Skimmer

[Scoobydoo]

What would be a good protein skimmer for a 20g breeder?

 

[Redfoxtang]

What kind of 20g AIO? Do you have a sump or HOB?

 

[lavoisier]

I am a fan of LifeReef.

Protein skimmer, ozone, skimmer, venturi, in-sump, hang-on, Euro, stand-alone. downdraft, needle-wheel, protein

www.lifereef.com

Do you have a sump? If not, they make hang on.

 

[Super Fly]

What would be a good protein skimmer for a 20g breeder?

W a 20g, regular WC should be sufficient to maintain good water quality...any reason you're looking to add a skimmer?

 

[Scoobydoo]

W a 20g, regular WC should be sufficient to maintain good water quality...any reason you're looking to add a skimmer?

I thought you may need skimmer for coral

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ice cap K-1 or K2-50

 

[Super Fly]

I thought you may need skimmer for coral

Not at all. Its the organic waste from fish food and waste that creates PO4 (also regular tap water if u r not using RODI water), which a skimmer removes. After adding corals and as livestocks grow, you can monitor PO4 levels and should WC no longer keep up with maintaining PO4 at desired level, then I'd consider adding a skimmer. There are plenty of folks who run successful tanks skimmerless. If it was me, I'd hold off on adding a skimmer now and use the $ on corals instead of buying an equipment that may not be necessary.

 

[Scoobydoo]

I thought you may need skimmer for coral

I change water once a week 2 gallons a change

Not at all. Its the organic waste from fish food and waste that creates PO4 (also regular tap water if u r not using RODI water), which a skimmer removes. After adding corals and as livestocks grow, you can monitor PO4 levels and should WC no longer keep up with maintaining PO4 at desired level, then I'd consider adding a skimmer. There are plenty of folks who run successful tanks skimmerless. If it was me, I'd hold off on adding a skimmer now and use the $ on corals instead of buying an equipment that may not be necessary.

Thanks and will do on putting money towatd corals

 

[Scoobydoo]

I change water once a week 2 gallons a change

Thanks and will do on putting money towatd corals

What should my po4 be at?

 

[Super Fly]

What should my po4 be at?

well the "ideal" level usually thrown around is around 0.04 with 0 nitrate. Try to keep it at this level in the beginning however later on it will depend on one's tank, i.e. livestock and filter system. In mine, PO4 is around 0.20-0.14 with NO3 at 10 with mostly softies, not heavily stocked and tank runs fine w/o nuisance algae. I believe a good PO4 to NO3 ratio helps to keep nuisance algae away. I have caulerpa in sump with DSB and live rocks directly from the ocean in the display which have been key for me. In the beginning, I had some cyano then after tank established itself it's been running on cruise control. Watch your tank as it matures and when you get to a point where no more livestock are being added, monitor the corals to determine whether they are happy or not. As long as they are happy w/o nuisance algae, then that's the water parameter levels you will want to maintain.