RO/DI or Protein skimmer

[nijoe1221]

So I have a 29 gallon with 2 clowns, 1 royal gramma and a green BTA. I was wondering if I should get an RO/DI or Protein skimmer for the anemone and why. Please let me know if there's any other information you need and I will throw it in there. Fairly new to saltwater and can take any advice.
Thanks

 

[Macscale]

1.) Make sure you have the requirements for a nem.
2.) EVERY tank should be using RO/DI regardless IMO. It's not something to purchase because of nem, it's something always have .
3.) You don't need a skimmer for this size tank, so I'd leave it out.

 

[bribo12]

Definitely get the rodi before the skimmer. 100% agree with mac

 

[nijoe1221]

Thanks a bunch. People at the LFS kept trying to sell me the skimmers and said nothing about the rodi system. All it does it take all the bad stuff out of water like phosphates, nitrates, copper, and chlorine?

 

[bribo12]

Rodi takes everything out. Yep, so your not adding things we can't test for to the tank.

 

[nijoe1221]

Very cool. So would I still need to add prime when I do water changes? I would assume no but don't want to make the wrong assumption

 

[bribo12]

Nope the rodi takes tht stuff out

 

[nijoe1221]

Lol just wanted to be sure. thanks for the help guys

 

[Sillyfishies]

What's your lighting? Nems need a lot of life.

 

[nijoe1221]

I have two bulb T5 HO

 

[Macscale]

I have two bulb T5 HO

I'm sorry, but nems require high lighting.
6 bulb T5 is what a nem needs.
How old is the tank?

 

[mrvincent]

RODI water is the best for mixing new water.
Protein skimmer is the best for keeping the tank water clean.

The most important for a nem, is TONS of light.

 

[Sniperhank]

Tanks under 30 gallons can get away without a skimmer as it is easy to do larger water changes to bring numbers down if needed.
This will point towards an ro/di being the more important purchase between the two...but then again the lighting should def be upgraded to support an anemone as they require intense lighting to survive.

 

[mrvincent]

Tanks under 30 gallons can get away without a skimmer as it is easy to do larger water changes to bring numbers down if needed.
This will point towards an ro/di being the more important purchase between the two...but then again the lighting should def be upgraded to support an anemone as they require intense lighting to survive.

I use a 55-90g protein skimmer on my 20g, I'll never regret this, there's so much gunk coming out there...

 

[Sniperhank]

You can put a skimmer on them without issue. BUT you don't have to. Some prefer the skimmerless builds on smaller tanks and just do water changes. On a 30 gallon tank, a 10% weekly water change would be 3 gallons. This makes it really easy to increase the amount of water replaced to address parameter issues. Do a 10 gallon water change and that's 1/3 of the water in the tank without even noticing you did a larger than average water change.

 

[nijoe1221]

Tanks under 30 gallons can get away without a skimmer as it is easy to do larger water changes to bring numbers down if needed.
This will point towards an ro/di being the more important purchase between the two...but then again the lighting should def be upgraded to support an anemone as they require intense lighting to survive.

Ok gotcha. I always thought my light was enough. Should I do 4 more bulbs or two more?

 

[Sniperhank]

6 bulbs would be perfect.

 

[Sillyfishies]

For the price of 6 bulbs you might as well go LED

 

[Sniperhank]

For the price of 6 bulbs you might as well go LED

I agree, but some people aren't down with LED yet. Taotronic LEDs are great and best cost effective light out there I think.

 

[Macscale]

Yeah, for that price LED would be the way to go. Tao panels for cost effective. I like Kessils for led. It's different, the A360's give you everything too.