Protein Skimmer help/suggestions

[bluecheese]

125 gallon tank. Been set up since August of 2021.

Ammonia: 0
PH: 8.1
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10

I’ve kept a light bioload - 2 clownfish, 8 green chromis, and a cleaner shrimp. So I figured I could get by without a protein skimmer; weekly water changes and a fuge would keep the water clean.

I recently put a yellow tang and a blue hippo - both juveniles - into the tank this week. So I’m thinking I may need a protein skimmer with the extra food and fish waste.

The problem is that I really don’t have room for a skimmer anywhere. Below the tank is taken completely up by the sump. There really is no room in the sump for a skimmer. And since the tank is a peninsula viewable on both sides, a hang on back isn’t really an option.

I though maybe putting a skimmer in the fuge area may be an option, but there are height limitations I would need to contend with.

So my questions are:

Do I need a skimmer? Or can I still get away with water changes and refugium.

If I do need a skimmer, any suggestions?

Pictures of the tank and area around it:

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

The short answer is, no, you don't "need" a skimmer. Since you have the space limitations you mentioned, I suggest you monitor your nutrients and proceed from there. If your nitrates and phosphates don't start rising significantly, you should be fine.

Have you considered using a hang on back skimmer on the sump?

 

[bluecheese]

The short answer is, no, you don't "need" a skimmer. Since you have the space limitations you mentioned, I suggest you monitor your nutrients and proceed from there. If your nitrates and phosphates don't start rising significantly, you should be fine.

Have you considered using a hang on back skimmer on the sump?

I thought about the HOB option on the sump. Space may still be the limiting factor, but I haven't investigated the HOB option enough to be sure.

edit: And I'm not sure if they make an HOB option for a tank my size.

 

[exnisstech]

I agree with Erin as far as you may not need one. I would run without it and see how things go. I have a skimmer on my 180 but to be honest it doesn't really pull a lot and I have quite a few larger fish.

On another note how long have you have the chromis? I tried 7 at once on two seperate occasions and both times I ended up with 1.

Dang I just looked at the images and those are some nice big chromis. I may have to give them another try now that the tank is a little bigger and been running for a few years.

 

[bluecheese]

On another note how long have you have the chromis? I tried 7 at once on two seperate occasions and both times I ended up with 1.

Chromis have been in the tank since 10/5/21. All 8 have survived over a year, but there is one that is now missing his caudal fins, and another missing his dorsal fins.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

edit: And I'm not sure if they make an HOB option for a tank my size.

You have no skimmer at all right now, so even adding an undersized one will help if you decide you need the extra filtration.

 

[bluecheese]

I wonder if something like this would work on the sump

Comline DOC Skimmer 9012 DC - Tunze

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I wonder if something like this would work on the sump

Comline DOC Skimmer 9012 DC - Tunze

This is a submersible, not a HOB

 

[bluecheese]

This is a submersible, not a HOB

Yeah, I just noticed that when looking up videos of it.

But I may be able to put something like this in the fuge area.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Yeah, I just noticed that when looking up videos of it.

But, this is held on to the tank by magnets, so you don't have to worry as much about water height in the chamber...