canister filter or protein skimmer?

[reefer1187]

hey everyone right now i have a 92 gallon FOWLR tank with a lunare wrasse. humu humu trigger, and a koran angel....

the mess load is a little heavy and the only kind of filtration i have right now is live rock, with a sump at the bottom, which has dead miracle mud in it...

well i want to change this and since it is a fish only tank should i just purchase a protein skimmer (incase i want to do reef in the future) or should i just go with the canister filter?

which one is better for now?

 

[Swanwillow]

a skimmer works to take things out before they break down... a canister filter does a bit of that with once/week cleanings, and also can do biological and chemical.

I'd do both, IMO... you can find used canisters pretty easily, just got my 404 fluval for $50 (retails at 150 or so) and skimmers can be found under 200 for a good new one... cheaper for used.

 

[dasnugs]

protien skimmer get the biggest you can get

 

[Andrew]

A coralife 220 super skimmer would work great. Also, a Koran angel is a bad idea for a 90 gallon tank because he'll outgrow it rather fast.

 

[Avi]

Get the best skimmer you can afford...it'll do more than the canister and it won't require as much maintenance. I like canisters for my freshwater tanks, but IMO they aren't worth the effort of constant cleaning in a marine tank.

 

[Amphiprion]

Get a protein skimmer. It will consistently provide certain functions that a canister filter cannot.

 

[PatMayo]

I used a cannister filter on my 46. It was the magnum 350. I only had the foam insert in it. I changed it once per week whether it needed it or not. I also had an Aqua C Remora on that tank. Zero Nirates.

On my 90 I only have a Euro-Reef RS-100 skimmer. I do not have big fish. It is going to be a mixed reef. The skimmer works good and this tank as well has zero nitrates.

Actually if I had some where that I could put the Magnum 350 that was easily accessable I would use it as well because it gets rid of large stuff quite efficiently and adds flow. But if you are someone who does not like to do maintenance it would be a bad idea because it could be a nitrate sink if not managed properly.

If you don't overload the tank and have the proper amount of live rock, a good quality skimmer will work just fine even with big fish. (The key is not to overload.)

Regards,

Pat

 

[wazo90925]

got to have a skimmer. i have a cannister & do not recomend it.

 

[mrw1125]

If you use any kind of foam filter do you have to clean it once a week to keep the nitrates from forming.

 

[reefer1187]

so i should lean more towards the protein skimmer, because i want the least maintainence possible....

next question what is a good protein skimmer at a reasonable price for a 92 corner gallon tank?

 

[reefer1187]

????

 

[wazo90925]

i would get a skimmer & sump setup, possibly a refugium as well depending on what you want to do. but you cant expect a SW tank to be low maintenance or cheap, its a package deal. i would check out a couple books to realy see what your going to put togeather. it will help you alot. with skimmers, dont go cheap. it is probably the most important investment for your tank. so check out this link, they are reliable & fast, good prices to.
http://www.marinedepot.com/homepage.asp?CartId=

 

[reefer1187]

i love that site alwas shop there, i have a sump aready... just looking for a good skimmer at a reasonable price...

so feed me the recommendations :-D

 

[otterpop510]

most people use protein skimmers compared to canisters, epecially when doing reef. in combination with live rock, maybe a fuge, that seems to be the typical mo on this board it seems.

for around a 90 gallon not spending too much a euroreef (like paymayo's) or a ASM seem to be good choices that lots of people like.. more expensive (and not necessarily better) would be like deltecs, bubble kings, h&s, etc.

cheaper would be like coralife super skimmer, ETSS, Berlins, etc. generally people say stay away from the seaclones. big plus of going with the euroreefs or ASM's compared to the cheaper ones is the no need for fidgeting to get good skimming..

i'm looking for a new skimmer too and have been reading around, read other threads, there's alot of information around. wetwebmedia was another good site that i read up, google it..

 

[wazo90925]

i dont know what to tell ya. i know i would stay away from prizm & seaclone but thats my opinioni have a DELTEC & i know thats the best, but real expensive. i like the precision marine & euro reef, but again its your call.:bum: