Undersized skimmer

[jimmycent]

I know this is probably a pretty stupid question. What would the effects be of running and undersized skimmer?Is it just it wont pull as much out of the water? Currently setting up a new 90g tank with 20 g ecosystem miracle mud sump. I have a AquaC remora hangon on a 50g at the moment but i was wondering down the track if i wanted to add the skimmer to the sump will it be of any use or just a waste of time?Also a side not, what to do with the bio balls sold with ecosystem set up?I have read there predominantly there as bubble trap?Better to leave them there or trap with something else?

Posted this on a local website(Australia) and one repose was, "An undersized skimmer is about as good as no skimmer."Is this true, and if so why?Is this because it wont pull skim at all really?Or that while still pulling a decent amount for a skimmer its size, not enough for the size tank?

As i said i know its a stupid question, but if those with more knowledge could take the time to reply would be much appreciated.
Thank you, James

 

[tpenn187]

imo any skimmer is better than no skimmer, but you wont really get the full benefits of running the correct size skimmer by running the remora on your system. it also depends on what you plan on keeping, if you want an sps dominated tank, then you want a better skimmer. if you want to have a softy tank with limited lps, then having dirtier water is not all bad. that being said, i would still have plans to upgrade in the future. as for the bio balls, just throw them away, live rock rubble is a better substitution for bioballs. the bioballs are an oxygen rich environment that works great in breaking down ammonia and nitrites, but is a factory for phosphates and nitrates, which feeds unwanted algae.

 

[stanlalee]

the real drawback is not that it wont pull out alot of crud (well it is with the remora but thats not what I'm addressing) but that enough water wont be processed. Small skimmers have small pumps. if 300gph passes thru the skimmer the tank water is only being processed about 3x per hour. that might be exceptable for a needlewheel (which inherently have poor tank turnover because they also draw air with their drive pump. their main drawback compared to spray injection, downdrafts and becketts/real venturi skimmers). The aquaC's that actually work well (EV series) and are appropriately sized would be driven by a 700-1000gph pump on a tank your size. you can have the best skimmer in the world but it can only process what passes thru it. it is true any skimming is better than none. you still pull out some crud and oxygenate the aqaurium water.

 

[mordibv]

IME with the mud tank
The bio balls serve as a bubble trap and mechanical filtration . U just have to to remove them and clean them every now and then . I used them when I ran a mud tank . Live rock would create more detritus that may have to be removed more often than with the bio-balls in the first chamber . A small skimmer would be fine after all it is a mud tank . The mud and caulerpa are the filter . Just make sure run to use carbon to remove the yellow tanin's .
BTW Ling is still around doing his mud thing . A buddy called the number for some support and he answered the phone .LOL

 

[jimmycent]

thanks guys for clearing that up. It terms of what im planning to keep, down the track some lps and softies but sps is a no go.Not because i wouldn't want to, but simply you can not get them where I live. (Tasmania, island off Australia). So for now(when tank is set up), I will run the remora with the sump, and see how things go. Should I need a bigger/better skimmer down the track a will buy one then.