DOTW - Skimming

Witfull · 05-10-2004, 11:23 AM

there have been a few threads on which skimmer i should get etc...so i thought we could pull things together into one area and discuss skimming. what they are meant to do, how they do it, what to look for in a skimmer, pesonnal experiences. ....this should keep yall busy while im at work,,,ill add my thoughts whan i return.

Curtswearing · 05-10-2004, 11:29 AM

I just read on another board that someone doesn't consider them necessary equipment. Does anyone else feel this way and why?

Great thread Wit!!!

wooddood · 05-10-2004, 12:58 PM

curt i have heard that also. i know a while back the people at GARF were testing half of thier tanks with skimmers and half without so maybe they have posted test results. i have'nt been on there for a while so i'll check it out. personally though i would recomend using one. i do 24/7. i'll see what i can dig up.

BoomerD · 05-10-2004, 01:07 PM

I've also read threads where a lot of people, especially those who use refugiums or Mudd filters don't use skimmers. They may be right, but I think that a skimmer removes enough nasty stuff from the water, to make it a valuable addition to any tank set-up. The segment of the hobby that is being skipped by hardware manufacturers is the nano reef. There are no GOOD skimmers available for the smaller tanks, except a few air-stone models, which work,, but IMO, if a manufacturer were to come out with a good SMALL hang-on skimmer that would actually work well, they could make a killing...

Me, I believe that you can't over skim your water. Any trace elements you remove will be replenished with your next water change anyway. I don't see how anyone can think that all the crud that I dump out of my skimmers collection cups could be good for the tank...

sfxer02 · 05-10-2004, 01:23 PM

I don't use a skimmer, I am running a eco system set-up so far so good. I will keep you guys poseted on hwo everything turns out. I do have a Urchin Pro on hand though just in case somehting happens to where I need one!!

Great thread!

Tony

wooddood · 05-10-2004, 01:33 PM

cool i think this is gonna be a great thread, thanks all for the info so far good job.

Scooterman · 05-10-2004, 01:48 PM

The guys at the LFS been running a MUD set-up for the last two years, he is BB in the main tank & has no skimmers on none of the reef tanks, only on the FO tanks without the MUD.
He replaced half just after two years complaining about algae for the very first time, rarely does he even clean the glass.

All this makes me say umm, every two years dump half the MUD and just do WC every few months, nothing else, when you dump the MUD you dump the collected waste I guess.

Woodstock · 05-10-2004, 02:08 PM

Call me a clean freak if ya want

but I enjoy dumping out the scum that my aquaC pro gets from my tank! I have several large fish in my 90 gal which I tend to feed on the heavy side, so I would not consider going without a skimmer. I also use carbon 24/7 and perform 15% water changes every 7 to 10 days.

So far this set up has worked well for my aquarium but I am open to better ideas if there are any out there!

Great thread!

Scooterman · 05-10-2004, 02:15 PM

Can someone post details pics of a becket & how it works, I'd sure like to have a better understanding of them, including where do you get them?

Thanks

sorcerer · 05-10-2004, 02:23 PM

Scott,
This link has some good discussion of the workings of the beckett injector.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-03/fm/
HTH

Scooterman · 05-10-2004, 02:26 PM

THANKS

cheeks69 · 05-10-2004, 04:04 PM

I think a skimmer is an absolute necessity if you have a heavy bio-load if you don't and are careful about feeding then you can get by without one as long as you do regular water changes. JMO

wooddood · 05-10-2004, 04:19 PM

i forgot to mention earlier that i'm in the process of helping my lfs owner setup a saltwater dislay tank and he is going to be running a mudd filter. it's an aquaclear aquatics mudd filter and seem very interesting to me. i know that other people have said they use them also and it's not a new idea but i know they say you dont need to run a skimmer as the same thing the say about the eco system tony is running. so i'm going to really keep an eye on how it does and will let you all know

it also comes with a small light with a white and an actinic bulb to be ran over the mudd area and i'm trying to talk him into planting mangroves in it. i'll keep you posted.

sfxer02 · 05-10-2004, 04:36 PM

Yeah dave I want to put some mangroves in my also!! You think I can mix those with caulerpa?

Tony

EdgeKrusher · 05-10-2004, 04:42 PM

I have a CPR BakPak 2R on my 12 gallon nano. It works very well IMO. I wouldn't have a Nano without a skimmer, it just seems like a recepie for disaster. I'm emptying the skimmer cup every 3 days or so of this thick green/black nasty goo, it's awesome!

05-10-2004, 11:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
Curtswearing Golden Moray Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 2,596 View Gallery Karma Komment	I just read on another board that someone doesn't consider them necessary equipment. Does anyone else feel this way and why? Great thread Wit!!! __________________ In memory of Fluffy, please pause before hitting enter---being nice is free. Click for ReefKeeping FAQ'S Click for Product Reviews Click for Photo ID Gallery http://curtcpapfs.com/downloads/1Curt.jpg

05-10-2004, 12:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CARMEL. INDIANA Posts: 3,450 View Gallery Karma Komment	curt i have heard that also. i know a while back the people at GARF were testing half of thier tanks with skimmers and half without so maybe they have posted test results. i have'nt been on there for a while so i'll check it out. personally though i would recomend using one. i do 24/7. i'll see what i can dig up. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

05-10-2004, 01:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,241 View Gallery Karma Komment	I've also read threads where a lot of people, especially those who use refugiums or Mudd filters don't use skimmers. They may be right, but I think that a skimmer removes enough nasty stuff from the water, to make it a valuable addition to any tank set-up. The segment of the hobby that is being skipped by hardware manufacturers is the nano reef. There are no GOOD skimmers available for the smaller tanks, except a few air-stone models, which work,, but IMO, if a manufacturer were to come out with a good SMALL hang-on skimmer that would actually work well, they could make a killing... Me, I believe that you can't over skim your water. Any trace elements you remove will be replenished with your next water change anyway. I don't see how anyone can think that all the crud that I dump out of my skimmers collection cups could be good for the tank... Last edited by BoomerD : 05-10-2004 at 01:09 PM.

