Skimmer or more flow?

LuizW13 · May 20, 2019

Imagine you have a 25g IM Lagoon AIO system that has been running for about 1.5 years with just one fish at the moment, but one in QT and 2/3 possibly on the way. There's a couple of snails, some hermit crabs, and a bunch of pods of all types.

Would you get a nano skimmer (the IceCap K1 nano) or an additional power head (IceCap gyre)? And why?

The only filtration I have other than sand and rock is filter pads- my water is 'clean' as it is already.

As for flow, i have one aquamedic pump a nano hydor pump parallel from each other and a Sicce 1.0 return pump.

I'm leaning more towards flow, what do you guys think?

mta_morrow · May 20, 2019

Do you have, or will you have coral?

If you have coral, I would get a skimmer.

If you don’t have coral, I wouldn’t by either and just do water changes.

LuizW13 · May 20, 2019

mta_morrow said:
Do you have, or will you have coral?

If you have coral, I would get a skimmer.

If you don’t have coral, I wouldn’t by either and just do water changes.

Yes, i do, and plan to have a variety of corals.

Hemmdog · May 20, 2019

Get both, they are cheap.

mta_morrow · May 20, 2019

LuizW13 said:
Yes, i do, and plan to have a variety of corals.

Do you already have a power head? If so and if your corals are doing ok now, I would get the skimmer first.

LuizW13 · May 20, 2019

Hemmdog said:
Get both, they are cheap.

Stop it, don't tempt me! ;Shifty

LuizW13 · May 20, 2019

mta_morrow said:
Do you already have a power head? If so and if your corals are doing ok now, I would get the skimmer first.

Yes, i have a aquamedic controllable power head(which is really nice by the way) rated for 75g and a cheap Hydor one that would probably be best in a 10gal in terms of power.

mta_morrow · May 20, 2019

LuizW13 said:
Yes, i have a aquamedic controllable power head(which is really nice by the way) rated for 75g and a cheap Hydor one that would probably be best in a 10gal in terms of power.

Well, I would purchase the skimmer, and spend the leftover ash on a new frag!

LuizW13 · May 20, 2019

mta_morrow said:
Well, I would prophet the skimmer, and spend the leftover ash on a new frag!

Any particular reason why? I've read and heard that skimmers aren't really necessary in small tanks.. flow is better and this and that.

mta_morrow · May 20, 2019

LuizW13 said:
Any particular reason why? I've read and heard that skimmers aren't really necessary in small tanks.. flow is better and this and that.

I believe stability of all the major elements and PO4 and NO3 are crucial for happy corals.

A skimmer will help with that.

And you already have 2 powerheads.

LuizW13 · May 20, 2019

mta_morrow said:
I believe stability of all the major elements and PO4 and NO3 are crucial for happy corals.

A skimmer will help with that.

And you already have 2 powerheads.

Thanks for your input!