skimmer or uv

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mikeinnj

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 14, 2008
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im starting a sw 55gallon tank this also being my first attempt at one, which would be better a uv or protein skimmer, are there any advantages or disadvantages with these? any info would be great
 
i was thinking of live rock with fish but my lfs told me not to since its my first attempt and would be easier, so im just gonna use fish only way for now, also using a fluval 305, as for fish not sure if it matters but i want to stock it with clowns maybe dwarf angel,
 
I would go with a skimmer, check out the forum, manhattanreefs.com there are a lot of tristate area people with good information. They have alot of good vendors for supplies and livestock
 
Skimmer, don't skimp either if you can afford not to. IMO uv's are unnecessary(i'm sure this will get some negative responses)
 
Skimmer, but more importantly RO water when you do setup. Don't really think FOWLR would be that much more difficult either...I went FOWLR at first, but had the lighting for some softies (beginner corals) and now have some of those too. UVs look to be decent, but only sterilize what goes through it, so anything that doesn't (such as attached unwanted algae) will stay in your tank. Skimmers on the other hand remove skimmate, thereby reducing your nitrates which will help keep your algae levels down as a result. Of course there are other advantages to both, I'm just looking at them as how they pertain more to my interest.
 
skimmer for sure. Either can be considered unnecessary but the skimmer is going to play more of a role in your tank then UV will. UV is really helpful when you have Green water, which is a build up of algae spores. UV will also kill any free floating micro bacteria which will help aid in disease prevention, but at the same time, kill most food that coral feed on, so a negative in the reef world.

Why no Live Rock, LR is not hard to care for lol. Put it in the tank and thats it. it will also provide a natural grayzing ground for you fish. I wouldnt listen to the LFS about that and get LR anyways. its more beneficial.
 
Skimmer.
UV isn't a needed thing for a start up tank.

As for the live rock part. I think your fish store guy is on drugs. ANY rock you put in the tank will culture into live rock by natural process.
 
Zoodiver;2581290; said:
As for the live rock part. I think your fish store guy is on drugs. ANY rock you put in the tank will culture into live rock by natural process.
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:iagree: completely

if it's one or the other get the skimmer

UV filters are pretty low on the list of things you should get.. probably right below a calcium reactor
 
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