Please Help With Protein Skimmers!

[timpetty]

I am brand new to the nano tank business. ANY help anyone can give me as far as protein skimmers would be greatly appreciated! I have an Aquapod 24 and need to know what I can fit inside that actually works. I would like to make as few mods as possible to keep it clean looking. I found the Tunze nano skimmer which looks ok but I dont know if it will fit or how it works. If anyone can help me with this I would appreciate it more than you can know. Even if modification is needed, that is fine as long as it looks clean and works well. Thanks!

Tim

 

[chrissaysyes]

How to Install a Nano Fission Skimmer in an Aquapod24

and

Pros and Cons sheet for Fission Skimmer

How those two links help ya out

 

[timpetty]

Thanks a lot chris. I've been trying to read up on the skimmers and from everything I hear, the Fission doesn't work very well and creates a lot of bubbles. The Tunze Nano Skimmer appears to be the best I have seen so far, but I have read reports it may not fit with the aquapod cover. I would definately prefer something in-tank though. Thanks for the response tho. Every little bit helps! Tim

 

[chrissaysyes]

Welllllll, I personally wouldnt run a nano without a sump/refugium if for any reason, just for the added water volume. That would be the prime choice for you seeing as that would give you an entire tank for a much larger and much better skimmer.

 

[gigmeyer]

I have the CurrentUSA AquaPod 24 and the Tunze Nano skimmer just fits in the first compartment of the filter. I'm not sure about all 24 Nano's as I believe some have 3 compartments instead of 2. As far as the Current Fission skimmer, it is worthless. The collection cup is way too small and difficult to remove and clean without changing the position of the base. In addition, it did not skim well either. IME skimmers are not an area to skimp on price if you plan to use one.

One problem I have had is maintaining the correct water level for the skimmer. In my case, I replaced the sponge behind the filter intake with fibre floss and the water level in the filter compartment tends to vary over the week due to evaporation and gunk in the fibre floss. This occurs even with daily addition of RO water to account for evaporation. I have fixed the problem some by removing one of the intake doors and pushing the fibre floss down so some water can flow freely over the top of it.

The main reason I bought a skimmer is for vacations when I have someone feeding the fish who may put too much food in the tank. In general, it does not remove a lot of DOC weekly, but I still run it as nitrates have started to build now that the tank is 10 months old and I figure anything it removes is better than nothing.

Hope this is helpful.

 

[timpetty]

Thanks chris and gig. I appreciate the help. Chris - I would love to build a sump but I really dont have any good place for it. I have a small apt right now and the tank is on a pedestal. If i had the room that would DEFINATELY be the way to go. Gig- Thanks for the info on the Tunze. I was worried about being able to close the cover. The only other option i was considering right now is hanging a bak-pak 2r on the side. I was thinking of cutting slots on the right side of the cover and hanging the intake in the main tank and the return in the right rear compartment. Thanks again for the help from both. Anyone who has any further suggestions, they are always appreciated! Tim

 

[gigmeyer]

Aah. the cover is likely to be a problem if you have the type of tank with the lights and other accessories built into the cover. The nano I have came with a glass pane for a cover that I do not use. Instead, I use eggcrate that I can cut around any tank additions like a skimmer. I'd probably suggest going skimmerless as many people do on a tank this size.

 

[timpetty]

Yea, the more I research the more I am beginning to believe I will have far less problems if I go skimmerless. When I bought the Aquapod, I thought the cover with the lights built right in was a great idea. Now Im having second thoughts on that. Live and learn I guess.... I may buy one eventually to hang on the side if a problem arises. I just wish there was a skimmer that would fit into the rear panel and actually work haha. Thanks for your help anyway. For now, Im going with Gig's idea and going skimmerless. If anyone has an alternative, even if custom that works well please feel free to post here! Any ideas are welcome. Also any other Aquapod mods that you think are interesting POST POST POST. Im eager to learn anything. Thanks to everyone following the thread so far... I may actually turn this into a photo diary as soon as anything interesting happens. Still waiting for water to cycle......

 

[chrissaysyes]

Btw, the cpr bak pak 2 isnt really worth cutting your hood and if you do get one, you're going to have two huge pipes and a big ole pump with a hose running out sitting right there in the middle of your display. If you do get one make sure you get the prefilter, otherwise when the first bit of algae or muck gets inside the pump after a couple of weeks it will start to sound like a blender.

 

[timpetty]

Thanks chris. Most likely going to go skimmerless for the time being. Ill see how it goes. Maybe ill creat some type of refugium in one of the rear panels, or throw some live rock rubble back there.

 

[chrissaysyes]

definitely try and put some rubble in the back, you'll be glad you did.