After reading up on various skimmers I decided to purchase the Sapphire skimmer for my bc14. With high hopes I installed the skimmer and waited. And waited. And waited.

So far the skimmer production and functionality is basically lackluster which is frustrating (I had high hopes). I know with a small bioload I shouldn't expect much so I've started to think that a media rack would have better overall benefits.

What are your thoughts? Would the rack prove more beneficial than the skimmer?

meh...
don't know that it's completely an "either, or" thing.
i have a BC29 and have the media rack from inTank. love it!!!
running floss, purigen, matrix carbon.
never had any nitrates... in fact went out and bought the Salifert nitrate kit just so i could actually get a number that was not 0 (you can get readings below 5 with this kit)
on the other hand...
i have a VERY low bio load. don't even have fish in the main tank yet... so not feeding much either.
i'm sure i'm likely to be in the market for the Sapphire (local here in H-Town) once i up the bio load and start feeding daily and adding too many fish <jk>

my personal thoughs on the matter...
both have merits.
likely get the media rack first.
neither... nor both... is a replacement for water changes.

cheers...

I don't have any familiarity with the Sapphire skimmer, but I do have the Stevie T media rack in a biocube 29 and I also am very happy with it. I use it in conjunction with the refugium compartment filled with chaeto. No problems with excess nutrients and with a decent bioload, my nitrates are consistently at O.

I have both in my NC24. Each have their own set of benefits. My tank is also SPS dominiated so a skimmer is a must. The rack forces the water through my carbon media and floss.

Agree with everything that is posted. There is no right answer and both pose benifits. Overall you do not need a skimmer in a small tank and neither is a replacement for water changes.

I vote rack

It may come down to your stocking choice, skimmers are nice and pull organic waste out of the water. Either way set up a good clean filtration area.

I'd opt for the skimmer in lieu of a media rack.


1) You pay one time for a skimmer. Media racks involve purchasing of expensive filtration and can collect detrius to the point that it becomes a nitrate factory.

2) A skimmer removes the dissolved organic matter that creates ammonia and nitrate..while the best you can hope for in a media rack is that the ammonia and nitrates will get trapped and/or converted within the various media to lessen the effects of dissolved organic material in your water column.

3) Even a small tank benefits from a skimmer, and negates the need for a media rack. ....just as it benefits a large tank.

You didn't mention how long your Sapphire skimmer was in operation. It is critical to 'break in' the skimmer..to give the product time for the natural oils that exist on the materials to dissolve and create the coating required to produce the quantity/quality bubbles required for best operation.

These skimmers are arguably the best skimmers for all in one tanks that are available in the market.

Self-bump...

So, it;s been a couple of months now with the skimmer. It is running well, but I run a pretty low bioload and therefore am not removing much skimmate. I have been thinking about trying the inTank media basket and see how it works. My nitrates have been a little high (about 20-30) which concerns me slightly so I want to get that under control (note that I did leave my roommate in charge over Christmas and he may have been overfeeding).

Anyone have strong feelings about these two products and/or personal reviews as to which worked better? I wish I could use both, but in the BC14 there just isn't room.

The more info and testimonials the better...

+1

its not even worth thinking about, theres no way a skimmer does not win out in this