Skimmer or Refugium

[Nixperience]

I’ve just set up my UNS 90LA and the back compartments are tight. I have the media tower for floss on top, biocubes middle, and carbon/gfo on bottom.

In the middle compartment I can only fit a skimmer or refugium.

Which do you think would be the better choice for stability and nutrient export? I can only have one.

 

[Fish Fan]

I vote a skimmer, if nothing else for better gas exchange, even if it's not a very efficient skimmer. I don't believe the very small refugiums in AIO tanks are that effective, but I've never tried one myself. Water changes can be a big help on smaller tanks like these.

Good luck!

 

[Fish Fan]

#reefsquad what do you guys think?

 

[X-37B]

I would get the biggest oversized skimmer that fit.

 

[exnisstech]

I'd go skimmer over fuge. Fuge has been good for growing pods but has been useless for nutrient reduction when I ran them. That said I've run tanks with neither that did fine.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Skimmer gets my vote

 

[Rocks reef]

I would get the biggest oversized skimmer that fit.

^This

 

[Nixperience]

I guess it’s unanimous! Skimmer it is, when the time comes.

 

[Privateye]

Skimmers have the added benefit of pulling things out before you may see them. For instance, if an organism dies it could start mitigating the waste quicker than a refugium. Or if an angry critter releases some sort of toxin. You can also use it to help remove certain medications and chemicals from the water.

I think you asked a good question and made a good choice!

 

[Lasse]

You can also use it to help remove certain medications and chemicals from the water.

Which medicines and chemicals do a skimmer remove?

My answer is not as the others because they are both good but for different things. The question is what is the most important for you - to promote gas exchange and oxygen import or reduce nutrients?

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Nixperience]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I’ll go with the skimmer and I can always do a chaeto reactor later if I want the benefits of a refugium.

 

[Privateye]

Which medicines and chemicals do a skimmer remove?

My answer is not as the others because they are both good but for different things. The question is what is the most important for you - to promote gas exchange and oxygen import or reduce nutrients?

Sincerely Lasse

I don't know a complete list (Jay would know better than I do) but Melafix is one that immediately comes to mind.

Pretty much anything that makes a skimmer go crazy, unless it's happening from dying organisms targeted by the chemical. Soap would be an easy example, but not one we'd add intentionally. If I spilled soap in my tank I'd prefer a skimmer!