Should i run a skimmer on my Biocube 32?

[Will_]

Hi all first post here on R2R, to give some background I have just set up a biocube 32 and it currently has 35lbs of dry rock, 20lbs live sand, and the water mixed to 1.024sq. I am using the In-tank media basket with filter floss and 1L of sea Chem matrix. I will start to truly cycle it with Dr Tim’s fishless cycle kit on Thursday when it comes it the mail. I plan to make this a reef tank with mostly softies and a few fish, or maybe a single lion fish if possible.

My question is, should I buy and start to run a skimmer on this tank? Or is a skimmer on a “nano” like this a waste of money? Past threads on this topic show quite a bit of disagreement on the effectiveness of a skimmer on a nano, but I thought maybe since those threads are old, opinions have changed.

if I should be running a skimmer is the Coralife Biocube 32 V2 skimmer good enough, or is there a better one That does not require modification.

If I get a skimmer, should I run it while cycling, or after ?
Thanks for the help! -Will

 

[LordofCinder]

a skimmer is not a waste of money, it provides good benefits to the tank, especially if you want to get corals later on. I run a aquamaxx 1.5 hob skimmer on my 32.

EDIT: I never used the coralife biocube skimmer, but I did use the coralife hob skimmer for about 2 years, it was a good reliable skimmer, but needed frequent 'tuning'.

Its up to you when you get a skimmer, I like to get it on and turn it on right away, it gives time for the machine to break in, also gives you a chance to learn how it works, and tune it in the way that you want.

 

[ryanjohn1]

Some say yes some say no. Really it’s up to you. Personally I’ve seen on my tanks without a sump they are not as effective because of variable water levels in the aio sections of a tank like that. If it were me I would opt for an auto top off first. And just do religious 10% weekly water change and see how it goes can always add one down the road

 

[90's reefer]

Skimmer not needed yet on that tank but will help with oxygenation of the water at this point.
I have tried the nano skimmers and they are finicky or can be.

On my current 20g nano I run this simple air driven skimmer I made. Cheap to make if you use regular pvc. I used clear so I could see whats happening in this design.
Works well for a small system and comes apart for easy cleaning.
Hardest part was finding a cup. This will do but still looking for a better cup.
2" pvc.
Just fired up on my 2 week old nano.

 

[ryanjohn1]

Skimmer not needed yet on that tank but will help with oxygenation of the water at this point.
I have tried the nano skimmers and they are finicky or can be.

On my current 20g nano I run this simple air driven skimmer I made. Cheap to make if you use regular pvc. I used clear so I could see whats happening in this design.
Works well for a small system and comes apart for easy cleaning.
Hardest part was finding a cup. This will do but still looking for a better mix.
2" pvc.
Just fired up on my 2 week old nano.
View attachment 3081925
View attachment 3081927

That things awesome

 

[Will_]

a skimmer is not a waste of money, it provides good benefits to the tank, especially if you want to get corals later on. I run a aquamaxx 1.5 hob skimmer on my 32.

EDIT: I never used the coralife biocube skimmer, but I did use the coralife hob skimmer for about 2 years, it was a good reliable skimmer, but needed frequent 'tuning'.

Its up to you when you get a skimmer, I like to get it on and turn it on right away, it gives time for the machine to break in, also gives you a chance to learn how it works, and tune it in the way that you want.

hey thanks for the feed back, that’s what I thought about the skimmer and I’m going to look into the aqua max 1.5 now, but I’m trying to picture mentally how it would fit. Do you happen to have a picture?

 

[Will_]

Some say yes some say no. Really it’s up to you. Personally I’ve seen on my tanks without a sump they are not as effective because of variable water levels in the aio sections of a tank like that. If it were me I would opt for an auto top off first. And just do religious 10% weekly water change and see how it goes can always add one down the road

Thanks for your reply, this is definitely one route I’ve been thinking of taking too

 

[Will_]

Skimmer not needed yet on that tank but will help with oxygenation of the water at this point.
I have tried the nano skimmers and they are finicky or can be.

On my current 20g nano I run this simple air driven skimmer I made. Cheap to make if you use regular pvc. I used clear so I could see whats happening in this design.
Works well for a small system and comes apart for easy cleaning.
Hardest part was finding a cup. This will do but still looking for a better cup.
2" pvc.
Just fired up on my 2 week old nano.
View attachment 3081925
View attachment 3081927

That’s very cool! The air stone at the bottom just lifts all the gunk right to the cup?

 

[tydeck]

I have a 15 gallon and will eventually go with a small hob skimmer. Tanks only about 2-3 months old. Maybe in 3/4 months.

 

[90's reefer]

That’s very cool! The air stone at the bottom just lifts all the gunk right to the cup?

Yea just an old school skimmer from way back.

 

[tydeck]

That’s very cool! The air stone at the bottom just lifts all the gunk right to the cup?

I love it. Cheap and simple. Seems to work great.

 

[tydeck]

Yea just an old school skimmer from way back.

Crazy how reefing has changed since the 90s. I remember the Berlin method with massive skimmers. Reading books by Julian Sprung.

 

[Will_]

I have a 15 gallon and will eventually go with a small hob skimmer. Tanks only about 2-3 months old. Maybe in 3/4 months.

a skimmer is not a waste of money, it provides good benefits to the tank, especially if you want to get corals later on. I run a aquamaxx 1.5 hob skimmer on my 32.

EDIT: I never used the coralife biocube skimmer, but I did use the coralife hob skimmer for about 2 years, it was a good reliable skimmer, but needed frequent 'tuning'.

Its up to you when you get a skimmer, I like to get it on and turn it on right away, it gives time for the machine to break in, also gives you a chance to learn how it works, and tune it in the way that you want.

hey thanks for the feed back, that’s what I thought about the skimmer and I’m going to look into the aqua max 1.5 now, but I’m trying to picture mentally how it would fit. Do you happen to have a picture?

Can you run this hob skimmer without removing the hood?

 

[tydeck]

Can you run this hob skimmer without removing the hood?

I have a IM15 so no hood. Will drop in my aio chamber. I’ll probably go with this skimmer.

 

[Will_]

I have a IM15 so no hood. Will drop in my aio chamber. I’ll probably go with this skimmer.

That looks like a nice skimmer, but at the moment I’m looking for a good skimmer I can use without any mods to the tank

 

[tydeck]

That looks like a nice skimmer, but at the moment I’m looking for a good skimmer I can use without any mods to the tank

The hood makes it harder. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with

 

[90's reefer]

Crazy how reefing has changed since the 90s. I remember the Berlin method with massive skimmers. Reading books by Julian Sprung.

Yea I still run oversized skimmers as a rule.
Tunze 9430dc on my 80g.

 

[Mjl714]

I’d try it without. No doubt skimming has it benefits, but on smaller systems water changes seem to work for me. I use a couple of these…

 

[90's reefer]

On my 20g cube prior to this setup I ran no skimmer. Just rox carbon and phosgaurd.
So its definatly not needed.
2g WC every month.

 

[tydeck]

I agree on using WC for nutrient export. It I like having the skimmer there for when needed.
Honestly it’s a new toy for the tank. Nice but not needed.