Sizing a Skimmer

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ZZ5150

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 13, 2010
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Ohio
I have a 65 gallon fish only tank (48 x 18 x 17) with 1 volitan lion and a green wolf eel. The nitrates are at about 20ppm. I do not plan on adding any more stock to the tank. Should I purchase a skimmer if I plan on doing approximately 20 gallon water changes twice a month? If I should purchase a skimmer should it be sized for the tank or should I go double?

One other thing: is the 20 ppm of nitrate too high on a consitent basis? What should be a reasonable target?
 
I would purchase the aqua C remora pro rated fur 120 gallon tanks....if you have a sump throw in an aqua C urchin.

Also 20 gallons of water per month is fine..still the skimmer is helpful.
 
Pazzoman;4796736; said:
I would purchase the aqua C remora pro rated fur 120 gallon tanks....if you have a sump throw in an aqua C urchin.

Also 20 gallons of water per month is fine..still the skimmer is helpful.
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I agree.

Get a skimmer rated for at least 1.5 times the tank. I think he means 20 gallons twice a month like you said. With the skimmer that should be good.

I think the nitrates are too high. It can/will shorten the lifespan of your fish. You will not see this on a day to day basis but it is happening. Kinda like sitting in a smoky room all day every day. The skimmer will help with this as well as the water changes.
 
Thanks for the advice. One additional question: would a reactor with a nitrate removal media be better than a skimmer for controling nitrates?
 
ZZ5150;4797463; said:
Thanks for the advice. One additional question: would a reactor with a nitrate removal media be better than a skimmer for controling nitrates?
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In my opinion, no. Skimmers work much better and don't constantly needed to be replaced like the media in a de-nitrator. That media can get really expensive. Also, a skimmer removes waste before it breaks down, de-nitrators are removing nitrates, but may not be removing other wastes we can't for. This will make your water quality look good(no nitrates), but there could be a lot of other stuff in the water.

Either way you should still be doing water changes. We can't test for everything and the only thing that will keep water quality high is water changes.
 
H2o changes cannot be replaced.

That being said, you can keep your h2o quality up more between changes with heavy over skimming, and things like bioreactors.

Im looking into (about to buy) a bioreactor so that I can keep h2o quality high for corals between changes in my heavily over skimmed, over stocked, predator reef tank.
 
ZZ5150;4799060; said:
Thanks everyone. I will keep up with the water changes and purchase a skimmer.
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Good move. I think you will be happy with your choice.

Make sure you purchase a quality skimmer. This isn't something you want to skimp on, spend the money and get a quality one. I agree that the Aqua C remora or Urchin would be great choices.
 
AquaC's are very beginner friendly, and I think they are some of the best skimmers out there regardless.
 
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