Skimmer and/or refugium

[bergj42]

We currently have a 30g tank with 32 lbs LR, 40lbs LS, about 3 weeks old. The LFS that we got everything from said it would be ok to wait on a skimmer, probalby going to be getting in the next week or so. There are currently 3 green chromis that ahve been in the tank less than a week. The last water test was AM 0 Trite 0 Trates 5ppm. Tank had cycled before fish were added. The skimmer recommended was a CPR Backpack 2. Heres the questions, if we go with that skimmer is the one with or without BIO media a beter choice for us? Second we want to get a mandarin done the road and I saw the CPR HOB fuges. Would One of those that comes with a skimmer on it be a better choice?

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[papagimp]

IMO the fuge would be rquired if you want a mandarin at all, but the CPR one with a built in skimmer...I hear mixed reviews on the actual ability of that unit to skim well enough. And the LFS telling you that you can wait on the skimmer...while it's true that some prefer no skimmers on their tanks, those that do like them may disagree with waiting. Up the % of water changes to compensate for the added nutrients and gunk in the water that the absence of a skimmer is allowing to build up. Biomedia....nope, don't get that one. The rock and sand should be enough to filter the tank...I would probably add a tad more rock to that tank though, unless you keep the bioload at a minimum. Just my personal opinion on the skimmer and cpr though, I'd advice you wait for somebody else with more experience with those units to give a better recommendation.

 

[kkyyllee]

if you want to keep a mandarin your gonna need to add alot more liverock

 

[crossi92]

Don't bother with the bio-balls, nothing good can come of it. I recently bought the CPR HOB fuge/skimmer and love it! I heard mixed reviews on it too, but most of the negatives were from people that didn't have one. I have one and reccomend it. For a Mandarin, up the rock to at least 45lbs and then wait a year.

 

[bergj42]

Is the skimmer on the Aquafuge PS The same as Back Pack, or is it smaller? We were definately going to wait a while on getting a mandarin, if we are to add rock it has to be cured before it goes in now that there are fish in the tank, correct? By a wait on the skimmer, they meant like a month or so into having the tank setup and cycled. We will probably be getting one in the next couple of weeks. Just trying to determine whether the fuge and skimmer together would work or be better to do a skimmer and then add the HOB fuge later to split the cost. Sounds like the all in one works well for crossi92

 

[crossi92]

Yes it is the same skimmer, and yes the rock should be cured first.

 

[bergj42]

Sry forgot to ask, what size did you get the small or large one? I was leaning towards the small, mostly for space saving.

Thanks again.

 

[crossi92]

I got the small, it should be plenty for your tank.