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should I use a protein skimmer on 10G nano reef


timmylucas

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I was wondering what people thought about getting a skimmer for a nano reef? Or what should I do to keep nitrates low. Obviously feeding less and all that stuff. But equipment wise what does everyone reccomend?

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I don't use a protein skimmer on my 10K gallon macro grow out system. Macro absorbs ammonia, nitrite and nitrate simultaneous. It absorb phosphate, calcium, magnesium, iron and copper if present. It removes carbon dioxide and replaces with oxygen during photo period.

Patrick

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iamarchitecture

I would go for it. I have a fluval spec v and I have particles floating around and on the bottom as well (barebotttom). its a pain vacuuming everyday. A skimmer I believe would definitely help.

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Protein skimmer will not clean up particles on your bare bottom big silly willy. Instead run a powerhead like a koralia to lift it and use an hob with filter floss and some kind of mechanical filtration like carbon ir chemipure elite. Even with that method I found it very hard to keep up with water quality in a ten gallon with just two very hungry juvenile clowns. I would say go for it if you plan to stock heavily or have sensitive invertabrates like an anemone as I had where water quality means life or death. I had to do 2g water changes twice a week which I didn't care for too much.

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PS is next to worthless in that small of a tank. Do your water changes weekly = cheaper, easy, one less piece of equipment to clean and maintain.

 

Next to worthless? A skimmer is beneficial no matter what the volume is.

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Skimmer is useful, water changes prob better on this size tank. No harm in doing both though. I would add a sump for some more volume and a place to hide the skimmer/equipment.

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It really depends on the reefer and tank. If you're lazy like me, you might one as an extra precaution. I haven't done a water change in like 3 months cuz I'm busy and lazy. Mind you, my system is pretty mature but a skimmer is definitely good for me.

 

If your tank is fine with some extra nitrates and you don't plan on having a pure sps system or something then you might not want one. You definitely don't NEED one on a 10G. You can always add a skimmer later in most cases too.

 

I would probably wait. Get use to doing water changes and figure out stocking plans. Then later down the road if you think you might need one you can get one. Chances are you'll probably want to upgrade by then anyways ;)

 

My 2 cents

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over 20 or so gallons it would be a good idea.

I wonder how many on here actually do research before they make recommendations... And how many just regurgitate what they have read somewhere.
Protein skimmer is absolutely of little use in such a small tank unless you don't plan on practicing good husbandry.
ANY type of filter, media, skimmer,reactor, etc is designed to help water conditions between water changes. When you're dealing with such a small volume of water a protein skimmer is next to worthless.
Good water change habits will handle all the export you need.

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over 20 or so gallons it would be a good idea.

 

I wonder how many on here actually do research before they make recommendations... And how many just regurgitate what they have read somewhere.

Protein skimmer is absolutely of little use in such a small tank unless you don't plan on practicing good husbandry.

ANY type of filter, media, skimmer,reactor, etc is designed to help water conditions between water changes. When you're dealing with such a small volume of water a protein skimmer is next to worthless.

Good water change habits will handle all the export you need.

 

over 20 or so gallons it would be a good idea.

 

I wonder how many on here actually do research before they make recommendations... And how many just regurgitate what they have read somewhere.

Protein skimmer is absolutely of little use in such a small tank unless you don't plan on practicing good husbandry.

ANY type of filter, media, skimmer,reactor, etc is designed to help water conditions between water changes. When you're dealing with such a small volume of water a protein skimmer is next to worthless.

Good water change habits will handle all the export you need.

I don't need to do research to give advice. I've been reefing for 7 years, my first hand experience trumps what I read on forums.

 

A water change is the same no matter the tank size. A 10% change will do the same on a 5g or 300g tank.

 

And saying a skimmer is almost worthless is just ignorant.

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over 20 or so gallons it would be a good idea.

 

I wonder how many on here actually do research before they make recommendations... And how many just regurgitate what they have read somewhere.

Protein skimmer is absolutely of little use in such a small tank unless you don't plan on practicing good husbandry.

ANY type of filter, media, skimmer,reactor, etc is designed to help water conditions between water changes. When you're dealing with such a small volume of water a protein skimmer is next to worthless.

Good water change habits will handle all the export you need.

