Archive for January, 2010
Protein Skimmer
Saturday, January 30th, 2010
What filtration methods do I need for a 55 gallon saltwater aqaurium?Do I need a power filter &Protein Skimmer
I am planning to purchase a 55 gallon tank for marine saltwater fishes. It will not be a reef tank. I was planning to get a kit(which comes with a power filter).Probably from wal-mart. Will I need to buy a protein skimmer also or will the power filter be sufficent? (the power filter is rated for the size aquarium but i am worried that one in a kit will be low quality)
I have been told that for >50 gallon tanks, a power filter will not be enough. I have been told that I need a protein filter also, and maybe a Air Pump and airstone. I do not want to set up a sump pump below the tank or get a canister filter. I have been told that undergravel filtration is not that great, but I am unsure about this as well.
If I have a smaller tank(<50) will a power filter be suffiecent without a protein skimmer?
Thanks. I appreicate any help you can give me.
There’s actually 2 things to consider with Saltwater. Filtration and water circulation. Saltwater must be kept moving at all times.
Rule of thumb for fish only is 10+ times water circulation per hour. So you need minimum 500gall / hour pump system.
You can of course split this turnover between a filter and internal powerhead/s. You cant really ever have too much filtration or circulation.
Why no Cannister Filter? I have had reef tanks with sumps/skimmers for many years and, like many of my associates, I have reverted to a closed Filtration System (cannister). In-tank filters not good enough and hang-ons are plain ugly. Get a good cannister – no salt creep or noise.
Protein skimmer – you don’t need one for fish. That film/scum that develops on top of the saltwater tanks and smells like fat is not protein at all, its bacteria that feeds on free (dormant) protein strands. It is not harmful to fish at all.
Get an internal powerhead and aim it at the water surface so its well agitated. This breaks up any dormant gunk & the bacteria starves anyway (not the good bacteria).
So what happens to all the un-skimmed protein & other undesirables? Simple answer: one purigen sachet in your filter/cannister will remove anything a skimmer can – and much more.
Regardless, you need some damn good live rock. Good ‘cured’ LR will handle the vast bulk of the filtration anyway, as long as youi have proper water circulation to let it do its job.
No airstones inside a salt tank. Air in saltwater creates much finer bubbles than in freshwater and if they are micro-bubbles they are detrimental to marine critters including fish gills.
Good Luck and 50gall is a good size to start out with.
p.s. keep in mind that almost everybody that starts with a fish-only tank inevitably starts experimenting with inverts and easy corals at some point.
Setting Up a Cone Protein Skimmer
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Coralife Replacement Cup for Super Skimmer 220 Gallon $42.95 Replacement Cup for the 220 Gallon Coralife Super Skimmer protein skimmer. Includes O-Ring and drain tube. Will fit both old style and new style Coralife 220 Gallon Super Skimmers…. |
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Protein Skimmer Kit Skimmer Wood Stones 2pk Compact air-drive counter current protein skimmer for 28 gallon Nano Cubes Supplementary filtration device effectively removes dissolved aquarium pollutants Compact protein skimmer fits in rear filtration chamber for discreet installation Enhance water quality in your 28 gallon Nano Cube aquarium system. Counter-current protein skimmer removes dissolved organic waste while oxygenating aquarium wat… |
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CPR Aquatics SR2 Protein Skimmer, Sump Model w/ Accela Pump $112.99 The unique CPR Aquatics SR2 Protein Skimmer design places the air inlet venturi prior to the pump impeller achieving an effect similar to needle-wheel skimmers in that the impeller chops the bubbles into the water giving smaller bubbles and improved contact time. The bio-filter section includes shaved plastic “Bio-Bale” which acts as both a biological filter and a bubble trap to prevent small bubb… |
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Spectrum 33000 Mop And Broom Holder $1.68 Slide broom or mop into the rubber ring. ABS plastic with adhesive backing or screw holes for mounting. 3″ H. x 2 1 8″ W. x 5 8″ D. White. 1 per card…. |
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ae ech ess xr protein skimmer free ground shipping o 48 coniguous saes 1PCYUL5RHTROPCEO5ZQ7… |
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Protein Skimmer Psk – 300 200 – 250g Tank (Catalog Category: Aquarium / Protein Skimmers) $389.99 Protein Skimmer Psk – 300 200 – 250g Tank. Eshopps – Protein Skimmer PSK300 All protein skimmers include followings: meshwheel impeller removable collection cup slant neck 200 to 300g tank… |
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High Performance Cone Skimmer S – 150 Up To 150 Gallon (Catalog Category: Aquarium / Protein Skimmers) $494.24 High Performance Cone Skimmer S – 150 Up To 150 Gallon. High performance cone skimmer s-150 up to 150 gallon… |
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Super Skimmer With Needle Wheel Water Pump Up To 220 Gallon Tank (Catalog Category: Aquarium / Protein Skimmers) $345.31 Super Skimmer With Needle Wheel Water Pump Up To 220 Gallon Tank. Coralife – SUPER SKIMMER WPUMP 220GALNEEDLEWHEEL SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY… |
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Cottage By Night Jigsaw Puzzle 1000pc $49.99 … |
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SEACLONE 100 PROTEIN SKIMMER (Catalog Category: Aquatics:FILTRATION) $147.98 Effectively draws waste out of your aquarium.Ingredients: For Saltwater Aquariums Up To 100 Gallons… |
