Best protein skimmer for 20 gallon long tank?

[sally666]

What is the best protein skimmer for a FOWLR 20 gallon long tank that is not noisy or complicated to use?

 

[Reef.]

Definitely the Bubble Magus mini Q.

Quiet, you simple plug it in and it works within minutes., cheap too.

 

[sally666]

Definitely the Bubble Magus mini Q.

Quiet, you simple plug it in and it works within minutes., cheap too.

Thanks!

I think I found it:

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/mini...MIjcKG0fGOhgMVrNbCBB1IQg9IEAQYAiABEgKntvD_BwE

Also, does it come with instructions? Because I don't know anything about protein skimmers. How do I clean it? What is the procedure?

 

[Reef.]

Thanks!

I think I found it:

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/miniq-nano-internal-protein-skimmer-bubble-magus.html?ab_version=B&utm_term=&utm_campaign=EL+|+ACQ_Prospecting_PMax+|+tROAS+|+New+Customers+|+General+Brands+|+All+Products&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&hsa_acc=7373341438&hsa_cam=17739236619&hsa_grp=&hsa_ad=&hsa_src=x&hsa_tgt=&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjcKG0fGOhgMVrNbCBB1IQg9IEAQYAiABEgKntvD_BwE

Also, does it come with instructions? Because I don't know anything about protein skimmers. How do I clean it? What is the procedure?

It is really simple to use, yes it has instructions but you really don't need them.

There is a blue wavy line on the skimmer body to show where to line up the skimmer to the water level, you then turn the air wheel that is on the side to add or reduce the air, you want the bubbles to start at the bottom of the collection cup, the part that you remove to empty, seems low but as the bubbles collect the dirt, the bubbles start to climb up the cup, you want the bubbles to very slowly break the top of the cup to fall over the side into the cup, thats it…the slightest movement on the wheel is all you need to change the height of the bubbles.

Oh missed the cleaning part of your question…comes with a cool brush, simply pull the pump off the bottom, clean with brush, even the cleaning is simple.
With skimmers you don’t want to clean too often as the skimmer to work at its best needs a coating of slime for the bubbles to help form and climb, you can clean the pump a little more but the body of the skimmer doesn’t need to be spotless, so you will find the skimmer at first will not produce much skimmate but after a few days the colour will be darker as the slime coat builds.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

I am partial to the Eshopps Nano. But the price point of the BM is great especially if it works.

 

[Reef.]

Definitely works…

 

[ryanjohn1]

Why not just do water changes. That would be the easiest.

 

[Reef.]

Why not just do water changes. That would be the easiest.

Why not do both?

the above photo is 24 hours after a 10% water change, and I do at least 2x10% water changes a week, the skimmer is still pulling worthwhile crud out of the tank.

 

[ryanjohn1]

I find it hard to believe that in a 20 gallon tank with regular water change that nitrate is high. Unless extremely stocked with fish.

 

[Reef.]

I find it hard to believe that in a 20 gallon tank with regular water change that nitrate is high. Unless extremely stocked with fish.

Po4 is more likely the issue, and water changes for po4 are not the most efficient.

 

[VintageReefer]

In case someone reading this thread doesnt know…Skimmers do not remove nitrates or phosphates

Water changes yes. Skimmers no.

Skimmers remove organics

 

[elysics]

In case someone reading this thread doesnt know…Skimmers do not remove nitrates or phosphates

Water changes yes. Skimmers no.

Skimmers remove organics

Which is pretty much the same thing as removing nitrate and phosphate when looking at it from a long-term system point of view. Organics that are gone can't turn into nitrate and phosphate later.

The goal is to shift the entire balance in the circle of life, not trying to fight the balance with rash actions because you want to get rid of a number NOW

 

[michigan-reef]

My opinion is that a skimmer is not necessary on a 20 gallon. If you enjoy tinkering with the equipment then go for it, but the money spent on a skimmer would buy a lot of salt and water.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

My opinion is that a skimmer is not necessary on a 20 gallon. If you enjoy tinkering with the equipment then go for it, but the money spent on a skimmer would buy a lot of salt and water.

You defiantly don't need it. But its a nice feature that helps pull more gunk out that the mechanical filtration missed. Even larger particles can still get past filter floss.

If you have a habit of overfeeding like me. Its a must lol.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

What is the best protein skimmer for a FOWLR 20 gallon long tank that is not noisy or complicated to use?

Bubble Magus mini Q. I have 3 protein skimmers for my nano AIO tanks. This one is by far the easiest to dial in and did not require a break in period. It was silet and produce little to no micro bubbles.

 

[fish farmer]

You defiantly don't need it. But its a nice feature that helps pull more gunk out that the mechanical filtration missed. Even larger particles can still get past filter floss.

If you have a habit of overfeeding like me. Its a must lol.

...and it will help when that weekly WC gets skipped when you get busy doing something else.

 

[jag10016]

The Bubble Magnas is worth it

 

[Malum Argenteum]

Why not just do water changes. That would be the easiest.

WCs allow organics to build up in between WCs, during which time algae can grab nutrients and overall water quality declines. Stability is especially hard to achieve in a tiny volume of water, so a skimmer is a great tool.

I run a Tunze 9004 DC on my 10q QT tank (right in the tank itself, there's no sump), and I find that it works well. The DC controllability is really helpful for dialing it in.

 

[vetteguy53081]

What is the best protein skimmer for a FOWLR 20 gallon long tank that is not noisy or complicated to use?

IceCap K1-50 or K1-100 (coralvue.com)

 

[BoldCityReefer]

I have been running the PLS-50 on a 32 Gallon tank and it works great if it fits your chamber. It takes a little while to get dialed in, but once it’s there you are set.