When to add a protein skimmer?

Tangina20 · Jul 5, 2018

I have recently upgraded my 20 long reef to a 40b with a 20l sump, it’s been up for about 4 weeks. My 20g reef had a power head and heater, no filtration, and did great for years. Now that I have a refugium in my sump I’m wondering when I should invest in a protein skimmer? I only have two fish ( maroon clown and watchman) which is a small bioload for a 40b and my refugium has a filter sock l, chaeto, and rubble in it. I’ve tested phosphates and nitrates Which are 0.

I feel like if I had a protein skimmer right now, it wouldn’t have enough nutrients to export to be worth the purchase. I know that a protein skimmer is a good thing to have but at what point do I stop relying on my fuge? When I add more fish? Thanks for the input.

Brett newell · Jul 5, 2018

As soon as possible because they have break in periods that are supposed to be 2 days but turns out to be more like 2 weeks. But I'd rather see you spend the money on a kessil h380 light for fuge over an expensive skimmer.

Retro Reefer · Jul 5, 2018

No need to rush on the skimmer until you feel your bio load is sufficient to support one, the biggest benefit you would probably get at this point is gas exchange

hotashes · Jul 5, 2018

Following, I've just added a skimmer to my nano which only had corals and a clam. Oh and a fire shrimp. Lastly also has an algae outbreak.....

Is a skimmer essentially for heavier feeding and high fish bio load?

Tangina20 · Jul 5, 2018

Thanks for the advice. Hotashes, in my 20g I had 3 fish and a shrimp and did 20% weekly water changes for 2 years with no filtration and didn’t have any algae outbreaks. I was pretty stingy on feeding and timed my feedings with the water changes and seemed to work pretty well!

Greybeard · Jul 5, 2018

IMHO, immediately. Skimmers help oxygenate the tank, and can help stabilize pH, even if it's not removing anything from the tank. You might run it real dry for a while... I tend to like mine running pretty dry anyway.

hotashes · Jul 5, 2018

Greybeard said:
IMHO, immediately. Skimmers help oxygenate the tank, and can help stabilize pH, even if it's not removing anything from the tank. You might run it real dry for a while... I tend to like mine running pretty dry anyway.

Tell us more

Dennis McGrath · Jul 5, 2018

Following. Just ordered one for my BioCube 32

Greybeard · Jul 5, 2018

hotashes said:
Tell us more

Not sure what you're asking...

Skimmers affect pH and O2 levels... I don't think there is much debate on that one. Running a skimmer with a CO2 scrubber or an outside air line can have a dramatic effect on pH. There's a massive amount of air/water interface going on in the typical protein skimmer, even if it's not actually skimming anything. Both O2 and CO2 will exchange through this interface.

Bob2bob · Jul 5, 2018

Greybeard said:
Not sure what you're asking...

Skimmers affect pH and O2 levels... I don't think there is much debate on that one. Running a skimmer with a CO2 scrubber or an outside air line can have a dramatic effect on pH. There's a massive amount of air/water interface going on in the typical protein skimmer, even if it's not actually skimming anything. Both O2 and CO2 will exchange through this interface.

what if we ran an airstone instead? same? worse? better?

edit: asking because i dont use either currently and thinking I should be.

hotashes · Jul 5, 2018

Good question as my nano skimmer is air driven.

Greybeard · Jul 5, 2018

Airstones can have the same effect. The volume of air that most aquarium air pumps move is pretty small in comparison to most venturi or needle wheel skimmers, but yes, an airstone isn't a bad idea, if you're not running a skimmer.

My problem with airstones in marine aquaria is salt creep. All those little bubbles popping on the surface tends to coat everything in the general vicinity in salt.

I was quite surprised to find that they still make airstone powered skimmers. Saw a real nice looking glass counter current skimmer not long ago, not far different from the very first skimmer I ever owned... circa 1986

Do they still make the wooden air diffusers we used to use, or are they running on bonded silica or plastic air stones?

hotashes · Jul 5, 2018

Greybeard said:
Airstones can have the same effect. The volume of air that most aquarium air pumps move is pretty small in comparison to most venturi or needle wheel skimmers, but yes, an airstone isn't a bad idea, if you're not running a skimmer.

My problem with airstones in marine aquaria is salt creep. All those little bubbles popping on the surface tends to coat everything in the general vicinity in salt.

I was quite surprised to find that they still make airstone powered skimmers. Saw a real nice looking glass counter current skimmer not long ago, not far different from the very first skimmer I ever owned... circa 1986 Do they still make the wooden air diffusers we used to use, or are they running on bonded silica or plastic air stones?

Greybeard · Jul 5, 2018

Bob2bob said:
i dont use either currently and thinking I should be.

O2 saturation is usually only a problem if you're running a really heavily stocked system, a narrow/tall system with limited air/water interface at the surface, a sumpless system with no splashdown area, or a completely closed top system, glass or plastic sealing out fresh air. Under more 'normal' aquarium conditions, O2 saturation isn't usually a problem.

That's the main reason I keep a battery powered air pump and an airstone on hand. If power fails, low O2 is the problem that will hit fastest. A single airstone moving the surface a bit can make a huge difference.

Greybeard · Jul 5, 2018

My old skimmer looked like this:

I'm pretty sure it's the same brand I had... many years ago. Seems like I paid a lot more for it, at the time... but maybe not. $30 was quite a bit of money to me, back in the mid 80's