Starting A Marine Aquarium

[FiSh123FiSh]

How do you mean 'wipe the tank'

everything dies? and how come if its just the powerhead?

Thanks for the advice! don't want anything bad to happen.

 

[Truck]

yes everything dies

 

[FiSh123FiSh]

What causes it? If the pump fails what happens? electrical?

 

[rabbut]

As truck says, a tank wipe is where everything dies. Apparently these pumps melt and release copper and other horribles into the water, poisoning your livestock Corals and fish both are killed if it does go, along with any mobile invertibrates, but is easily fixed by simply replacing the supplied pump with a decent one. I've recomended a MaxiJet MP 900 so the bubble trap still works (the MP1200 makes bubbles pass the bubbletrap and enter the tank, as it is too much flow for this skimmer IME ) and the pump is reliable These are made by Aquarium Systems

All the best
Rabbut

 

[FiSh123FiSh]

Ok, I no its easy to replace the motor but I have read that with the refugium I am getting there is no need for a skimmer.

Any comments?


P.S sorry for hijacking the original thread

 

[rabbut]

You could argue that in any set-up Skimmers are an optional extra and you can go without them. They do give better stability to us newbies, and reduce running costs on larger tanks (You need larger waterchanges without a skimmer) Most corals prefur clean conditions, and a Skimmer will help towards that if you are going with a reef, but unless you are keeping realy messy fish, you don't need to mark a skimmer as essential

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Crazy fishes]

Depends on the size of your tank. I mean most nanos don't require either but if your tank is bigger then while they aren't ABSOLUTELY necessary they will lessen the nutrients quite dramatically. Refugiums and skimmers work at end and beginning of the nitrogen cycle respectively. The skimmer will remove DOCs (dissolved organic compounds) that will later become nitrates however your tank will have nitrates and phosphates added to it via food and the skimmer has no impact on any of these. This is where the refugium comes in with macroalgae as these absorb phosphates and nitrates from the water column in order to grow thereby lowering levels. Macroalgae in a refugium is not going to reduce DOCs though, in actual fact they really dislike DOCs and other particulates building up on their surface. I think skimmers and refugium with macros are complementary techniques to maintain 'ideal' water parameters, whether you have both, either-or is really up to you.

Hope this helps

Regards

 

[seffieuk]

Great explanation CrazyFishes, very useful - thanks

Seffie x

 

[FiSh123FiSh]

Yep. Thats really helpful! Thanks Rabbut & Crazy fishes.

 

[jeasko]

just gonna add in here that while everybody has correctly stated that you dont need a skimmer (and as some have said there are benefits from having one), from personal experience i wouldnt be without one no matter how much LR etc i had in my tank

Mine recently clogged up (on the air intake) without me realising and the damage is very quickly noticed, also without one there is very little play with water changes they pretty much need to be regular, which is fine when your at home and have the time, however with the skimmer it does give you more time to play with, that said regular water changes are probablky the best way to obtail good quality water.

Sorry to but in but just thought id share my thoughts

 

[Jimyfloyd]

thanks for all the replies and info guys!

I've seen a 2nd hand Prism pro skimmer - are these any good? Anyone got experience with them?

Also how do they fit to the tank?

Cheers,

James

PS. Anybody got any live rock going (20kg or so?)

 

[Crazy fishes]

Prism pro I believe is red sea which are not very good. Look for TMC V2 and skimmers by tunze or deltec and then you know you are getting a reasonably good skimmer. Also look for a skimmer rated to handle more water than in your tank; you can never really over skim. For example if your tank is 400 liters then get the V2 800 instead of the V2 400. There are different types of skimmer hang on the back (external) or internal which go in the tank or sump if you have one (another reason for a sump to hide the equipment). The V2 range can be used either way internally or externally. When externally the pump is in the tank/sump and the skimmer body on the outside with a hose connecting the pump to the skimmer inlet. The outlet is then just directed over the side back into the tank/sump. Easy peezey eh !!??

Hope this helps

Regards

 

[Jimyfloyd]

Thanks for the info - it is red sea i think so i'll steer clear.

I think i'll go for the V2 400 which should be plenty for my tank.

One more question. I'm looking at getting the salt water ready hopefully for this weekend and hopefully getting the liverock in a start the cycling. Am I right in thinking that the skimmer is not needed at this stage. Once i have cycled i will be adding a clean up crew and possibly a choc chip starfish (is this ok) and at this point will i require a skimmer?

Thanks again for all the help guys - you have really helped me out!

James

 

[rabbut]

Well, skimmers won't have anything to pull out untill the live rock goes in (and then it will only pull some die-off out for an hour or two after) and it will start to go properly when livestock is added, so yes, you can wait untill the CUC and/or the first round of fish go in. I would argue that the V2 range is rubbish. I hear a few members on here complaining about noise levels from them, and I know a few people that have had the motors fail after a few months. This contadicts consensus on here though... Personally, I'd look at the Deltec EMC range AquaMedic's are supposed to be good, though I've gone off the ones at work recently, as are Tunze that are decent reliable skimmers

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Jimyfloyd]

Do you mean one of these?

http/www.thelivingseas.uk.com/p/474197/d...in-skimmer.html