GIRLGONEAQUA Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Should i get a protein skimmer for my biocube 14g? and are the biocube protein skimmers a POS? Link to comment
GIRLGONEAQUA Posted September 4, 2008 Author Share Posted September 4, 2008 yes...to question 1 or 2? Link to comment
badbread Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Better than nothing IMO, I modified mine and it pulls up nasty brown tea water and sticky nasty bubbles. Link to comment
k.tran Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 yes to 2, get a remoraC or something, much better Link to comment
EspiE Posted September 19, 2008 Share Posted September 19, 2008 I have one, and it's probably the biggest waste of money I've encountered so far with my BioCube. Save up for a Tunze 9002, and don't even waste your time with the BC skimmer. Link to comment
DCG1286 Posted September 19, 2008 Share Posted September 19, 2008 Yes to a protein skimmer...+1 for AquaC Remora, I have one on my BC29...works wonders! -David Link to comment
scottyreef Posted September 19, 2008 Share Posted September 19, 2008 well hold on here what is going to be you stocking plan that really decides what type of skimmer you would need. If you what to lessen the amount of nutrients out of your what the BC skimmer will take some out but not all. If you have a light bioload and do fequent water changes you wont really need a skimmer for a 14BC tank. what has not been metioned with getting a Aqua C ramora or tunze 9002 they wont fit with a stock hood with out quite a bit of mods to you tank. 1. if you have a bioload that needs a skimmer 2. you get what you pay for ( crappy skimmers are cheap for a reason) Link to comment
badbread Posted September 19, 2008 Share Posted September 19, 2008 If you have a light bioload and do fequent water changes you wont really need a skimmer for a 14BC tank. what has not been metioned with getting a Aqua C ramora or tunze 9002 they wont fit with a stock hood with out quite a bit of mods to you tank. Scotty, Do you know if a Tunze 9002 fits in a topless BC14? Link to comment
Xanthi Posted September 19, 2008 Share Posted September 19, 2008 This is a question i have too, is there any skimmers that work in a bc 14 without modding? Link to comment
MSU Fan Posted September 19, 2008 Share Posted September 19, 2008 So a bit long winded, but... A) I don't think the Tunze 9002 will fit in a 14g BC...so that option may be out. But if it fits, that's a good skimmer. But your questions - a protein skimmer is necessary/recommended if a) the stocking would need it, such as a large bioload or SPS, or you are lazy like me and not very good at doing water changes/dosing on time. As for the BC Skimmer - I'll take some flak on this, but it's ok at best. Heck, its an airstone skimmer, what does anyone expect? It's also 1/5 the cost of the "other" skimmers. I believe that it works at least 20% as well as those, so it's a value to me. I upgraded the air pump, and I also extended the chamber to as tall as I could (pm me for details). Those both helped a bunch, but the chamber extension much more so. Another question to answer is: are you going to put a fuge in the back of your tank? Normally that would be in the second chamber. If so, then I think that pretty much rules out all the other skimmers. Second, are you going open top, or using the canopy? The remora and such hang on the back of the tank, and it won't work with the canopy on. For that reason alone, I went with the airstone skimmer - canopy on (wife won't budge on this) and I didn't want to spend the money on the Tunze, CPR, or Sapphire skimmers (all $150 to 200). HTH Link to comment
badbread Posted September 19, 2008 Share Posted September 19, 2008 As for the BC Skimmer - I'll take some flak on this, but it's ok at best. Heck, its an airstone skimmer, what does anyone expect? It's also 1/5 the cost of the "other" skimmers. I believe that it works at least 20% as well as those, so it's a value to me. I upgraded the air pump, and I also extended the chamber to as tall as I could (pm me for details). Those both helped a bunch, but the chamber extension much more so. +1, I did the same and it pulls out stuff. Enough said, it's doing something which is more than nothing. Mine is on a timer with my MH lights, in the middle of the day the froth is light brown, by the end of the night its clear white, it's doing something. Link to comment
Aelvion Posted September 19, 2008 Share Posted September 19, 2008 Protein skimmer = waste of money in a tank this size. (and actually there is good argument of how they can be more harmful than good in a tank this size but I won't get into that) Get some chaeto and do weekly water changes, this will keep you phosphates/nitrates at 0 Link to comment
badbread Posted September 19, 2008 Share Posted September 19, 2008 Protein skimmer = waste of money in a tank this size. (and actually there is good argument of how they can be more harmful than good in a tank this size but I won't get into that) Please do or start up a new thread or links please. Link to comment
MSU Fan Posted September 19, 2008 Share Posted September 19, 2008 Protein skimmer = waste of money in a tank this size. (and actually there is good argument of how they can be more harmful than good in a tank this size but I won't get into that) Trust me - this does not apply to the BC skimmer. It does not skim enough to "clean" the water too well. It just provides some cushion for sloppy water change timing and over feeding. Link to comment
GIRLGONEAQUA Posted September 19, 2008 Author Share Posted September 19, 2008 So basically I took back my BC skimmer because yes it was a POS and placed in the 2nd chamber a heap of cheato kept the charcol filter, and rinsed it out once a week so far the tank is clear and water levels are a-ok Link to comment
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