Recommendations please!

[illinifish]

Hello everyone- I'm looking to improve on my 10g reef tank.
I'm looking to add a protein skimmer and also purchase an RO/DI unit.
If possible, I would like any equipment I buy to work on the tank I plan on upgrading to, a 24g nano cube.
If anyone has some recommendations on what to buy or what NOT to buy, I'd really appreciate it!

[geoxman]

I'm looking to add a protein skimmer

Why do you want one in a nano? WC will be cheaper and easier and you wont have the obnoxious pipes/power head in your tank. good luck

[illinifish]

I've been having a hard time maintaining water quality despite regular water changes, and I'd been told that adding a protein skimmer would help.
Part of it is that I haven't had a clean up crew and difficulty getting all the uneaten food out but I'm currently in the process of adding some snails and hermits....maybe I don't need the skimmer after all?

Here's the one that a friend recommended: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...20skimmer&Np=1

[geoxman]

I would concentrate on the CUC if it were my tank. good luck

[sirreal63]

I would agree with the guy handing all of us a beer. That skimmer has a horrid reputation as well. Water changes are your best friend in a tank that small. Limit the bio-load and nutrients you add to the tank and it will be ok. How long has this tank been set up? It may take 6 months or more to reach a stasis where the tank is able to process the nutrients added.

[levon15]

I really havent read anything positive about that skimmer on a long term basis. I would buy something better or change the water more often, using good clean RO/DI water?

[illinifish]

Ok good deal- I will forget about the skimmer.

I am wanting to get a RO unit (if reasonably affordable) to be able to do more water changes. I imagine it will pay for itself, and it's getting to be a pain to get the RO/DI water from my LFS here in Champaign.

Any suggestions?

[sirreal63]

Suggestion one...test the tds of the water you are buying. I am sure you will find it is R/O only and no D/I phase was ever done. The D/I is the expensive part of clean water and LFS's aren't known for running D/I on the water they sell. It cuts into profits and most people don't need zero tds water unless they are running a reef. Fish Only does not need zero tds. It would be great if they did.

[!wrass!]

I bought a Compact Reefkeeper from Air Water and Ice. UPS damaged it and they responded very quickly with replacement parts. Great to work with.

[illinifish]

sirreal63-
thanks for this info- I'm not really sure how to go about doing the TDS testing but I will start researching it. I have a reef so I guess I need RO and DI....my tank is pretty basic but I want it to thrive. It has only been up about 5 months or so.

I don't entirely trust my LFS and that has prompted my desire to get my own unit.

If you have any pointers let me know. Do I need to test TDS even if I get my own unit? I'm very new to all this- still researching how a RO/DI unit actually works :-)

[sirreal63]

There are portable tds (total dissolved solids) meters and most better quality ro/di units will have them built in. Your LFS may use DI but most do not or do not change the DI when exhausted.

I would test the tds mainly if you will be keeping sps, if you will stay with softies it isn't as important as they thrive in less than super clean water.

[illinifish]

OK thanks sirreal! I will investigate with the LFS, and get the TDS info.

I'm pretty much sticking with a 24 gallon tank as a max volume, and my corals are mushrooms, zoas, rics and button polyps. I'm pretty happy with them, so maybe I could get away with just an RO unit?

If I do decide to buy an RO unit, can I add on a DI part later if I need it?

Again, I really appreciate all your help!

[sirreal63]

You can add the DI later but it is easier to just get it all at once.