Recommendation for protein skimmer

[Aquatic]

Hi everyone, I'm looking to add a protein skimmer to my 46 gallon tank that is currently cycling. What are your recommendations for this FOWLR (maybe soft corals in the future) setup?

So far is has a 5 inch DSB and 4 lbs of live rock. I'll add more live rock once cycling is finish. Filtration consists of a Fluval 404 and Emperor 400, both of which I'll probably pack away once my tank develops.

[Mitchell]

I would recommend my AEROFOAMER 830
http://www.aquariumpros.ca/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=582

:D :D :D :D :D :D KIDDING:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Ask AJ about the turbofloater 1000.
There are many you could go with in the 300.00 to 400.00 range.

IMHO I think you you should get rid of those filters you have, right now.

You could also go skimmerless for awhile. Allthough I am not a big fan of skimmerless tanks, I really dont see you haveing a problem.

Keep us up to date on what you decide to do.

[stephane]

Agree whith reef geek

But not go skimmerless unless you read a lot on this
Skimmerles is not for everyone IMO

[canadawest]

For a 46gal tank I would recommend something much smaller than a Turboflotor, in respect to budget.

For simplicity and cost I would recommend a hang-on type skimmer as this will eliminate the need for a costly pump to run an in-sump model. Anything from a Red Sea Prizm (~$150) to a PM HOT-1 (~$270) would easily handle your size tank.

While I agree that a good skimmer contributes to the success of a tank, a large expensive one is not always necessary, especially for a FOWLR tank. Based on your expected bio-load (aka how many fish and what types you plan on keeping) will help determine what skimmer you should be looking at.

[stephane]

IMO a turbo flotor is at is best on a 50 gal. or 75 gal. max as andrew said the price is hight but a reef is not inexpensive

I have try one in a 100 gal. and it was defenitivaly to small so 75 gal. is the top IMO

smaller skimmer than that and you will ended buying another one in a couple so buy right an buy once! dont buy a toys
that way it will not finish in the closet. your beter cut in the life stock than in stuff that will keep them alive an healty (skimmer,
pumps,light,PH probe etc....)

just my 2 cents

[stephane]

Excuse me again for my bad english but could someone explane me what FOWLR mean

Sorry im a poor french!:D

[pluff]

:D Fish Only With Live Rock :cheers:

[stephane]

It change all !!!! for fish only you could keep them witout any skimmer at all

15-20 % water change a month and live rock will do the rest!

sorry to get you rong in the previous post

But if you shoose to get a skimmer buy a good one and get in mind that you will probably ended want to buy lot more then a few soffty

Reef are like a virus when you have it you can get rid of it


:D

[Aquatic]

Thank you for all the input.

I'm looking at several protein skimmers right now and have two in mind : PM-HOT1 and Aqua C Remora. I'm leaning towards the HOT1 because I've read that it runs much quieter. Also both are similarly priced.

I would ditch the Fluval 404 and Emperor 400 if I had another source of water current. I'll probably end up running the Fluval 404 (or maybe both) on empty or with foam for a long time to come.

[afss]

Depending on what you have in your tank for live rock/.DSB I would probably suggest running both canisters with nothing in them, not even the floss, atleast till you can get a few powerheads.
Scott

[afss]

BTW forgot... there is a guy on highway 7 who occasionally gets skimmers etc used. I picked up a decent counter curent/downdraft air stone skimmer that is around 2.5 feet tall for 20-30 dollars. all it needed was a bit of silicone to seal a small leak, and some new teflon tape on all the joints/ball valves. Its been working great for near a year now.
Scott

[Asmodeus]

a turboflotor 1000 will do up to a 250 gal tank .
so why would you have a turbo 1000 on a 46 gal tank.
It's crazy some one should do there math, here or am i seeingthe other side..:confused:

[canadawest]

Aquatic, you've narrowed your choices down to two good skimmers. If it were me I would choose the PM HOT-1 as I've only ever heard good things about it. It's quality and craftmanship is excellent I hear, and it performs very well.

Many people prefer to run it with a MaxiJet 900 or 1200 with a venturi kit rather than the potentially dangerous RIO pump that is commonly bundled with it. The MaxiJets are quieter, more reliable, and have a higher GPH rating than the RIO 800RVT, and are said to increase the performance of the HOT-1 over the RIO 800RVT.

These are just things I have read/researched when I was looking for a better hang-on skimmer for my tank. I ended up finding a used Berlin hang-on with MAG 7 pump for $150 so I went that route, but the PM HOT-1 was my first choice otherwise.

[ajx22]

Originally posted by delay
a turboflotor 1000 will do up to a 250 gal tank .
so why would you have a turbo 1000 on a 46 gal tank.
It's crazy some one should do there math, here or am i seeingthe other side..:confused:

Let me try to help clear-up a little bit of a "MYTH"...

The TurboFlotor 1000 Classic is rated UP TO 500Litres or 132Gal. This is however, an over rating.

Realistically...the TF1000 would be a very good choice for an aquarium ranging from 30-100Gal. It really is not considered a problem to OVER-skim...but UNDER-skimming can become a major issue. For example; I am using a TurboFlotor 5000 that's "rated" for up to 3000Litres or 800Gal on my 220Gal tank. Granted, it is overkill...but this is permitting a larger bioload much more safely.

