Protein Skimmer Filtration

[memorisa]

Hey all,

First time posting here, hoping to get a few good pointers to help me out massively.

Lately, following the advice of many fellow RCers, i took out all the bioballs in my trickle tower filter (about 1500) and the coral rubble because i had tons of nitrate problems especially with hair algae

i did at a rate of 20-25% a week. then i added a filter sock and i cant believe how much dirt i was letting through the filter before. now my corals seem happier as well.

But since then my protein skimmer hardly produces any head. i have cranked up the setting but still no luck. i am wondering if thats normal

for now, i have a Queen brand, think its cheap chinese knock off PS, and would love to change it but not just yet.

anyways any pointers i would really appreciate. thanks in advance

 

[george1098]

I'm guessing you have a crappy protein skimmer. what kind is it? investing in a descent skimmer is alwais worth it. how big is your tank and does your skimmer hang on the back?

 

[memorisa]

hi george,
my skimmers brand is called queen. sadly i dont know anything about the capacity or the model it - the LFS that set it up got it for me. when i first started i didnt know much about the hobby, and they pretty much took advantage of that. i am going to change it, but i can't just yet; also a buddy of mine might just give me euro reef one, an old model (5 yrs max) but i'm assuming it is still better than what i have now.
my tank is 265 gal. the skimmer is in sump

 

[tonyf]

Queen isn't really a quality brand IYKWIM.

However that is not the problem ... by putting the filter sock in front of the skimmer you are denying the skimmer first go at the nutrient. Put the sock on the skimmer discharge end if you have to have one.

Tone

 

[george1098]

Indeed that is a good suggestion.

I've never heard of queen skimmers, so I will assume they're not the greatest. Euroreefs however are nice. I actually like the older ones better. I'm not sure which model you'd be picking up, but the older ones used better pumps than the newer units. A 265 gal tank is pretty serious. I would highly recommend looking in to a really nice skimmer. Investing in a really good skimmer is one of the best ways to achieve a healthy reef tank. Unfortunately there is no such thing as a cheap skimmer that will do a good job. It is one of those things where you really get what you pay for.

 

[mike Brolin]

Whats your bio load? Possibly with low bio load you don't need skimmer. But if you use skimmer get a good one (Eoro, AquaC are good ones). Filter sock have worked great for me.

 

[memorisa]

my bioload is lower than what it says in my signature... i lost a bunch o fish to ich sadly.... i have about 10 fish and 12 corals, not big colonies.
filter socks have definitely proven to be beneficial to my system in only 3 weeks. i was just worried about my POS PS. lol. i'm more for it oxygenating the water with the wave effect i guess at this point.