Do I need my protein skimmer?

[Reef Breeders Verified Sponsor]

I have a 90 gallon reef with a 15 gallon fuge loaded with pods and macro algae. It is very mature, in fact, there is a half inch layer of mud that has formed on top of the sand in there. Iam wondering whether I should keep my aquac remora pro. It has become nothing more than a nuisance, it creates a huge amount of water with no discoloration, no matter how high I position the collection cup. I am thinking about selling it, I might use it on a 40B frag tank, but I hate hob anything. Lmk what you think I should do.

 

[Aquaph8]

I can kinda go both ways on this one. While I think skimmers are very important, I hate hang on the back ones. I had a couple over the years and was never happy with either of them. Do you have a sump? IMP you would be a lot happier with an in sump skimmer. If you dont have a sump though, I guess the hang on the back is better than nothing.

 

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Yes, I have a sump fuge combo. There is no room for a skimmer, so I went hob.

 

[skinz78]

That layer of mud is actually detritus if you didn't add it... In a tank that big you definitely need a skimmer.

 

[Darren]

I run a 70g with 29g sump/ refug. I do 10G water changers per week. No skimmer now for over a year and no problems with LPS or SPS.

 

[Reef Breeders Verified Sponsor]

I know that it was detritus at one point, but you have to see it yourself, it has tunnels from worms digging in, and it is covered in clusters of pods.

 

[_Alex_]

Swc has a nice hang on Skimmer. Might check it out

 

[Nate82]

I know that it was detritus at one point, but you have to see it yourself, it has tunnels from worms digging in, and it is covered in clusters of pods.

How does that not make it detritus? That just makes dirty worms and pods:tongue:

 

[skinz78]

How does that not make it detritus? That just makes dirty worms and pods:tongue:

Agreed.

 

[_Alex_]

SWC Mini HOT / HOB Hang on Protein Skimmer SWC Mini HOT Hang on Protein Skimmer

and i agree on above about the sand. to you have any kind of sand sifters and cleaners??

 

[Reef Breeders Verified Sponsor]

I have nassarius snails in the fuge, but nothing else.

 

[Aquaph8]

I think I would rather have my skimmer than my fuge if I was gonna prioritize sump space.

 

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Here is my fuge:

And the mud

 

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Everyone of those dots is a swimming pod

 

[Reef Breeders Verified Sponsor]

So should I sell my skimmer or keep it? It has become part of the rockwork, as I wanted to hide the pump.

 

[skinz78]

I would sell it and get a good one to go in your sump.

 

[Reef Breeders Verified Sponsor]

I was thinking maybe drill a ten gallon and have a pipe from the return section go to it. Iam saving up for a frag system, but I might buy a reef octopus. Anyone want to trade? Lol

 

[skinz78]

I have a Reef Octo NW 150 that I was actually gonna clean up and get some pic's of it tonight to post a sale thread. If you are interested I'd sell it for $150 shipped. It is fully modded.

 

[Reef Breeders Verified Sponsor]

Ill have to pass on that for now, but thanks. I will have to rig something up before I even start. The entirety of my sump is the fuge, and a small return section. I will probably end up drilling a seperate tank and plumbing it in.

 

[Tabasco1]

Haha. Thread jack in progress. I could possibly be interested in your skimmer. What is the footprint? I'm building my sump fuge and the skimmer I have is making my life difficult. Is that w the pump?