Nearly all skimmers manufacturers (with exception to the HIGH-END lines like Klaes/ETSS/MTC/etc.) promote their skimmers for a MUCH higher rating then what they will actually handle. The skimmer WILL skim up to that "rating", but NOT at its maximum (or even needed) potential. For example...if you look at the "rating" of the Red Sea Berlin Classic - it is "rated" to handle up to 250Gal's!!! Think that it will really handle a 250Gal tank??? NOT!!! I personally have this skimmer and it barely, and I do mean BARELY could keep up with 3 damsels + 30lbs LR + a few soft corals in a 55Gal tank with an Eheim 1060 pump running it! The Eheim pump is rated for 600GPH and is around $200 bucks...that's almost 2/3's the price of the RS Berlin. I now have this same Eheim 1060 pump feeding my TorboFlotor 5000 skimmer and it's skimming PERFECTLY!! So if you were to go this Berlin route...you're looking at about $300+/- for the skimmer & another $200+/- for the pump - then add the needed gate/ball valve and the tubing...and you're well over the $600 mark...and it won't perform to its ratings, nor to your wants/needs. Let me tell you...for $600.00 - you can get into a MUCH nicer and better skimmer that you will not have to upgrade any time soon.

So...the moral of the story is:

Buy what you can afford...but be sure to buy at least a bit larger then what the "ratings" state. If needed...wait a little while, do more frequent water changes, and then by the RIGHT skimmer. This way you're sure that it will handle your needs/wants, and it will not have to be upgraded when you decide to upgrade to a larger tank (should you decide to). Any money WELL spent - is better then any money poorly spent...just ask most experienced reefers about their "Junk Closet"...

Reference:
1 Gal = 3.785Litres
1 Litre = 0.264Gal


So, to make a long story even longer...the TurboFlotor 1000 (either model) would do you well on a 46Gal tank. You can get away with a smaller/less effecient skimmer if you want to...or if you're going to have a small bio-load and are willing to do more frequent water changes. Also...some skimmers require a TON of adjusting - the TF1000 is pretty much a SET & FORGET skimmer (just be sure to empty the collection cup)!! ;)


HTH,

[Mitchell]

a turboflotor 1000 will do up to a 250 gal tank . so why would you have a turbo 1000 on a 46 gal tank.It's crazy some one should do there math, here or am i seeingthe other side..

LET'S DO THE MATH THEN.

46 gallon tank FOWLR (maybe soft corals in the future) .

hang on or in sump skimmer up to 100 gallons ( all we should need right ? ). A few different choices around 200.00 each

6 months down the road....

46 gallon tank fish/softie tank (maybe sps in the future) .

Same old skimmer. Good thing!

1 year down the road.....
:idea:

I think I want a bigger tank

90 gallon tank

Starting to push the skimmer

wow more room...more fish, more critters, more corals......
MORE BIO LOAD.

THIS SKIMMER SUCKS

bigger skimmer

$300.00 to $400.00....Plus the $200.00 I have allready spent on the first skimmer, oh but minus the resale value of a used $200.00 skimmer, lets see $75.00 to $100.00

So on the high side, I have now spent around $500.00 on skimmers, where I could have just spent $300.00 to $400.00 on a product that gives me the freedom to size up in the future, with out any worries.

All I was saying , when I recommended the turbo 1000 is that it is ( from what I have heard and read from other users ) an all around good skimmer for a good price.

CRAZY?..... I don't think so

[stephane]

Originally posted by delay
a turboflotor 1000 will do up to a 250 gal tank .
so why would you have a turbo 1000 on a 46 gal tank.
It's crazy some one should do there math, here or am i seeingthe other side..:confused:

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!! turbo flottor to 250 al. :blob: :blob: :blob2: :P
you should stop reading only what are on the box or listen to
LFS salesmen YOU will be rub

Im in saltwater aquarium for 10 years now in my begining I have not the great info that you could find here and I have blast so much money in that hobby that I could tell you, you are lucky to
have REEFER experience backgroud to help you so stop reading those box and listen what happen in the real life!!

AJ, Reefin Geek, you have all right!

Aquatic look at the size of the skimmer that I have on a 130 gal.
rated for 100 to 1000 gal. it's run by a mag 18 :bigeek:
http://www.aquariumpros.ca/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=1671

[Mitchell]

stephane

Thank you for the comments. It is so true that the manufacturer's allways over rate there products. It IS a good way to get you to upgrade more often!!

[stephane]

Yea and that piss me off! :mad:

I have buy 4 skimmers in my life to finish whith a good one!

IMO anyway becket skimmer are the way to go. You coud not imagine what they are before owns one and IMO praticaly all other are toys that you will alway try to improve by any modification and ended in the closet !

Sorry guy!

Reef Geek you own what is IMO the best skimmer on the market AEROFOAMER. I just dont understand why it is not already sold
the 800$ you ask is a gift for anyone could affort it.

[Mitchell]

yes I wish I didn't have to sell it. If I could pick up a skimmer like it but smaller and cheaper, I wouldn't even hesitate.
Great skimmer.