Skimmer or Fuge

[akopley]

So i am thinking about adding either a Super Skimmer 65 to my 24 gallon aquapod or adding a custom acrylic HOB fuge. I have no pod eating inhabitants and am just looking for a way to clean up my water a little. I had a skimmer, uv, and fuge on the tank before and it was in excellent condition. It still looks good now but the lps arent open as much as they used to be and my bioload has increased also. Postives and negatives for both will be considered.


Thanks ahead for your replies


adam

 

[Sk8r]

You pretty well HAVE to have a skimmer to maintain good water quality: other measures don't get rid of the amino acids, which is what that froth is on the beach. Nasty stuff.

A fuge is in my 'essentials' book, too, but not as basic as a skimmer, which is right up there with live rock and sand.

 

[kmf507]

On a nano, I would guess that the increased water volume and cheato would have a bigger impact than a skimmer.

Both would help though.

 

[fattyratrat]

I run my skimmer about twice a month for a day and i have had perfect water quality since day one. This is because of my outrageously huge fuge.

 

[hyperfocal]

I'll go the other way. I think a decent skimmer will have a much bigger effect on water quality than a tiny 'fuge; the volume of macro will be just too small for major nutrient export. However, a skimmer won't help your 'pod population one bit.

Another alternative is a canister filter running mechanical and chemical media (sponge/floss, carbon, Phos-ban, resin media). If you are religious about tearing it down and cleaning it out monthly, nitrate buildup won't be a problem. But seriously, monthly or better teardowns are mandatory IME.

 

[indydog1]

do both. why not give your piece of ocean the best. i run both now and wonder why i didn't do them both sooner. and pods will be eaten even without pod "eaters" in the tank. just my .02

 

[SantaMonica]

A new option you might want to consider is a Turf Algae Filter. It would remove your nitrate and phosphate down to zero, but still leave food in the water for the corals. Note that this is the opposite of a skimmer, which takes food out of the water, but leaves in the nitrate and phosphate. Thus the turf replaces your fuge AND your skimmer (yes). A turf algae filter grows pods too, that can drain down right into your tank without going through a pump. And with your tank size of 24 gal, you would only need 24 square inches of turf (4 X 6 inches)... you could put it in a tupperware container, or in your overflow/wet/dry area . There's more info here if you want it: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=12931276#post12931276

 

[TurboRobert]

I would do both. You will want both later if you don't do it now.

 

[cloak]

Skimmer.

Loose the fish in the DT and it becomes a refuge.

 

[Tomorleans]

Refuge. Only because I have a 30 gallon without a skimmer and my water quality is excellent. I do frequent water changes to make up for not having a skimmer.

 

[snorvich]

Both is good but if you have to choose, I would skim.