Skimmer

I am running an Auqa Medic Turbofloater skimmer.

http://www.marinedepot.com/a_ps_t1000_info.asp?CartId=

Overall, I like the skimmer. It was only $150. But the thing can be noisy. I also had to add an air pump to the venturi after about a year. The quality of the foam decreased. It was wetter than I liked. After the addition of the air pump the foam quality improved and I havn't had any problems since.

I keep both soft (leathers, claudiella, xenia, etc,.) as well as sps corals. I do notice a difference in the soft corals after I clean my skimmer. They do not expand nearly as much. But the opposite is also true.  If I let the skimmer go, I do not see as much growth in the sps corals.

I am a firm believer that if you keep sps corals they will do better as a result of the use of a protein skimmer. If the main purpose of upgrading is due to an algae outbreak - I would probably hold off. There must be more to it if the tank was maintaining a nutrient balance with your present skimmer. Have you had anything die lately? I recently lost a large toadstool leather. I left it in long after I should have hoping it would pull through. As a result, I too now have a cyano problem. There is a discreet cause of your cyano. Find and fix the root cause and keep your present skimmer.

Another thing I have learned - change one thing - then wait awhile. If that doesn't have the desired effect change something else - then wait awhile. This approach will save money and will allow you to better understand exactly what affects (or lack of affects) your changes are having on your system.

Good luck.

Ryan,

I can't answer which skimmer is "best", I've only used a berlin and a couple diy models.  A friend of mine has an etss downdraft that really works good.  I've also heard good things about the "beckett" head type skimmers.  I'm going to try builing a beckett this summer (if the larger tank materializes). 

If you had difficulties fitting the berlin under your stand, you'll most likely have trouble with all the others too.  You might consider an external one (could be unsightly though).

As others have suggested, you might try a refugium.  A refugium (or algae/turf scrubber) does a lot of the same "good" things that a skimmer does without the "bad".  The problem with sole reliance on plants to do your filtration is they are not as dynamic as a skimmer.  If something big dies in your tank and starts to decompose, the plants may not be able to keep up with the waste removal where a skimmer will (or at least has the potential to do a better job of it).

Ryan,

I just re-read your post about the algae problem. Since I am a self proclaimed advisor on algae control (among other things!), I'd be glad to come see your tank and give you my opinion. I live in Bountiful so it's an easy drive to your place.

Call me at 296-1563 anytime, 

Mark

Sounds like you have uncovered the reason for the algae bloom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Theres's nothing like the abrupt "addition" of nutrients to cause an algae bloom. In this case, the discontinuance of previously effective skimming by a hose slipping off was the reason for additional nutrients being available.

As we see from this situation, algae can react quickly to uptake an increase in available nutrients. This is evidence for the use of algae as one aspect of the tanks filtration system. Hooray for the algae scrubber refugium!!!

Also not seen in your tank was the increase of bacteria. If you were to have done a bacterial count, you would have seen how the population increased exponentially.

I couldn't return your call last night but would still enjoy seeing your tank. The extra snails and hermits may soon become unnecessary. Watch for hermits attacking snails or coming out of hiding, immediately upon feeding. This will be the clue that they are getting real hungry. Someone in the club will probably be willing to buy them from you.

A note about skimming - I also agree that SPS coral enjoy lower nutrient levels than most soft coral. Skimming is one way to improve conditions for SPS. Other ways are algae scrubbing, activated carbon(not charcoal), benthic scrubbing(sponge,sea squirt) frequent water change, and straight chemical extraction.

I live up North in Syracuse, but I work down in SLC.   I'm hoping that in the next couple weeks I have more hair algae issues under control and then I think I'll be getting rid of a few crabs.