To skim or not to skim
- Thread starter jaybfresh
- Start date
Conesus_Kid
Premium Member
What's your projected water change schedule?
jaybfresh
Pitcher Hill Reef Society
I'd say a gallon weekly, two if needed
invincible325i
New member
No skim
No skim
Hi, I would say just do a 90% water change every two weeks and every week if things look like they are needed! In such a small system feeding can go negative quick but with a 90% water change you can insure that your water quality stays in tact
Dont worry about pulling out your beneficial bacteria as it is in the sand and on the live rock! Just my 2 cents and good luck! Oh and welcome back to the hobby
No skim
Hi, I would say just do a 90% water change every two weeks and every week if things look like they are needed! In such a small system feeding can go negative quick but with a 90% water change you can insure that your water quality stays in tact
Dont worry about pulling out your beneficial bacteria as it is in the sand and on the live rock! Just my 2 cents and good luck! Oh and welcome back to the hobby MatAndPatti
New member
Skip the skimmer
Skip the skimmer
We've been running an 8 gallon Oceanic Biocube (no sump) for a couple of years now and water changes are just fine for us. Your mileage may vary, but I think if you don't over load the system, you should be fine.
Skip the skimmer
We've been running an 8 gallon Oceanic Biocube (no sump) for a couple of years now and water changes are just fine for us. Your mileage may vary, but I think if you don't over load the system, you should be fine.
block head
New member
maybe an airstone driven unit ,if your going to bother with a sump. more for o2 than skimmate. i got one with my AIO ,it's not bad if u replace the airstone monthly.
jaybfresh
Pitcher Hill Reef Society
Appreciate the responses, but I guess I shoulda asked a more on point question:
Is there any skimmer that performs well in such a small system?
I was under the impression oversized skimmers won't be effective with less organics to remove, but most skimmers marketted as 'nano' are not quality skimmers.
Is there any skimmer that performs well in such a small system?
I was under the impression oversized skimmers won't be effective with less organics to remove, but most skimmers marketted as 'nano' are not quality skimmers.
MD Ocean Girl
New member
Jay, I've got a 10 gallon nano with a 5 gallon bucket for a sump at the moment until I can get something that fits in my stand.....I have a HOB cpr skimmer on it, no other filtration. I just did a water change today, and it's been a month, and everything was still looking great. Skimmers that are marketed for nano tanks, IMO, are not worth it. If you're going to do a skimmer, I'd recommend getting one that's overkill for the tank. If nothing else, it'll definitely help keep your water cleaner and your critters happier. My tank did no where near as well when I just had a filter with carbon on it and no skimmer.
reefboarder
Intelligent Donkey
I am running a 2.5g nano with one green clown gobie and around 8 snails and 6-8 different corals, I top off with fresh rodi daily to replace evaporation and do like 30-40% water changes every 10 days or so, I have a small hob filter that I run with small rubble and a ball of chaeto instead of the typical carbon filled floss cartridge. The tank does get over fed a bit and I have some very very minor cyanobacteria patches that come and go but all in all it seems to be doing very well. The tank has been going for maybe 60 days and the fish has been in there for close to 30 of them. Most of the members here on URS directed me away from a skimmer and based on my experience with this small tank I have no problem doing the same for you, so my vote is no skimmer and use natural methods of nutrient export, and water changes.
mr86mister
Saltaholic
He's alive! What's up Jason! Nice to see you playing with a system again. A skimmer that I would recommend would be the Tunze 9002 but that can get up to I think 50 gallons? It's up to you, I don't think a skimmer would hurt knowing that at times you get called out of state for days. Without a skimmer I would go for a small water changes pretty religiously.
