fowler tank

[littlecat34]

I am upgrading my 54 gallon to a 125 gallon fowler tank. I have herd from some people that a skimmer does no good on a fowler tank is this true? And could i just take the 50 pounds of live rock from my tank and buy new live sand hook up my lighht and a fluval fx5 and a few powerheads and be completly set? And would skimmer alow me to do fewer water changes.

 

[james3370]

fish crap don't they???

.....i'm just sayin LOL

 

[littlecat34]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15028518#post15028518 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by james3370
fish crap don't they???

.....i'm just sayin LOL

So your saying they do need a skimmer and thats what i thought But about ten people told me on dfwmas that i dont need a skimmer and that they were for reefs.

 

[james3370]

i think it would still be beneficial to remove the stuff in the water that will be present (fish crap, excess food, etc)....you just don't need to have a skimmer as powerful as you would if you wanted to keep coral.

the skimmer i am using on my build ia way too oversized for the size tank i am doing, but the benefit is i'll be able to overstock on the # of fish & make sure they are well fed w/out having to worry about the detrimental effects those actions would have w/out a skimmer

if however, you are going a lighly stocked tank & don't overfeed, then you can probably do w/out a skimmer all together & doing more frequent water changes is another method to keep water parameters good & not have to skim....personal choice.

 

[unstopable]

try it without a skimmer for a couple of months and see what happens, if you dont get an algea overload of and stress in your tank then you schould be fine, keep constant water changes. and if you have a problem purchase a well reaserched skimmer.

 

[lpsluver]

I've read it in many places that a skimmer is the most important piece of equipment you can put on a salt water tank (besides a return pump). Not a reef tank but a salt water tank. And I am a firm believer in this. It aids in waste removal and equally as important it oxygenates the water. It helps to maintain larger fishloads and can cut down on the frequency of water changes. Get one and don't look back.

 

[Stuart60611]

It certainly depends on what you want to keep. I have, however, found in a FOWLR with large messy eaters who inevitably make a big mess at feeding a skimmer is essential. I am going the other direction and upgrading my skimmer. You could compensate with very frequent water changes, but on a big tank that is a lot of work.