To skim or not to skim

[jones1483]

Honest answers members, 75 gal tank twenty gal water changes every 14 days. How much will it effect my tank if I don't run a skimmer?

 

[AquaRick]

Honestly, it depends on your bioload, and other fish husbandry practices. Are you running a reef, or fowlr?

I'd still use a skimmer. It's such a useful tool in our tanks. It removes organic compounds before it gets a chance to turn into nitrates. There really is no reason not to use one.

 

[jones1483]

I have a fowlr. My nitrates are at 40 ppm with the skimmer running. Ain't sure it does it's job right though only getting half a cup full of skim mate every two weeks. Since I shut my skimmer off a few days ago my water is as clear as it has looked.

 

[dwint]

i have a fish only without a skimmer and my water is always crystal clear.i have a 75 but i have small fish.two clowns ,lawn mower blenny and a needle nose hawk fish.i plan on two banjia cardinals and a foxface and then i think thats enough.i take out 8 gal every two weeks and my parimeters are always perfect.i think the emperor 400 is a great filter and cheap if u ask me

 

[jones1483]

I have that same filter. I am going to run mine tank without the skimmer until my next water change to see what the nitrates do. I use tap water in my rank but I may start going to a community spring and using the spring water to see if the nitrates drop using that water

 

[dwint]

i have well water but never tested it.i did put in a poly filter and that takes out all kinds of crap and it will turn curtain colors from what its removing.in my case it was copper and it turned blue

 

[crister13]

Why not run it if you have it? That doesn't make sense. It's oxygenating water, and even if it's only removing a little it's still removing. You also don't have any corals that would benefit from those nutrients.

 

[jones1483]

Not running it cause I am new and wasn't sure what to do. I got it running now and it seems to being doing better after days of air adjustments

 

[crister13]

Good to hear . GL!

 

[AquaRick]

Glad things are doing better!

 

[SeanMonster]

I have a 180g FO and a 90g reef. The 180g has been up about a year. It's a semi-aggressive tank. LFS told me I didn't need a skimmer on a FO. I was doing water changes every 3 weeks (per his direction) and hitting 100 ppm on nitrates between changes. Also had cloudiness issues. Switched to a different lfs (who I ended up buying the 90g reef from a month ago) and they recommended a skimmer. Now I'm seeing 15 ppm nitrates between changes. And the 90g has had 0 ppm since I started it. So, I guess I've become a big fan of skimmers. I have also come to understand that the cleaner the tank, the less that gets skimmed (which makes perfect sense).

 

[mr_X]

I would always run a quality protein skimmer on anything 40 gallons or more. If your skimmer isn't producing, get a better skimmer.

 

[tonedogz]

I agree totally. If you have it use it, if you don't have one get one.

 

[FTMMWS]

I have never used one ..
I run an algae scrubber,,I don't thnk a skimmer does anything to bring down trates

 

[Flreefer]

I agree with FTMMWS, a skimmer won't being nitrates down, but it will help keep them from accumulating in the first place.

 

[SeanMonster]

I have never used one ..
I run an algae scrubber,,I don't thnk a skimmer does anything to bring down trates

Sorry for the confusion. I know PWCs are what lower the nitrates. I did mean that a skimmer will help keep them down.

 

[crister13]

Yes a skimmer wont remove the actual nitrates but will reduce the things that cause nitrates.