Skimmer or Refugium??

[Salt & Peper]

Imo skimmers made for 29gallons or less don't work. Plus you need to empty it so no travel. HOB fuge will and dose work like said above your rock and coral will also use up nutrients. Imo you can't go more then 2 weeks without a water change in a nano! Hope this helps!

 

[burnetb1]

This depends on your bio-load. I agree that small skimmers don't work well, but tiny refugiums don't offer any more really. I would start out with just water changes and see where to go from there. If your water changes arent doing enough nutrient export, then add a fuge or skimmer. Either will be pretty cheap to implement at that size.
My gut feeling is a skimmer would be better for a higher fish bio-load, but I have no data to back that up.

Best thing for a nano in my opinion is automated water changes. With such a small volume of water, its almost cheaper to invest in a more frequent water change schedule than spending money on equipment. Even with a skimmer and fuge you still need to perform water changes.

 

[jda]

Even if a skimmer is not all that effective, what else is going to do that much gas exchange and get all of the toxins and metals out of the water that are bound to organics? Skimmer is a tireless worker that will still do it's job all the time and not have periods of die off, rest and stagnant growth relying on live stuff and then a human to keep them happy.

Removing DOC is only one job of a skimmer.

 

[Tim Olson]

I started using use a Kessil H380 about a year ago for my 10 gallon refugium. Before that I had a Kessil H80. I could never get the chaeto to grow well with the H80, but when I switched to the H380 I was amazed that the chaeto started to grow very fast.

After looking at your 20G AIO peninsula setup, I'm wondering if that middle chamber would be big enough for a "normal" refugium. Although, I bet you could find a neat unit that's designed to fit in that space. You also might want to look at an algae scrubber too.

 

[PhreeByrd]

I would also vote skimmer. You might be surprised by how much gunk it will remove, and the gas exchange benefits can't be minimized.

A hang on back skimmer might let you have the best of both worlds, but I haven't used one for so long, I don't know what's available anymore.

 

[LeftFootedJedi]

All great feedback, thank you for the input.

 

[G60bv]

I just use a 9w tunze chic refugium stripe. Easy. Just chuck it in. Cheap to run and a cup full of fresh chaeto. Has become a foot ball in a couple of weeks ... Led runs 247

 

[msduarte99]

I just use a 9w tunze chic refugium stripe. Easy. Just chuck it in. Cheap to run and a cup full of fresh chaeto. Has become a foot ball in a couple of weeks ... Led runs 247

I am between this Tunze Chic and the IM ChaetoMax. Does anybody else have an opinion?

 

[TheKyle]

Skimmer hands down. You would need a MASSIVE fuge to export as much gunk as a good well tuned skimmer.

I agree with this. I have skimmer and nice sized refugium with insane growth but it still isn’t enough to keep nutrients in check on its own. Have to carbon dose and use phosphate removers on top of that. Skimmer gives you the option for carbon dosing in the future if you ever need it.

Another option you could consider is algae turf scrubber like the ones Clearwater makes. Never used one personally but my lfs and their customers swear by them these days. Saying it makes a skimmer not necessary.

 

[Paulie069]

I agree with this. I have skimmer and nice sized refugium with insane growth but it still isn’t enough to keep nutrients in check on its own. Have to carbon dose and use phosphate removers on top of that. Skimmer gives you the option for carbon dosing in the future if you ever need it.

Another option you could consider is algae turf scrubber like the ones Clearwater makes. Never used one personally but my lfs and their customers swear by them these days. Saying it makes a skimmer not necessary.

Question what is the minimum size for a refugium in a 20 gal long sump, my cheato does not seem to be growing, also might not have proper lighting schedule but I’m gonna start 24/7 routine now

 

[Paulie069]

Question what is the minimum size for a refugium in a 20 gal long sump, my cheato does not seem to be growing, also might not have proper lighting schedule but I’m gonna start 24/7 routine now

Also I have a skimmer n 55gal DT

 

[ReefReadyYouTube]

HOB fuge. for sure! I have a 10 gallon nano and that’s what I run. Here’s a pic.

 

[Mortgaged Reefs]

What light do you use in your refugium?

I use this light with velcro on the sides so heat can escape up