Aaaaaaaaaaaaaarggggghhhhhh

[demonmagus]

Could someone clear a few things up for me please:

Is RO water necessary? If not, what do I have to do to the water before adding to tank?

I've always thought a skimmer necessary, but someone said they are not, again, are they or are they not necessary?

 

[steelhealr]

Yikes...two 'controversial' questions. Here's my take on it:

1) Is RO necessary? I think the correct answer would be that adding anything other than pure water to a marine tank is asking for trouble by threatening your tank with algae blooms, heavy metals, nitrates, phosphates, etc. The means by how you obtain it is up to you. RO/DI water is the purest that you can add to your tank (Aquafina and Dasani are both RO but minerals added). IMO, pure water is the only thing that should be used. You can obtain it:

-by buying your own RO/DI unit and making it
-buying RO water at your lfs
-buying premixed SW at your lfs
-buying bottled ocean water (and it still may contain nitrates)
-using bottled distilled (may contain copper if made from a copper distillation apparatus

2) Skimming is an extremely controversial area when it comes to nano tanks. In mini-reefs they should be standard equipment. In nano tanks, some skim, some don't. IMO, 10-20 gallons and under and you should be fine with consistent 10% water changes. 20 and over it is controversial. I have tried skimming on my 24 and to be honest...I haven't noticed any difference and I rarely skim unless my tank seems to have a problem. Others swear differently. It is a personal choice based on what you are going to keep in your tank, the volume and your budget. EG...if I had a 30 gallon nano with SPS and fish, I'd skim. SH

 

[demonmagus]

what does 'SPS'stand for?

 

[steelhealr]

Small polyped stony corals.....corals that have very high lighting requirements and also require pristine water condtions. SH

 

[demonmagus]

so if I set up a 25 gallon nano, with a few inverts ( do cleaner crew count?) and 1-2 fish would I absolutely need to skim?

 

[fish_keeper2]

you dont have to if you keep up with your water changes. on my 10 gal nano im using the prizm deluxe protien skimmer(made for tanks up to 100 gal) and 20% every 5 days or so. i personaly decided to get a skimmer because knowing my schedual there may possibly be a time where cant do a partial........ex i ran out of RO water and i havent had the chance to get more.

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Fishkeeper

Is your protein skimmer an external one? Hanging on the back of the glass? I was just wondering as an external would be much better than an internal for such small tanks.
Thanks Dan

 

[fish_keeper2]

yes it is a hang on back. it does take up some room in tank and disruptes the hood placement but it wont affect LR placement much. FYI its much easier to place ALL your equipment in the tank before the LR or you will find your self rearranging the LR. the prizim works well but for the first week or so you have to moniter it a lot and increase or decrease the flow as nessecary but afterwards once its set on the right flow rate itll pretty much run itself and all you have to do is clean out the collection cup every now and then.