Protein Skimmers

[johnsmith]

Hi guys

whats the current consensus on protein skimmers on a mixed reef 20G nano. Do they extract beneficial minerals etc for the coral on one hand or remove crap for everything else? Dont have one at the moment and wonder whether i should. System been up and running now for a month and seems pretty stable.
Around 12kg lr with one leather, large mixed zoo colony, 5 head mushroom, one feather, one yellow clown goby, one yellow/orange? spotted goby, + CUC of course.

SG 1.024
25 degrees
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 0.2 ish

luminaire with 2 white t5 and 2 blue actinic t5

external hydor 20 with 2kg live rock and phos removing bag
2 koralia 2`s

plan to add more soft corals, pair of juv percula clowns, plus a couple of other small fishies

i would like to add a small sump, but dont know how to do it without drilling the tank, any ideas?

thanks all

 

[Crazy fishes]

Skimmers are NOT essential for nano reefs; they are helpful though. The dicotomy that you mention is a real problem; on the one hand they remove valuable nutrients and the other they remove potential waste. What is certain is that regular water changes of 10-15% weekly is the absolutely key piece maintainance and will increase the chance of success enormously. The only thing I will say about your stocking list is go easy on the fish; I have a 24g and the consensus with regards stocking load is about 4 fish (all about 3-4 inches). The pair of percula or ocellaris clowns are excellent additions as they have colour and dynamics to the tank. If you already have two gobies that would be about four fish. I suggest at this point wait for a while and see what the nitrates and phosphates do. They may rocket in which case more fish is certainly a no-no however they may remain relatively low in which case add another fish at your own peril.
With regards sumps they can be as big or as small as you like. From the reading I have done it would seem that a minimum of 10% the main aquarium volume is suitable but in your case that would be an increcdibly small sump. For you think about 10g and you can use a system known as a calfo overflow. It is a syphon type system that slips over the top of the tank, google it.

Hope this helps

Regards

 

[johnsmith]

I too thought that the extra fish was a little risky in such a small set up but lfs`s keep telling me 1/2" per gallon, but i guess a lot of them are just after quick fish turnover! I`m really surprised how quick the tank has "matured", to be honest as lots of peeps must do, rushed things enormously. Things look a little good to be true. Will check on the overflow/syphon system but these seem to worry me for some reason. If the syphon "breaks" whats to stop the sump pump, pumping the contents of the sump into the tank and resultant over flow. Limited to sump size though by size of cabinet.

Thanks

By the way

what bioload do soft corals add to a nano system?

how many can a system support?

 

[Crazy fishes]

If the syphon "breaks" whats to stop the sump pump, pumping the contents of the sump into the tank and resultant over flow. Limited to sump size though by size of cabinet.

Thanks

By the way

what bioload do soft corals add to a nano system?

how many can a system support?

Firstly soft corals add negligible bioload; the only thing to worry about is space between corals. Secondly the way you prevent overflow is fill the tank to the top with an empty sump and the pump off and let the sump fill passively. When the water level in the tank reaches a point where it is just too low to flow through the overflow the sump will stop filling. At this point see if the sumpis overflowing. If it does remove enough water until the water level is a few inches from the top. If it does not then your in luck and your carpet stays dry !! Seriously though you should be able to tell by watching it if the sump will over flow and advert the wet carpet. Once you have this this scenario then switch on the pump and away you go.

Regards