Which Skimmer?

[johnmwolfe]

I have a Oceanic 29 Biocube. I am just getting ready to start it for invertibrates. I been told I will need a skimmer. The CPR SR3 fits into where the bio tank and there is one that Oceanic makes that fits into the overflow tank. Which one is best? The SR3 would replace the bio balls and cost about 3x as much as the one Oceanic makes. I am not worried about the cost just which works best.

[Fish_wiz2]

On that small of a tank you don't need a skimmer but 10% weekly water changes is preferred (acts as a skimmer and replaces missing trace elements).

[johnmwolfe]

Thanks for the info Fish Wiz. Was kind of interest why someone would replace their bio mass for a skimmer.

[Magic Hook]

I am far from being able to give knowledgable advise. We have a new 29 Biocube with the Oceanic skimmer. The skimmer is doing and excellent job so far. We took out the bio cubes as suggested to us by Waterkeeper, put in live rock, a 1.5" sand bed, and Live rock rubble where the bio balls were. We filled the water to the top of the bio cube area also. So far so good, no reading on the nitrate test after a week but there is only two snails and a crab in there so far.

John, do you fly electric heli's?

[dsn112]

Skimmers are much better than bio-balls, bio balls are nitrate factories unless you are very dilligent about cleaning them every few days.

[johnmwolfe]

Thanks All. I wondered why the CPR SR3 went into the same chamber as the bio balls. I did not know you had to clean the bio balls that often. If they bio balls do not remove nitrate what is their function?

Magic Hook...Electric Heli's. I try but mostly fail. I have a JR Venture gasser that I am trying to get all aligned. Starting this spring I am going to be breaking blades every where. Do you?