Skimmer Or Refugium

TD13 · #1 09/13/2007, 06:33 AM

I was wondering what would be a better a skimmer or a refugium for a reef tank or should i use both

onano · #2 09/13/2007, 06:45 AM

Both for me on my 75. My nano on has a refugium and it works fine but I am doing weekly water changes which always helps.

Basically I didn't your quetion

If I could run both on my nano and keep it simple I would. There now I answered.

Capt_Cully · #3 09/13/2007, 07:25 AM

Both!

Fuge will help process nitrogenous wastes. Macroalgae uses it as fuel to grow.

Skimmer will take larger proteinacious particulate matter out of your water.

both = less fuel for nuisance algae

King-Kong · #4 09/13/2007, 07:36 AM

Get a big enough skimmer, and good enough husbandry, and chaeto in a fuge will just wither away and die... mine did

TD13 · #5 09/13/2007, 07:49 AM

even if i was just to go with a skimmer how did u think i will do with my fish and my coral but if i ever need a refugium then i can add it have a 20 g tank sitting up stairs doing nothing.

laszlo · #6 09/13/2007, 08:08 AM

For a reef tank I would do both. FOWLR, I could see getting away with only a skimmer and a wet/dry or canister, but I would deffinently do both for a reef tank.

TD13 · #7 09/13/2007, 09:30 AM

ok i may be gettin my tank i will start a thread maybe today or tomorrow

mg426 · #8 09/13/2007, 09:59 AM

Both.

ACBlinky · #9 09/13/2007, 11:43 AM

I use both on my 90g. The skimmer removes some nasty gunk, and the chaeto in the refugium keeps NO3 and PO4 down, as well as giving the 'pods a safe place to breed.

TD13 · #10 09/13/2007, 06:41 PM

ACBlinky do u have a pics just need some ideas

AegirOfHlesey · #11 09/13/2007, 06:45 PM

Both if you can, if you can't...just the skimmer.

bhdmc · #12 09/14/2007, 04:14 PM

I use both. I set my refugium tank as a separate macro algae tank.

Teremei · #13 09/14/2007, 05:26 PM

If you HAD to choose one. Go for an oversized skimmer (rated x3 or more your tank size). But both together work very well. And that's what I've got.

tanker · #14 09/14/2007, 05:31 PM

I have both.

Gdevine · #15 09/14/2007, 06:44 PM

I use both, the fuge is oversized and EcoSystem method and my skimmer could handel a tank 3 times my size!

My corals and fish thrive and the critters in my fuge are HUGE

3mm3 · #16 09/14/2007, 07:13 PM

I use both on my 29gal reef and 90 gal reef.

agoutihead · #17 09/14/2007, 11:13 PM

Teremei, I suggest using a skimmer for most people, I might add one onto my tank in the future, but I am going to try and run one with out it until I start to notice a problem. (which I don't think I will have any)

But why do people suggest overskimming your tank?

sure skimming is helpful, but it also removes things that are good in your water column.

If you have a large tank 150+ then you can get a larger than normal skimmer, but for an average sized tank, I would say get a skimmer rated for your size tank, or maybe even a little under. (unless you plan on doing an SPS tank of course)

a skimmer of any size is going to take out bad, but why have one that is going to take out all of the good as well?