Do you use a skimmer in your aquarium?

[TamiW]

This poll is to help gauge just how many seahorse keepers use skimmers on their seahorse tanks vs. those that don't. If you have seahorses, please respond to this poll. The wording of the poll refers to "system" rather than "aquarium" as some people have their seahorses in an aquarium that is remotely connected to a reef tank. If that is how your system is set up; please count the entired system; i.e. if the skimmer is on the reef tank, that is part of the "system".

The poll is multiple choice, so please choose all answers that apply if you have multiple systems with different configurations.

 

[autumnb]

I have a filter system called the back pack. One half of it is a skimmer where that water is fed into the other half. I do have bioballs in that half where the water is fed from the bottom to the top and then flows back into the tank. Any suggestion. I do like having the skimmer water feed into the other half as to prevent too many bubbles from going into my tank. I am very new at this type of tank, so please correct me if any of this in not the right thing to do. I have heard that I should take the bioballs out or even take a few out each time I change water and rinse and put back in, to help with nitrates.

 

[theimpulsive1]

I use an in sump skimmer for my horses. The way they eat it would be hard not 2 use one.

 

[buffalobunch]

No skimmer. Sump and refugium

 

[peterpiper]

using a HOT Skimmer now, but will move it to the sump when we get our sump

 

[David123]

Skimmers are a very valuable piece of equipment to have, many reasons, but I recommend them to all fish tanks.

 

[Tropicalfish123]

I think skimmers play a role in gas bubbles. There are many other factors that may cause this. I have took down my skimmer because many of my seahorses where getting gas bubbles.

 

[arcprolife]

I have a counter current skimmer in with my horses. Its simple, no harsh flow, and I get decent results. I also run a phosphate reactor to help keep the tank clean.

 

[namxas]

i use a skimmer in the sump of my SH larger setup, not on the smaller one.

 

[DanU]

I think skimmers play a role in gas bubbles.

We noticed a significant decrease in pouch emphysema after adding skimmers. We like to have them on all systems. We use both sump and HOB depending upon the tank or system.

Dan

 

[LisaD]

I agree with Dan, I have had the same experience. Skimmers help improve water quality = improved seahorse health.

 

[Diane_B]

I've had trouble with hang-on skimmers on seahorse tanks, but I do use a good skimmer in the sump of my larger seahorse tank. The smaller ones without sumps are skimmerless.

 

[ScooterMom]

Gbd

Gbd

I have a new set up with no protein skimmer. I put my first seahorse in the tank, a male H. barbouri and he must have snicked some air as he came out of the bag. He went straight to the surface and started blowing bubbles. He has gotten worse, and now just floats at the surface upside down. I can't see any air bubbles or bloating.
He has been in a diamox bath for three days now and I don't see any improvement. Any ideas?

 

[rayjay]

Barbs are known for this pouch problem.
In my case I have a shot glass with alcohol in it and sit a rubber tipped bobby pin in the alcohol for 30 seconds or so and scoop out the male with tank water, into a 2 litre ice cream container. I hold the male in the water but vertical, and carefully insert one end of the bobby pin into the pouch to enlarge the opening and allow the gas to be removed from the pouch. Most will come out of the enlarged opening but some I gently move the gas from the bottom of the pouch, out, with my fingers. (VERY gently)
If the problem continues you could do a flush of the pouch with the diamox.
(It doesn't take much gas to make the seahorse float at the top. Pouch may look normal to bloated)

 

[onepoorreefer]

Yes I use a skimmer helps the water quality ond with the water changes

 

[esnailme]

i use a surface skimmer on my 5 gallon dwarf tank. I added this skimmer when my tank was 4 months old. I have a black sponge covering the top portion of the skimmer under the cup so that my dsh do not get sucked up. My amphipods love this setup. They play in the water current and inside the sponge. To this day...I have not regretted this decision. I have crystal clear water and no excess debris or organics floating on the surface of the tank.

 

[jennifish120]

No skimmer on my sh tank

 

[SeahorseSammy]

I use a skimmer and have had no trouble with any seahorses, or fry, since I started working with them

 

[mtc1966]

hot skimmer

 

[Tucson Reef]

Tunze 9011 on a 58 gal cube with 20 gal sump