16 gallon cube, need a skimmer

[fours2many]

I need a skimmer that actually works. I have tried the rio nano skimmer. It doesn't work for me at all. I need something small that will fit in the overfow area or hang on the back.

So far, tunze or aqua-c
Which one has less bubbles enter the tank? Which one is more consistant with skimming?
I have gone cheap on things in the past and now know that I end up getting 15 things till I get the one I wanted. So, I am willing to pay the price of either of these units. I just need to know which one is better.

Thanks, Kristin

 

[sir_dudeguy]

Never tried the tunze ones. Aqua C is a great skimmer tho.

However i dont really see a large need for a skimmer on just a 16g tank. That is unless you're trying to go really all out and do some of the harder corals to keep. If you're not gonna do any of those acros or whatever other sps are kinda hard, then i would say you really only need to keep up with water changes for the most part...

 

[Doglover_50]

i keep a cpr bak pak on my 16 bowfront (hob) and love it.

 

[fours2many]

I was just looking at the cpr bak-pak skimmer. Someone is selling one on RC. So you like it? Does it skim well? How about bubbles?

Thanks, Kristin

 

[bascerpharm4]

Rio nano skimmer works great. Check the pictures in my 2.5 gallon setup. On page 2, there are some pictures of my rio nano skimmer. Lots of foam and it extracts great residue.

 

[bascerpharm4]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1030431&perpage=25&pagenumber=2

 

[FLricordia]

I have a 20 cube that has been going since Aug 06. I use chaeto fuge, LR and deep sand bed as the only filteration. The is a large sponge on the sump return. There is no chemical filteration, protien skimmer, UV, calcium reactor, or ozone used.
It works great. I do a 20% once every week, sometimes 2 weeks. There is no undesirable algae growing, only coraline. I do use Kent liquid calcium, Iodine, moly/strot and kalkwasser in the top-off RO/DI water. Maybe you don't really need a protien skimmer after all, just some reevaluating the set-up?
It works for me and if I can run a successful tank without all the fancy equipment, there is no doubt you could too.

 

[kingfisher62]

Most new protein have a breakin period and the microbubbles will subside in time!

 

[sir_dudeguy]

ya like FLricordia, i am not running a skimmer on my tank right now. I have a CSS 65, but its worthless imo...never did break in (well it did, but it doesnt adjust right ). Anyways, i've been running it w/out the skimmer for...since august or so?? Sounds about when i started the tank, maybe a bit earlier.