protein skimmmer

[marine beginner]

Hi,
I just went to Neo tiew cres. just now and learn that having bio balls above the tank will be an advantage as it allow the bateria to "breath".

Also, I understood from him that it is possible not to use protein skimmer with the above method. How so?

Please advise.

[kelstorm]

[quote]
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On 5/31/2003 2:50:49 PM

Hi,
I just went to Neo tiew cres. just now and learn that having bio balls above the tank will be an advantage as it allow the bateria to "breath".

Also, I understood from him that it is possible not to use protein skimmer with the above method. How so?

Please advise.


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that is not true.. protein skimmers helps to break down the waste even before the filter does or cannot remove.. having bio-balls on top of the tank?? i dun understand what u mean.. izit having the bio-balls floating abt??

[wynx]

Kelstorm,

I went with Marine Beginner to Pacific Marine on saturday. What is he is refering to is the overflow system, i.e, to have a overflow compartment filled with micro bio balls on top of the tank to act a biogical filtration.

His tank is oredi built so not possible to add internal overflow...that why the shop owner suggested the overflow system, clear acrylic type.

[kelstorm]

oic.. in that case, the overflow will provide a wet/dry filtration system for the tank..

[wynx]

Kelstorm,

With a wet/dry filtration, we were told that there is no need for protein skimmer...I beg to differ but then again I am not a marine expert like yourself. Care to explain more?

[kelstorm]

err... maybe i did not put myself correctly or u might have misunderstood what i meant.. a protein skimmer is an essential equipment, i wonder whether did i leave the impression or told u that skimmer is not essential, if that is so, (which i really doubt so for the latter), i'm sorry. Skimmers breaks down the wastes that the normal filter is not able to do so.. u can try doing a test(which i did) i did up a tank without protein skimmer, and runs it for 1 month (after the tank is cycled) and everything seems fine, then i introduced a skimmer inside and to my shock, the water is not as clean as i thought it was, the amt of waste gathered on the collection cup was almost black in color.. which means, that the filter, by itself is not sufficient to remove all the waste. depending on the type of skimmers that u used, the idea is to remove the dissolved proteins that cannot be done so by the sump, overflow, canister or whatever filtration means u can think of. therefore, in short, do get a PS... u wun regret it..[]