Is a skimmer necessary on a 150 gal tank?

beasone · 07-02-2009, 07:38 PM

Ok, disagreement on this on the home front.. BF says we don't need to use the skimmer on our new tank.
Can I get some info on those of you that do or don't have a skimmer in your large tank's wet/dry?

browntrout · 07-02-2009, 08:04 PM

id usea skimmer for sure on that size tank. What do you plan to keep in the tabk will also help you to decide.

BigAl07 · 07-02-2009, 08:15 PM

Skimmers aren't "required" on any tank but they go a LONG way to helping GREATLY increase water quality. They remove DOCs (Dissolved Organic Compounds) 24/7 while you do other things. Some people (me included) can get away with water changes alone on smaller tanks (10g & 12g units here) but the larger the tank the MORE a skimmer does for you.

Honestly I believe that a skimmer is one of the MOST important parts of a Reef Tank for long term success.

squiers007 · 07-02-2009, 08:49 PM

Agreed, I think a skimmer is a must on a tank that size. With a smaller tank it is possible to keep DOC down by weekly water changes but on a large tank, most people dont want to put in the time and effort, not to mention the money to do weekly water changes. For the long term health of the I would definately get a skimmer.

beasone · 07-02-2009, 09:24 PM

thanks for the replies!! He says ok.. we will use the skimmer. The reason he didn't want to, is the noise. I haven't heard it yet.. however, I know it will only help.
I think I will poke around here to see if there are any suggestions on handling tank noise.

thanks to all who share their experience!

TylerHaworth · 07-02-2009, 11:06 PM

He won't be saying that you don't need the skimmer once he sees all the crap (literally) that it pulls out of the water!

An air silencer goes a long way in reducing skimmer noise, I just put one on my skimmer a few days ago, and now I can't even hear it!

beasone · 07-03-2009, 04:38 PM

ok, one more question related to the skimmer. Do you or Don't you run it while the tank is going through it's cycle?

BigAl07 · 07-03-2009, 04:41 PM

Some say DO some say DON'T! It wont "Hurt" anything but IMHO it's a waste of electricity during that time. Your tank isn't really making a whole of of DOC's so there's not a whole lot to Skim.

Just my 2 cents.

squiers007 · 07-03-2009, 05:04 PM

I agree with BigAl, Its not going to hurt anything, but its not really going to help it go faster either. Best thing to do is be patient and let the cycle run its course.

BigAl07 · 07-03-2009, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squiers007

Best thing to do is be patient and let the cycle run its course.

Patience is going to be your new BEST friend

Say HELLO patience

Nowellsy SNR · 07-03-2009, 07:23 PM

Id say a must!!

Frankie · 07-03-2009, 11:22 PM

IF your cycling with live rock then yes, you want to run a skimmer on it. There is going to be a lot of die off and you want to pull that out so it does not end up leaching out later, slowly causing cyano blooms, hair algae and a host of other nasties.

squiers007 · 07-04-2009, 12:42 AM

What do you mean by "leaching out later"? If there is some bacterial die off the beneficial bacteria that is already established in the rock will break down any DOC's that may have been produced by the dying bacteria. It may lead to your cycle taking a bit longer, but by allowing the bacteria to remove the nutrients you are increasing the bacterial population in your rocks and therefore increasing there effectiveness. Please correct me if I am mistaken.

CaRSMDuke · 07-04-2009, 02:44 PM

I agree with Big Al and Squiers on this one. You need one but be patient and start it after the tank cycles. Having done it both ways in the past this was for me the better option.

beasone · 07-04-2009, 04:48 PM

thanks once again....LOL, you know when I got tell him to turn it off now.. I can hear him already. "I TOLD you we didn't need it NOW.. I was going to run it of course once the Tank was cycled!! ..Duh! "

07-02-2009, 07:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
beasone Fire Coral Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 72 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Is a skimmer necessary on a 150 gal tank? Ok, disagreement on this on the home front.. BF says we don't need to use the skimmer on our new tank. Can I get some info on those of you that do or don't have a skimmer in your large tank's wet/dry?

07-02-2009, 08:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
browntrout Fire Coral Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 66 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Is a skimmer necessary on a 150 gal tank? id usea skimmer for sure on that size tank. What do you plan to keep in the tabk will also help you to decide.

07-02-2009, 08:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
BigAl07 Do I look as lost as I am Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 21,298 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Is a skimmer necessary on a 150 gal tank? Skimmers aren't "required" on any tank but they go a LONG way to helping GREATLY increase water quality. They remove DOCs (Dissolved Organic Compounds) 24/7 while you do other things. Some people (me included) can get away with water changes alone on smaller tanks (10g & 12g units here) but the larger the tank the MORE a skimmer does for you. Honestly I believe that a skimmer is one of the MOST important parts of a Reef Tank for long term success. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Live Rock Rubble will do the SAME thing as Bio-Balls and is NOT a suitable replacement for BIO-BALLS in a Reef System! It's ALL gotta go!!* Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...currentNO3-((%WC.01)currentNO3)=finalNO3 (thanks Luukosian) This means if you change 50% of your total water volume (That's EVERYTHING) you'll get a net reduction of (NO3) somewhere around 50%. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Gone but not forgotten BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

07-02-2009, 08:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
squiers007 Serpent Star Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 214 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Is a skimmer necessary on a 150 gal tank? Agreed, I think a skimmer is a must on a tank that size. With a smaller tank it is possible to keep DOC down by weekly water changes but on a large tank, most people dont want to put in the time and effort, not to mention the money to do weekly water changes. For the long term health of the I would definately get a skimmer.

07-02-2009, 09:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
beasone Fire Coral Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 72 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Is a skimmer necessary on a 150 gal tank? thanks for the replies!! He says ok.. we will use the skimmer. The reason he didn't want to, is the noise. I haven't heard it yet.. however, I know it will only help. I think I will poke around here to see if there are any suggestions on handling tank noise. thanks to all who share their experience!

07-02-2009, 11:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
TylerHaworth Torch coral Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Huntington, WV Posts: 519 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Is a skimmer necessary on a 150 gal tank? He won't be saying that you don't need the skimmer once he sees all the crap (literally) that it pulls out of the water! An air silencer goes a long way in reducing skimmer noise, I just put one on my skimmer a few days ago, and now I can't even hear it! __________________ 75 Gallon Cornerflow ASM G-1X, 2x Phosban Reactor 20 Long Sump + Fuge with a Koralia Nano Quiet One 4000, Vortech MP40 Aquactinics TX5 ViaAqua Titanium 300w 105 lbs rock, 60 lbs sand

07-03-2009, 04:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
beasone Fire Coral Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 72 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Is a skimmer necessary on a 150 gal tank? ok, one more question related to the skimmer. Do you or Don't you run it while the tank is going through it's cycle?

07-03-2009, 04:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
BigAl07 Do I look as lost as I am Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 21,298 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Is a skimmer necessary on a 150 gal tank? Some say DO some say DON'T! It wont "Hurt" anything but IMHO it's a waste of electricity during that time. Your tank isn't really making a whole of of DOC's so there's not a whole lot to Skim. Just my 2 cents. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Live Rock Rubble will do the SAME thing as Bio-Balls and is NOT a suitable replacement for BIO-BALLS in a Reef System! It's ALL gotta go!!* Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...currentNO3-((%WC.01)currentNO3)=finalNO3 (thanks Luukosian) This means if you change 50% of your total water volume (That's EVERYTHING) you'll get a net reduction of (NO3) somewhere around 50%. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Gone but not forgotten BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

07-03-2009, 05:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
squiers007 Serpent Star Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 214 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Is a skimmer necessary on a 150 gal tank? I agree with BigAl, Its not going to hurt anything, but its not really going to help it go faster either. Best thing to do is be patient and let the cycle run its course.

07-03-2009, 07:23 PM	#11 (permalink)
Nowellsy SNR Elegance coral Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Preston UK Posts: 1,128 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Is a skimmer necessary on a 150 gal tank? Id say a must!! __________________ *Anthony Proud UK Based RSM 250 Owner* *Red Sea Max 250 Started 9/5/09 24kg Indonesian Live Rock, Tunze Stream 6065 Powerhead, D-D DC300 Chiller with external pump.....Vortech MP40 Coming for Xmas* *My Tank threadTake a look have a Nosey***

07-04-2009, 12:42 AM	#13 (permalink)
squiers007 Serpent Star Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 214 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Is a skimmer necessary on a 150 gal tank? What do you mean by "leaching out later"? If there is some bacterial die off the beneficial bacteria that is already established in the rock will break down any DOC's that may have been produced by the dying bacteria. It may lead to your cycle taking a bit longer, but by allowing the bacteria to remove the nutrients you are increasing the bacterial population in your rocks and therefore increasing there effectiveness. Please correct me if I am mistaken.

07-04-2009, 02:44 PM	#14 (permalink)
CaRSMDuke Fire Coral Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Murrieta, Ca. Posts: 72 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Is a skimmer necessary on a 150 gal tank? I agree with Big Al and Squiers on this one. You need one but be patient and start it after the tank cycles. Having done it both ways in the past this was for me the better option. __________________ Mike

07-04-2009, 04:48 PM	#15 (permalink)
beasone Fire Coral Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 72 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Is a skimmer necessary on a 150 gal tank? thanks once again....LOL, you know when I got tell him to turn it off now.. I can hear him already. "I TOLD you we didn't need it NOW.. I was going to run it of course once the Tank was cycled!! ..Duh! "

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)