea does not move the roll in an 8 hour period it throws an alarm. Yes, I kept throwing an alarm because I wasn't using enough mat! I moved the roller off the mounts and put it on a platform very deep in my sump in order for getting more consumption out of the mat. I really wish I would of went with the smaller roller but I didn't.