to skim or not to skim?

[murgus]

That is the question.

My tank is a 20 gallon Hagen Tropiquarium 68 (http://www.theaquariumshop.co.uk/ha...arium-o-14.html) that has a very tight fitting hood and prewired heater and internal filter (only 1 power cord!!). The filter is really a powerhead and filter box, so after removing the filter box, voila, one power head. However, the included powerhead was replaced with an Aquaclear Powerhead #201 for more flow and I also wired in a Zoo Med Power Sweep 214 Powerhead. The lightings is 2 x 15W NO fluorescent (one being Actinic). Another neat feature is a built in timer for the lights. Overall a very good (small) tank, IMHO and i do not want to remove/replace the hood at this time.

There is a spot in the back for an automatic feeder that I think I can put a Fission Nano-Skimmer into so that I can still close the lid (http://www.marineandreef.com/shoppro/fission_skimmer.htm).  Now, it is a very small skimmer for the tank, but is some skimming better than no skimming?

Thanks,
Andrew

[luker78]

What do you have for filtration right now?  How much liverock and whats your substrate?

[murgus]

What do you have for filtration right now?  How much liverock and whats your substrate?

I have ~20 lbs of live rock and ~20 lbs of live sand.  Two power heads and no mechanical filtration.

Thanks,
Andrew

[az]

info on those fission skimmers, are they any good?

[Julie]

Marinescape advised me against skimming on my 20.

[murgus]

info on those fission skimmers, are they any good?

Reviews are mixed.  But it is cheap and it will fit, so...is some skimming better than no skimming?

Andrew

[murgus]

Marinescape advised me against skimming on my 20.

Hi Julie, what was the reason MS recommended against skimming in your 20?

Thanks,
Andrew

[Julie]

Not necessary in a small tank....
I only skim once every 2 weeks or so and I still wonder if I am wasting my time.

[az]

skimming is always better than no skimming regardless of the size of the tank, corals would open more and water is a bit more clearer too!

Julie, any reason why u cant run the skimmer all the time? when you run the skimmer every 2 wks, how long do u run them for? thanks

[Julie]

It doesn't fit on the back of the tank so I simply hang it on the front.

It's only temporary as I am upgrading to 55 or 90.

[az]

It doesn't fit on the back of the tank so I simply hang it on the front.

It's only temporary as I am upgrading to 55 or 90.

aha, just what i tought, i have the same problem with my 22gal and its a headech, which is why i was thinking about those nano fusion or what not.

[murgus]

aha, just what i tought, i have the same problem with my 22gal and its a headech, which is why i was thinking about those nano fusion or what not.

az,

Can you get the Fission Nano? 

Andrew

[Julie]

It's not the tank itself, it's the cabinet its' in.
Plus I'm not sure it's necessary all the time.

[az]

az,

Can you get the Fission Nano? 

Andrew

my suppliers dont carry them but best price i got was from ebay, 3 for 100 shipped plus duty, if u are int in 1...i'll take the other too.

[murgus]

my suppliers dont carry them but best price i got was from ebay, 3 for 100 shipped plus duty, if u are int in 1...i'll take the other too.

Is that 3 for 100$ USD?  How much for shipping to Ottawa...

Andrew

[az]

Is that 3 for 100$ USD?  How much for shipping to Ottawa...

Andrew

100 shipped!

[murgus]

100 shipped!

I am in for 1 at 100$/3 USD.

Thanks,
Andrew

[murgus]

Well, I decided to skim!  Picked up my Fission Nano-Skimmer today from az and its whirling away in the tank as we speak.  There's a veritable tornado of bubbles sluicing through the thing, not sure if it is "working" right but its fun to watch!

Not many of the microbubbles are getting out into the tank either!  Also on the plus side, there were no modifications required to my tight fitting canopy, yea!

Andrew