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dougandtito 
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 Topic: Protein skimmer
Posted: April 19 2015 at 9:33pm |
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We're looking at getting a protein skimmer for our 65-gallon tank. Shopping around, we're seeing a bunch that say things like "Tank capacity 150 gallons." Does that mean it's for tanks UP TO that big, or does it mean it's way too big for our tank? It says it does 530 gallons per hour—is that going to add a lot of crazy flow to our tank? We haven't been gung-ho on a protein skimmer, but we're thinking removing a little extra gunk could help us finally get our nitrates down to happier levels. So we're just learning the ropes of skimmers—any advice or info you have is welcome and appreciated. Thanks!
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: April 19 2015 at 11:22pm |
What is the Nitrate level you're wanting to reduce? The Nitrate test result? There are many factors that effect Nitrates. It would be good to discuss these before assuming that a skimmer is the complete solution. The manufacturers recommendation of a particular skimmer for a certain tank size is just a general guideline. Foe example, on my 200 gal system, I use a skimmer that's recommended for a 75 gal tank. On my 75 gal system I don't use a skimmer. Some hobbyists might say that there is no such thing as over-skimming, but I would not recommend using a skimmer rated for a 150 gal tank for your 65 gal aquarium.
You know, of course, that some of the "gunk" a skimmer removes is actually food for the aquarium. A skimmer takes out some bad stuff and some good stuff. A healthy reef aquarium has all kinds of animals living in it that eat the stuff we would consider pretty nasty.
The water flowing through a skimmer will not add any significant flow to the tank because as it comes out of the skimmer it has hardly any pressure and very slow flow.
Aloha, Mark 
Edited by Mark Peterson - April 19 2015 at 11:32pm
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1stupidpunk
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Posted: April 20 2015 at 7:04am |
Protein skimmers are rated at light bioloads for max tank size... for example if it says its rated for up to 150g that is for a lightly stocked tank, 100-120(ish) for an average stocked tank, and 75-100(ish) for a densely stocked tank. I disagree with mark on the strength of the skimmer. If your goal is to have great water quality why not put equipment that is rated (at minimum) for the size of your tank? For your 65g tank I would use a skimmer in the 100g range. But much like everything else in this hobby you have to find what works best for your tank, after all, you'll be the one doing all the maintenance on it!
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: April 20 2015 at 9:26pm |
You can never, NEVER, have too big of a skimmer. And I feel your pain... it's really hard to understand how they are rated and what that really means.
How big is the tank? Have a sump?
Adam
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bstuver
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Posted: April 20 2015 at 9:45pm |
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I'll have to disagree with Mark as well, I always buy my skimmer for double what my water volume is.
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Jackie Stuver
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: April 21 2015 at 8:15am |
I believe the real issue here is the Nitrates. Biofiltration is what decomposes Nitrates. Biofiltration is what determines the health of the tank. I believe that biofiltration is 80-95% of the filtration in a healthy aquarium.
Aloha, Mark |
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Jeremyw
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Posted: April 21 2015 at 9:33am |
I would get 100-150 gallon skimmer. I would never ever go less on a 65 gallon. I have never had an issue with my tank due to BIG of a skimmer, nor have i seen any one else complain about it.
But its up to you.
J
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kellerexpress
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Posted: April 21 2015 at 3:00pm |
 Jeremyw wrote:
I would get 100-150 gallon skimmer. I would never ever go less on a 65 gallon. I have never had an issue with my tank due to BIG of a skimmer, nor have i seen any one else complain about it.
But its up to you.
J |
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Krazie4Acans
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Posted: April 21 2015 at 3:13pm |
Mark Peterson wrote:
I believe the real issue here is the Nitrates. Biofiltration is what decomposes Nitrates. Biofiltration is what determines the health of the tank. I believe that biofiltration is 80-95% of the filtration in a healthy aquarium.
Aloha, Mark |
So Mark are you saying that systems that have huge skimmers on them (Like Tilemans) are not a healthy aquarium because the skimmer is reducing the need for biofiltration? If that is the case then I disagree as well. He has one of the most healthy tanks I have ever seen. I always buy my skimmer for 1.5-2x the tank capacity. This reduces the need to skim wet which reduces the efficiency of the skimmer. Early on, when the tank is young, I don't run it 24/7. Then as the bioload and stability of the tank increases the use of the skimmer increases as well.
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Marcoss
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Posted: November 20 2015 at 8:32am |
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Following along...
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RedSea Max S400 - 90G Rimless Frag Tanks x2 - 185 Lookdown Bin
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: November 20 2015 at 8:48am |
Just referred two hobbyists to this thread because it's a useful discussion about skimming.
Krazie4Acans wrote:
So Mark are you saying that systems that have huge skimmers on them (Like Tilemans) are not a healthy aquarium because the skimmer is reducing the need for biofiltration?
If that is the case then I disagree as well. He has one of the most healthy tanks I have ever seen. |
That's not what I am saying, not exactly. It may seem like my opinions are opposite to the opinions of most hobbyists. Just to let you know, I've worked on tanks that absolutely required heavy skimming and on the other hand I have worked on tanks that needed no skimming whatsoever.
A skimmer has many purposes, each purpose dictated by the needs of the tank and goals of the hobbyist. Keeping the animals (and algae) properly fed while not polluting the water is a balancing act. That balancing act is helped by things we can do to clean the water. This is the job of filtration. There are three important parts of aquarium filtration: 1) mechanical filtration, 2) chemical filtration, and 3) biological filtration.
Each of these parts works in harmony with the others. When we better understand that harmony we are able to have a healthy reef aquarium that lives and looks the way we want it.
Aloha, Mark
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: November 20 2015 at 9:03am |
Regarding Tilemans tank, his tank would not be able to support the animals he wants without that large skimmer. Nowhere in the ocean do so many animals live in such a small confined space. In order to adequately feed all those fish, yet keep the water clean enough to grow a huge amount of amazing SPS and LPS coral, he not only uses a large skimmer, but a sulfur denitrator, a bank of dosing pumps (or a Calcium Reactor, I can't remember which) weekly water changes and media to chemically scrub PO4 and Allelopathic toxins out of the water. The LS, LR and algae in the system would never handle all the pollution. My guesstimate is that biological filtration in Tilemans tank is around 70% of total filtration, maybe less. Tileman uses all three filtration components in unison to maintain his gorgeous aquarium.
Aloha, Mark
Edited by Mark Peterson - November 20 2015 at 9:16am
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Reefer4Ever
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Posted: November 20 2015 at 2:21pm |
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IMO regardless of how clean we attempt to get our water it just won't be anywhere the level of clean compared to the ocean. I know their are some great tanks out there that don't use skimmers. I strongly suggest getting a skimmer rated for 125 to 150 gallons.
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sabeypets
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Posted: November 20 2015 at 11:54pm |
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I would get one rated for 150 to 200 gallons.
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