Do I need a skimmer to keep an BTA?
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MD Ocean Girl
New member
IMO, any tank run without a skimmer is bound to have problems down the road......If it was my tank, I'd definitely run a skimmer.
I would recommend a skimmer. They not only remove dissolved organics, they also oxygenate the water very well. If you choose to go with a skimmer, try to get a decent one, there are some that aren't very good. The Aquamaxx is one I'm using now and I like it. I also have the Eshopps, and I think it's a decent HOB. I wouldn't recommend the regular Remora, but the Remora Pro is pretty good, as well (however, it has the pump inside the tank, which is unsightly). There are several other decent ones, and you might want to ask on the skimmer thread in the Equipment, Lighting Forum. Mojo is the name of the skimmer guru on that thread.
I've had a RBTA in a 10g nano for almost 3 years now.
The RBTA has never once split or moved. It's got great color also.
I just have a small CPR HOB fuge with a bit of Live Rock and cheato.
Yes, weekly water changes...
So you do not NEED a skimmer, but you probably need good water quality.
The RBTA has never once split or moved. It's got great color also.
I just have a small CPR HOB fuge with a bit of Live Rock and cheato.
Yes, weekly water changes...
So you do not NEED a skimmer, but you probably need good water quality.
reefinghabit
New member
my rose bubble tip is thriving in my 20 gl mini reef i currently run no skimmer,i have no issues at the moment,but the downside is the ph could be more stable,due to the fact that skimmers ad 02 to the water,co2 can build up and lower the ph.but regular bi weekly h20 changes should be fine.bta love chopped up seafood to.
dh350twin
New member
I am also setting up a 28gallon led nano cube for a pair of platinums and a bta.
I to was wondering about a skimmer. I have always ran a top of the line skimmer on all my tanks(mixed reef -with alot of tangs).
With two small fish i wondered if i needed one(i would add one if i had the room)
I to was wondering about a skimmer. I have always ran a top of the line skimmer on all my tanks(mixed reef -with alot of tangs).
With two small fish i wondered if i needed one(i would add one if i had the room)
av8rtrb
New member
When to introduce the BTA
When to introduce the BTA
I'm curious how long everyone thinks it should be before the BTA is introduced? As soon as the tank is cycled, or does it need time to become established & stable? I'd like to do this too but I've heard anemones can be pretty sensative. Thoughts?
When to introduce the BTA
I'm curious how long everyone thinks it should be before the BTA is introduced? As soon as the tank is cycled, or does it need time to become established & stable? I'd like to do this too but I've heard anemones can be pretty sensative. Thoughts?
As long as you keep up with your water changes, you won't need a skimmer. OTOH, a skimmer can protect you if something goes wrong.
In my case, I've been running my 65 gallon RBTA tank skimmerless for 6 years or so. Fish load is fairly light - a pair of GSM, a yellow-tailed blue damsel, a fridmani pseudochromis and a yellow watchman goby/pistol shrimp pair. But, as I said, when something goes wrong, a skimmer can save you. My heater recently failed (Won titanium, about 5 years old) and I don't know how long it was before I noticed. When I finally did notice, the Won temp reading said 97 degrees, but the digital thermometer on the tank said 70 degrees (in the middle of the day with the lights on - during the night I'm sure it went much lower). Anyway, my clones have been pretty annoyed. It took about a week and a half, multiple water changes and a pretty nasty algae outbreak to get things back to normal. In the end, I lost about a dozen clones (fish didn't seem too bothered). If I had a skimmer, I'm sure things would have come back quicker and I could have avoided some of the aglae issues and some of the losses. Not that I'm planning on getting a skimmer again (had one for the first 10 years or so that this tank was set up), but just a cautionary tale...
Kevin