05-10-2004, 01:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
sfxer02 Ricordea Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: From Detroit live in Jacksonville,nc Posts: 190 View Gallery Karma Komment	I don't use a skimmer, I am running a eco system set-up so far so good. I will keep you guys poseted on hwo everything turns out. I do have a Urchin Pro on hand though just in case somehting happens to where I need one!! Great thread! Tony __________________ If it isn't leaking we better land ! Go Wings!!

05-10-2004, 01:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CARMEL. INDIANA Posts: 3,450 View Gallery Karma Komment	cool i think this is gonna be a great thread, thanks all for the info so far good job. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

05-10-2004, 01:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
Scooterman Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lafayette, Louisiana Posts: 1,179 View Gallery Karma Komment	The guys at the LFS been running a MUD set-up for the last two years, he is BB in the main tank & has no skimmers on none of the reef tanks, only on the FO tanks without the MUD. He replaced half just after two years complaining about algae for the very first time, rarely does he even clean the glass. All this makes me say umm, every two years dump half the MUD and just do WC every few months, nothing else, when you dump the MUD you dump the collected waste I guess. __________________ Scott Ardoin (Ard-Dwan)

05-10-2004, 02:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 21,675 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Call me a clean freak if ya want but I enjoy dumping out the scum that my aquaC pro gets from my tank! I have several large fish in my 90 gal which I tend to feed on the heavy side, so I would not consider going without a skimmer. I also use carbon 24/7 and perform 15% water changes every 7 to 10 days. So far this set up has worked well for my aquarium but I am open to better ideas if there are any out there! Great thread! __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~29 gal QT/Hospital tank~* *~3 gal Pico~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MH, dual Actinic t5s,AquaController III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

05-10-2004, 02:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
Scooterman Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lafayette, Louisiana Posts: 1,179 View Gallery Karma Komment	Can someone post details pics of a becket & how it works, I'd sure like to have a better understanding of them, including where do you get them? Thanks __________________ Scott Ardoin (Ard-Dwan)

05-10-2004, 02:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
sorcerer Court Computer Wiz Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nashville,TN Posts: 252 View Gallery Karma Komment	Scott, This link has some good discussion of the workings of the beckett injector. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-03/fm/ HTH __________________ ------------ walt --------------------- ...and I thought woodworking was an expensive hobby..... 75G Oceanic Reef Tank, 30G Acrylic sump, 12G fuge, AquaC EV-120 skimmer, AquaMedic Kalkwasser Reactor, Mag 12 return pump, FlexiFlow dosing pump. 2-250W AB 10,000K MH, 2 95W Actinic VHO Sorcerer's Home Office Reef - 12G JBJ Nanocube, Minijet 606 pump, 50W heater, 12lbs LR ----------- http://www.reefsanctuary.com/Banners/RS_banner4.gif

05-10-2004, 02:26 PM	#11 (permalink)
Scooterman Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lafayette, Louisiana Posts: 1,179 View Gallery Karma Komment	THANKS __________________ Scott Ardoin (Ard-Dwan)

05-10-2004, 04:04 PM	#12 (permalink)
cheeks69 Wannabe Guru Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northeast Posts: 6,535 View Gallery Karma Komment	I think a skimmer is an absolute necessity if you have a heavy bio-load if you don't and are careful about feeding then you can get by without one as long as you do regular water changes. JMO __________________ Robert My Cube “A spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe—a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.” Albert Einstein

05-10-2004, 04:19 PM	#13 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CARMEL. INDIANA Posts: 3,450 View Gallery Karma Komment	i forgot to mention earlier that i'm in the process of helping my lfs owner setup a saltwater dislay tank and he is going to be running a mudd filter. it's an aquaclear aquatics mudd filter and seem very interesting to me. i know that other people have said they use them also and it's not a new idea but i know they say you dont need to run a skimmer as the same thing the say about the eco system tony is running. so i'm going to really keep an eye on how it does and will let you all know it also comes with a small light with a white and an actinic bulb to be ran over the mudd area and i'm trying to talk him into planting mangroves in it. i'll keep you posted. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

05-10-2004, 04:36 PM	#14 (permalink)
sfxer02 Ricordea Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: From Detroit live in Jacksonville,nc Posts: 190 View Gallery Karma Komment	Yeah dave I want to put some mangroves in my also!! You think I can mix those with caulerpa? Tony __________________ If it isn't leaking we better land ! Go Wings!!

05-10-2004, 04:42 PM	#15 (permalink)
EdgeKrusher Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Eden Prairie, MN Posts: 716 View Gallery Karma Komment	I have a CPR BakPak 2R on my 12 gallon nano. It works very well IMO. I wouldn't have a Nano without a skimmer, it just seems like a recepie for disaster. I'm emptying the skimmer cup every 3 days or so of this thick green/black nasty goo, it's awesome! __________________ ((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><((((º> ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸>< ((((º>¸¸.·´¯`·.¸. `·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><((((º>¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.

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