Skimmer on a 5.5....is it worth it?

[shouldabenacowboy]

I recently set up a 5.5 after being inspired by all the threads of people setting their 5.5 nanos and would like to thank everyone for sharing their pics and experiences. After all the reading it looks like water changes are the perfered method of controling optimal water quality. I have seen a few people with airstone skimmers, fission skimmers and some DIY'ers on their nanos but not much else. I have read that the fission skimmer isnt all it's cracked up to be and that Tunze is coming out with a "nano" skimmer in the future.

I really like playing with toys....especially toys for my tank and I was wondering what type of skimmer everyone has/had on their tank and how well it worked??

Any thoughts....suggestions...comments would be greatly appreciated
:rollface:

Thanks
SBC

 

[lizardcouple]

skimmer definetely worth it if your going to have any fish in there.i have a red sea prizm and it works great for me. i have three fish in a 15 gallon.the tunze is already out. or you could get a cpr bakpak skimmer if you have enough room to hang it off the back.

 

[lizardcouple]

also aqua c has a nano skimmer out also but i do not know anything about it

 

[AIMFish]

I use an air driven Lee's on my 10. The only drawback is that it's internal, taking up space mostly, it can't be seen thanks to the Anthelia growth!!

 

[wav3form]

The tunze nano skimmer is out but I don't think many have it at the moment.

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_protein_skimmers_tunze_doc_comline_nano_classic.asp?CartId=

 

[shouldabenacowboy]

Thanks for the input guys....

I was reading on another forum about a person's experience with the new Tunze and they have been unable to make any skimmate. Now, that is the ONLY review I have read for it so far... so maybe some good reviews will come our way.

I don't have a lot of room, actually I have zero room, for any type of "hang on" skimmer. I am using a modded AC110 as a soon to be fuge. But who knows, maybe I'll mod a smaller AC and add a skimmer.

Here is a pic under the hood.......FWIW the white bar that goes across the tank holds my float switches for the ATO....

If anyone has pics of their skimmers on their 5.5 or 10 gallon please feel free to post them.

Thanks

SBC

 

[kamla]

shouldabenacowboy how about a full tank shot...

 

[shouldabenacowboy]

Alrighty.....these pics arn't the greatest and my camera is down now...but I'll try to get some updated shots this weekend and post them

SBC

 

[leeweber85]

i have the prizm on my 5.5, I run it only when the lights are on. You probably don't even need one. I don't have any fish in it though.

 

[Jordan55]

You really do not need one. As long as you keep up water changes every week or two and have a good clean up crew, it should be okay. When you think about it, you probably or atleast should only have 1 fish in that size tank, so with water changes and inverts to clean up uneaten food and poop, you should be okay.

 

[shouldabenacowboy]

I do not have any fish in this tank...I have 1 cleaner shrimp, 2 Mexican Turbo's, 2 scarlet hermit and 2 blue hermit crabs....I may get a golby eventually...but we will see.

Thank you for all the input so far...keep it coming

SBC