To Skim or not to skim?

[vetteguy53081]

As many of know, protein skimmers remove organic waste components produced from uneaten food, fish poop by blending air and water from the tank and create a thick foam and collecting it for disposal.
There are many brands of skimmers out there working on the same principal.

Do you use a protein skimmer? Why or why Not ?
What brand do you use and why did you choose this specific one?

I have been through many brands ( Aqua Maxx Q3, reef octopus 150-200-5000), Nyos and Vertex and Bubble Magnus) and currently use IceCap K3 series.
Its has been a very quiet and reliable performer.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

Bubble Magus curve 7. I’ve had this for ??? 8 years? Still going strong (an understatement) I use it because I can’t imagine not physically disposing of all that waste weekly. I have heard of those who don’t use one. I’d love to hear that argument. Great question.

 

[Reefer Matt]

I use skimmers on all five of my tanks. They each have a separate sump. I use dc driven skimmers that are usually the lowest cost option, yet still perform well. The brand I use is Simplicity. I use skimmers to remove organics and keep ph up.

 

[Bpb]

In the most unscientific response I can give, my tank flat out just does better when a skimmer is running. I don’t think it’s the sudden change of when it stops working (for things like broken pumps that need replacing), because when they get brought back online things seem to improve almost immediately. Maybe it’s aeration, maybe it is removed organics. Or some combination.

 

[exnisstech]

Reef octopus here because it's the brand I bought when I started and they have just kept working.
I question whether I really even need a skimmer as I really don't pull much out. I have 2 running but if they fail I doubt would replace them.

 

[xWascallyWabbit]

I use a bubble magus curve 5 elite. Zero complaints. It's been working like a champ.

 

[Spare time]

I don't. I don't have an issue with nitrate or aeration, and I don't want to sterilize the water column

 

[Northern Flicker]

I skim for 3 reasons:

1. Oxygen - my pH stopped fluctuating down once I started running my skimmer.
2. It's how I was taught and I'm sticking to it.
3. Sprung and RFH said so, and I am but a mere mortal.

 

[Nano_Man]

No skimmer for me but I am working with X2 34L nano tanks I do weekly 10 % changes could go to 20% every fortnightly . But I do understand people using skimmers on larger volumes of water

 

[fodsod]

I use skimmers because the parameters in my tanks seem to be more stable with them. Both of the ones I use are Reef Octopus. The one on my 50g cube is a HOB and I've had it for almost 10 years. Still going strong.

 

[56longroof]

I skim for 3 reasons:

1. Oxygen - my pH stopped fluctuating down once I started running my skimmer.
2. It's how I was taught and I'm sticking to it.
3. Sprung and RFH said so, and I am but a mere mortal.

Solid reasoning to me.

 

[Troylee]

Big daddy! Bubble Magnus curve 10 now.. tank previously ran on a curve 7… better aeration and the cup holds around 2 gallons of skimate which means less emptying and more fishies!

 

[Hugster78]

No skimmer. Tank is 6 years old. Weekly 10% WC. 75G. Low nutrient system

 

[Glenner’sreef]

It’s interesting that most if not all public aquariums use these monstrous skimmers.

 

[shakacuz]

i used to use a skimmer. it's a reef octo classic 110-sss. went with it due to my tank size and because my LFS recommended it to me (i also have done research and found it to be a reputable brand alongside bubble magus - i actually have a BM curve 7 for a 75G i was building) worked amazing, until i added 2 clams to my little 40B. now my nutrients stay at, or near 0.. it's an uphill battle right now.

 

[paragrouper]

I use a skimmer for aeration And nutrient removal. I use a Magtool DC-SQ70SLIM, as it fits in my AIO and under my canopy

 

[vetteguy53081]

It’s interesting that most if not all public aquariums use these monstrous skimmers.

My big boy:

 

[secret_reefer337]

I use skimmer because I dose carbon, I believe it is necessary to do so when you are carbon dosing. Been using Simplicity but was a Bubble Magus user before.

I used to run a 30gal biocube anemone tank without skimmer and no water change for 4 years with heavy feeding for a pair of clownfish. It runs well without skimmer until I dismantled it.

 

[WarChief]

Reef Octopus Classic 200, brand recommended by many and so far I am liking it. It removes nastiness from my water and aerates it. So until I see a reason negatively I will continue to use what I spent money on!

 

[ReefGeezer]

I use a skimmer. In my mature system, I run it so dry that it doesn't produce much skimmate. I have been tempted to take it out. I think maybe the corals, sponges, and all the other stuff in the tank are using/binding most of the available organics and reducing the need to skim.