Skimmer ideas

[millerdog]

So 3 years ago my wife and I got my brother-in-law hooked with the saltwater bug and donated an old 55 and some other items laying around where my truck was supposed to be. He got his wife hooked and now she wants to set up a 29gal but they only have a cheap in tank Pets Mart skimmer that i sent and had him replace asap for his 55. It does the trick for the short term but in my option its more work than it’s worth. We had been talking about a hang on Skimmer. I have and still use SeaClone 100 and 150 and they have worked well for me. I also have but no longer use a Bak-Pak 2. I was hoping to get some input from those of you that have used a hang on that I may pass on to my brother-in-law.

[carlinsa]

i would say no skimmer. i havent run one on my new system with excelent growth and proper readings from the testers. before this tank i went almost 2 years with no skimmer on a sps reef. so that is my .02

[JoshOdphi]

i would agree...i have a hang-on so so red sea skimmer and have had no problem in my tank...growth is excellent and my corals r doin just fine....ur bro in law can always get something better in the future if need be....

[sharkboy]

the bak pack would be perfect for the 29 gallon...I used one on a 30 gall for years with no problems...

[justahobby]

Bak Pak has been good to me for a few years. The surface skimming attachment has really helped keep the power head from clogging and seems to produce more skimmate. I run it on a total of 80 gal system, but I wouldn't recommend it for anyone else. IMO the sea clone was junk.

Pre-Skimmer attachment or "BPPS"
http://www.cpraquatic.com/products/bakpakaccessories.html

[millerdog]

i would say no skimmer. i havent run one on my new system with excelent growth and proper readings from the testers. before this tank i went almost 2 years with no skimmer on a sps reef. so that is my .02


I have always been under the impression that a skimmer was an essential item how were you able to keep all your levels in check? Did you do lots of water changes?

[justahobby]

What size is your aquarium and how long has it been operating?

i would say no skimmer. i havent run one on my new system with excelent growth and proper readings from the testers. before this tank i went almost 2 years with no skimmer on a sps reef. so that is my .02

No skimmer is not the case for most people and you are even less likely to find someone with a 29 gal. going skimmerless. This sort of advice has been given out before and I will try to repeat the advice I heard. Look at their post count and length of membership with maast. If it far exceeds yours then they probably have more experience and what works for them may not work for you.

[carlinsa]

What size is your aquarium and how long has it been operating?


No skimmer is not the case for most people and you are even less likely to find someone with a 29 gal. going skimmerless. This sort of advice has been given out before and I will try to repeat the advice I heard. Look at their post count and length of membership with maast. If it far exceeds yours then they probably have more experience and what works for them may not work for you.

the tank that ran skimmerless for almost 2 years was a 125 with about 200lbs of rock about 55 gallons worth of sump and did a water change about every 3 months if that. the one i have now is a 215 with 45 gallon sump and about 15 gallons of fuge. aprox 300lbs of rock.

i am not saying you shouldnt run one but i have had really good luck without one. one thing is its less power less heat all in all LESS to go wrong. i believe in the KISS method keep it simple stupid. i had a skimmer that i ran about 3 months and couldnt get the bubbles adjusted right and either it overflowed or didnt make the cup so i just went back to my kiss method an did great.

not thread hijacking sorry if it seems it went that way

[Daniel]

I have a octopus hob needle wheel i think is the b-1000 or something like that. Don't mistaken it for the cheaper standard one that costs 119.00 with a regular pump this one was 159 w/needle wheel pump and works great on my 37 tall. Its got a hum to it but I can't compare it to other hob.

[JoshOdphi]

so wut did u decide to do about the skimmer?

[millerdog]

JoshOdphi, the wife and I went up to the D last weekend and took the Bac-Pac just to find out he found a still in the unopened box Prizm Deluxe from someone on DFWMAS last Friday for only $10. I told him it must have "fallen off a truck" for that price. Have no idea as to the performance of those so we will have to wait and see.

[Squiers007]

The prizm's are ok, but I would have gone with either a Aqua-C Remora or the Reef Octopus hang-on that was mentioned earlier. I had an prizm on my 20 gal but it wasnt doing a whole lot so I picked up an Aqua-C and that worked a whole lot better, still didnt pull a lot of gunk out but was better than nothing.