Skimmer vs Water Changes?

[Ibwrasstaman]

I have been checking out the incredible protein skimmers that are available as I try to decide what to do with my new 400 Gallon tank. Not to mention names, but it would be easy to drop some serious change on a protein skimmer sized for at least 400 Gallons.
Someone suggested that it is foolish to pay so much for a skimmer as the money could be better spent on buckets of salt and performing regular water changes!
My reef will be sps dominated and clean water is a key requirement IMO.
What do you all think? Is it a good idea to pay near $1000 or more on a skimmer that is rated for at least 400 gallons, or would the money be better spent on buckets of salt?
Tia,
Wrassta

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

really you need both...Just My Opinion though
Water changes if done regularly can do wonders...but there's no insurance like a good skimmer - imo

 

[gillies]

Both - the skimmer is necessary for stable water quality and healthy SPS between water changes. I don't mean to be hard, but if you have to ask, maybe a smaller tank is in order?

 

[SunnyX]

As the above guys have posted you will definitely need both.

My skimmer was costly but I would never have had such clear water without it. A skimmer is one thing you do not want to skip out on. Spend as much as you can afford to. If you cannot afford a skimmer in that range then maybe a small tank is in order.

 

[mikekman]

Water changes won't get out the detritus and other small things floating around in your tank. The protein skimmer will and is a MUST HAVE.

Before I got my coralife super skimmer, I thought my tank was very clean. Well once I installed my skimmer in about 2 weeks time I have got about 3-4 cupfulls of thick skimmate. The skimmer picked stuff out that water changes never did.

You want sps, then definately get a skimmer.

Water changes are always a must so don't skimp on one for the other. You need both.

 

[cfishrun]

IMO, if you're starting a new tank, and it's that large, the first thing you should make sure you have is a very high quality RO/DI unit. You're going to burn through water (initial setup, top-off, & water changes) and if your filtration system is not up to snuff, you'll quickly run into trouble. Frequent water changes done with sub-par RO/DI would NOT accomplish your objective.

Once you get the purity issue of the source water taken care of, I would invest more in a skimmer than salt. Personally, I've found that I can get by with doing 2-4% weekly water changes, while kalk makes up for the depleted Ca and Alk. But because I spike w/ vinegar I clean my skimmer cup almost every other day. Last time I tested (w/ Salifert kits) my phosphate was undetectable and my nitrate was 0.2ppm

 

[amheck]

I've been getting by with no skimmer on my 20g tank. But...I can do a 5g water change and that's 25%. On your 400g I think you'll get very sick of huge water changes if you try to just do that over a skimmer.

I'd gladly pay $500 for a skimmer to get out of doing water changes often on a tank that large. I'm guessing you gotta do fairly hefty changes fairly often with no skimmer.

 

[kevensquint]

Both, but take it from me, never do a 100% WC. (inside joke)

 

[h20cooled]

Both... I have a skimmer that is overrated for my tank and I do weekly water changes...

 

[Brewen]

sps tank, over size skimmer and water changes for nothing less then replenishing trace elements JMO

 

[Amphiprion]

I, too, suggest both. However, as far as waste removal, a protein skimmer is obviously going to be a bit more consistent.

 

[aurorafish]

If the $1000 skimmer is peanuts compared to stocking and maintaining a 400 gallon SPS tank. Ask a few people with large SPS tanks, $200-$300 monthly electrical bills are pretty average for large sps tanks. Not to mention salt, bulbs, ro membranes and prefilters, carbon etc....

 

[fishdoc11]

IMO a good skimmer AND regular water changes make keeping an sps tank much easier