Do I really need a skimmer?

sledge760

sledge760

Member
Presently I have a 180 gallon CA/SA cichlid tank set up, but am planning to switch back to saltwater, which is what I had set up until last August. Bored with freshwater again. For filtration I have a Fluval fx5 and 3x AC110's which I believe is enough filtration. Also 3 Maxijet 1200's. I would like to switch back to salt water without making any changes to my present set up, as in using a sump and protein skimmer. For water changes I faithfully change 64 gallons (two 32 gallon trash cans) a week, that comes out to 35%. The tank will be for the most part will be "fish only" with some lr and faux corals, but not enough lr that will be biologically beneficial. On my previous FOWLR set up with a 55 gallon sump and ETSS 600 skimmer, I was only producing about 16 oz. of skimmate a week.

My question is, with this filtration and the weekly 35%water changes do I really need a protein skimmer which means running a sump? I do not know of hang on skimmers that would be effective for a 180.
 
Re: Do I really need a skimmer?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8935178#post8935178 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sledge760
about 16 oz. of skimmate a week.
Click to expand...

Now can you imagine every week when you took the collection cup off you poured that Liter bottle of poop back into your display, week after week.
 
With the water changes you could be allright without....but your salt expense over a year would easily pay for a "middle of the road" skimmer. If you get more heavily stocked (a natural tendency IMHO) you'd have to do even larger water changes.

Lets see.... some quick math

Instant Ocean... 165 gl bucket @ $45 (where I live) That would last you 2.54 water changes at 64 gals or you'd need 1.55 buckets of IO salt per month = $ 69.82 a month in water changes or $837 per year. Lets say you cut your water changes in a little less than half and paid $500 for the best HOB Skimmer you could find (Deltec or Tunze come to mind) You'd probably save 25-30 hours of work (minumum) at an est of 1 hour per water change (quite conservative for changing 60+ gallons of water...

AND .... your tank would probably be healther.
 
Thanks for the math. I guess your right about the cost involved. I would not mind running a HOB but can I truly "hang on the tank" a Deltec or Tunze without a sump? Wouldn't you need alot of room between the tank and the wall? Also I am concerned about the noise. The tank is in my family room right where I watch TV. I get enough complaint's from my wife. My set up now is real quiet.
 
Is it going to be a reef tank or fish only? If you are going to keep corals etc, they will not appreciate a huge water change every week. get yourself a skimmer. After a few months you will have saved money anyway from what you dumped down the drain with the water changes.
Ken
 
The Deltec HOB is pretty darn thin, so i don't think you need much clearence at all....don't know what the tunze HOB looks like
 
The tank will be fish only.

How quiet is the Deltec MCE600? It looks like it would not be rated enough for a 180 or would it be better than nothing?

I was also looking at the Tunze 9010. It say's that it can be immersed in the tank. I would not mind if it took up 4.9"x4.4" in the corner of the tank. It is rated for tanks up to 264 gallons. Anyone familiar with this skimmer?
 
Go to the Tunze forum. There is a thread somewhere in there regarding these skimmers. I am seriously considering one for a tank that I have. The thread indicates that the Tunzes outperform the Deltec and others. Of course it is the Tunze forum but there arent many questions or issues regarding them. All that own them seem to be very pleased..

FWIW
 
Let me correct myself. It is not that I do want to use a Protein skimmer, I just do not want to start using a sump again and over flow. I want to use the filtration I have. I like my set up now also due to the fact that if I have a power failure I am not causing a flood.

I will check the Tunze forum. I can live with the $327 price tag on marinedepot.com, as opposed to some of the other skimmers I've seen.
 
I agree with E-A-G-L-E-S. The Tunze is probably your best bet given the tank size, etc. I am using the Deltec MCE600 on my 30gallon, which is overkill, but I got a good deal on it.
 
Yes I am going to look into the Tunze 9010 or 9015. I just did some "Googling" on it and looked through the Tunze forum. Seems pretty good.
 
In the end you cannot beat what a wet/dry system and a euro reef rs 80 would do to your system! Water quality & clarity, plus not loosing fish.Also you would be abllllle to cut the water changes down to about 20% once a month and be removing just the critical stuff from the skimmer. If you are interested in simplifying your set up go that way.
 
tunze runs in tank
deltec mce skimmers are hang on and on only require 4.5 inches clearance
deltec mce is a great skimmer two sizes
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8935560#post8935560 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sledge760
Thanks for the math. I guess your right about the cost involved. I would not mind running a HOB but can I truly "hang on the tank" a Deltec or Tunze without a sump? Wouldn't you need alot of room between the tank and the wall? Also I am concerned about the noise. The tank is in my family room right where I watch TV. I get enough complaint's from my wife. My set up now is real quiet.
Click to expand...
 
Re: Re: Do I really need a skimmer?

Re: Re: Do I really need a skimmer?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8935201#post8935201 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by E-A-G-L-E-S
Now can you imagine every week when you took the collection cup off you poured that Liter bottle of poop back into your display, week after week.
Click to expand...
Best way I'VE ever heard it put!
 
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