 

over 20 or so gallons it would be a good idea.

 

I wonder how many on here actually do research before they make recommendations... And how many just regurgitate what they have read somewhere.

Protein skimmer is absolutely of little use in such a small tank unless you don't plan on practicing good husbandry.

ANY type of filter, media, skimmer,reactor, etc is designed to help water conditions between water changes. When you're dealing with such a small volume of water a protein skimmer is next to worthless.

Good water change habits will handle all the export you need.

 

I wonder how many people learn to post before posting...

 

I'm pretty sure most ppl's initial research is all based on the experience of others. We were all beginners at one point and go off the advice of others. Unless you have a scientific lab report based on skimmers in a 10 Gallon system... then yes, many of us regurgitate what we've read and add based on what we've learned. We're just giving our opinions which is what the OP asked for. No need to be rude about it. :grouphug:

 

So wait... are you saying I don't need 5 watts per gallon...? :o

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Yeah I agree with chadf in this one. Any skimmer be it an airstone and coke bottle or the newest hottest item on the market is going to be beneficial to your water quality. The main concern I would have with using a skimmer on such a tiny tank would only be mineral depletion where dosing may become necessary but I'd only look into that if I was running a really heavy sps stocked tank where values can change drastically every few days.

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This always comes up on here to skim or not to skim. If you can rock a skimmer on your 10gal then do it. I do it pulls out funk, not saying its a replacement for religious water changes but it removes some nasty stuff on top of the water changes in my own experiences for my 10 gal mixed reef. Just my 2 cents...

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The slimmer of choice here for me would be a diy mame skimmer.

 

Parts include airline, a good air pump, gate valves (unless your air pump is controllable), wood airstone, 16-20 bottle (doctor pepper bottle makes a cone skimmer), and a container for waste drain.

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Aelvion says no Skimmer.

 

I say do a skimmer. Even a little airstone drive skimmer.

 

At the very least it pulls out junk between water changes. If you get stuff in the cup, you know you needed it.

 

If you dont get skimmate, you didnt need it.

 

And then you know.

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I don't need to do research to give advice. I've been reefing for 7 years, my first hand experience trumps what I read on forums.

 

A water change is the same no matter the tank size. A 10% change will do the same on a 5g or 300g tank.

 

And saying a skimmer is almost worthless is just ignorant.

 

Why would you only do a 10% water change in a 10 gallon tank?? Small tanks afford you a luxury that larger tanks negate... ie. the ability to do frequent large percentage water changes very easily.

 

I never said a skimmer was next to worthless. I said it is next to worthless in a small tank. And I'm sorry but at 7 years you are still a neophyte and have not had the time/experience to act so arrogant.

 

 

Back on topic:

Change out 4-5 gallons once a week on a 10 gallon tank and you will see for yourself that your skimmer is doing "next to nothing".

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Why would you only do a 10% water change in a 10 gallon tank?? Small tanks afford you a luxury that larger tanks negate... ie. the ability to do frequent large percentage water changes very easily.

 

I never said a skimmer was next to worthless. I said it is next to worthless in a small tank. And I'm sorry but at 7 years you are still a neophyte and have not had the time/experience to act so arrogant.

 

 

Back on topic:

Change out 4-5 gallons once a week on a 10 gallon tank and you will see for yourself that your skimmer is doing "next to nothing".

 

woah woah woah lets not get carried away here. There's different views on the subject lets just put it at that.

 

Other factors play into this. What if you can't do a WC ever week? What if salt is too expensive or you don't have access to RODI. I mean a small skimmer is cheap compared to how much salt you'll have mix sometimes. It's just based on the situation which is why there are so many different opinions. Like pretty much all of us mentioned, WC's are preferred. A skimmer MAY help depending on the situation. Is it necessary? No. "Next to worthless" can still be the difference in a tank crashing. It's a safety net.

 

And seriously... neophyte? ppl say n00b nowadays...

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@doppelganger

 

I see where your going but you miss my point. The time it takes to do a 40-50% water change on 10 gallons is miniscule and the cost of salt pales in comparison to the cost of equipment so many spend for a safety net.

 

And n00b carry's a derogatory sense of insinuation, hence I used neophyte as I meant not offense by the term but 7 years experience in reefing does not qualify one beyond a beginner.

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