Skimmer vs refugium

[sungyoon]

Hello i run 60*45*45(cm) reef tank in korea
My tank is just next to my bed
and the sound which skimmer makes is really annoying so i just turned off it
Now i think of replacing skimmer with refugium
The red circle part is for skimmer
Maybe i will fill the part with seaweed
I wonder after change it would run well without skimmer only refugium
Thank you for reading

 

[TX_REEF]

You can. Use Chaetomorpha and add a grow light.

 

[Doctorgori]

big thread next next door on similar question…
IMO a refugium is a bug sanctuary/habitat/ ats

a skimmer is a different beast for a tangent purpose, also there is a different gas exchange mechanism and surfactant processes blah blah

 

[Spare time]

For waste management I prefer refugiums



For oxygenation I prefer skimmers



They overlap in both both these are there respective strengths

 

[sungyoon]

You can. Use Chaetomorpha and add a grow light.

Thank you for your reply i’ll try it

 

[VintageReefer]

For waste management I prefer refugiums

For oxygenation I prefer skimmers

They overlap in both both these are there respective strengths

Algae turf scrubber does both mine floats in my sump refugium chamber and is almost silent. Just the mild hum from an air pump

 

[Midrats]

You already have the skimmer, why not make attempts at silencing it? What's the noise?

 

[jackson6745]

A skimmer is an easier way to remove organics. A small fuge will not be as powerful, but do you really need more organic removal anyway? So, if your tank is running very lean, I would certainly switch to a fuge. If your tank is high nutrient, I probably wouldn’t.

In my experience growing macros, I always steered away from it because I noticed lighter colors on my sps, and my macros would die off randomly. This wasn’t because of my nitrates and phosphates bottoming out, I think it was because the macro algae uses the same trace minerals that the coral do to thrive. I’m not about to spend a fortune on frequent ICP tests and dose a million different elements. That would ruin the hobby for me. In my particular tanks I prefer to skim only for the consistency, gas exchange, ease, and no trace absorption like macro algae does.

 

[VintageReefer]

You already have the skimmer, why not make attempts at silencing it? What's the noise?

That’s a good point. My skimmer has two air intake ports, I put some cotton in one of them and the noise was drastically reduced

 

[sungyoon]

You already have the skimmer, why not make attempts at silencing it? What's the noise?

Umm.. i’ve already tried it but not changed
i guess the motor makes sound

 

[theMeat]

If you can run the skimmer’s air intake from outside that should quiet it down a bunch.
An algae scrubber would be a better replacement for a skimmer.

 

[Midrats]

Pump noise can be dampened by placing the skimmer onto a silicone trivet or similar to isolate it from the sump. Make sure it isn't touching anything if you haven't tried that yet.

 

[Uncle99]

skimmer can remove particulate organics like food wastes, macro algae needs it broken down and dissolved, this takes time, so they address slightly different things.

is it an issue of quiet when sleeping?
If so, can you just put it on timer to be off while sleeping?

 

[exnisstech]

Nothing wrong with turning the skimmer off at night if everything is doing good. Many people don't even run skimmers. I've gone with out them and even now that I'm running skimmers I skim so dry I really don't have to empty the cup but just clean it.
I also have chaeto refugiums in all sumps. I keeps fuges as a habitat for little critters to thrive. I do not use the fuge as part of nutrient control as I only harvest the chaeto when it is over flowing because I can never get all the creatures out and I end up killing some. Skimmer and fuge serve two totally different purposes for me.
I have a tank in the bedroom also but I sleep with a white noise machine next to the bed so I don't hear the skimmer.

 

[bobnicaragua]

I ran a fuge for awhile, but it was too much filtration with my skimmer and filter sock.. Even with low light and a short photoperiod my acros were pale.

Refugium pros:
Tons of Biodiversity and life in the sump.
You can adjust the light intensity and photoperiod.
Helps keep PH up at night.

Refugium cons:
Grows nuisance algae you have to control with snails. Snails clog return pumps and skimmer.
Grows algae in skimmer and return lines.

 

[MrGisonni]

Put the skimmer on a timer to run during the day then turn off at night.

 

[mtraylor]

The skimmer and refugium do 2 different things and can not be used as direct replacements. Since you already have the skimmer. One easy solution ok n for your issue is to put the skimmer on a timer to go off during sleeping time to give you piece and quite
Another option is to install silencer.

 

[Nonya]

Hello i run 60*45*45(cm) reef tank in korea
My tank is just next to my bed
and the sound which skimmer makes is really annoying so i just turned off it
Now i think of replacing skimmer with refugium
The red circle part is for skimmer
Maybe i will fill the part with seaweed
I wonder after change it would run well without skimmer only refugium
Thank you for reading

A fuge doesn't remove what a skimmer does.