? for people who say a skimmer is a must
- Thread starter SWITCH420
- Start date
- Location
- poughquag, ny
and there is a 1000 site i can point people to about skimmer's, do turf scrubbers work ? yes they do as a 100 other people have posted links here about them. my skimmer maintanance takes me 2 minutes a week, why most people run a fuge as well with some type of macro for extra nutrient export, prattreef runs a few systems with no skimmers, but the one has a 125g { think thats the size } filled with cheato, you wont convince people to switch over some might try it, you stated you had a skimmer that was in-consistant what skimmer did you use ?
Switch you should post the owners name of tank. It is a form of plagiarism to post a pic of a random tank to support your methods without giving the owner credit. Whatever method to choose is up to the individual. Bottom line is organics must be exported. I don't see many fish in that pretty SPS tank that you posted, also what is the water change schedule?
While that tank is very nice I can show you 100 better tanks that utilize a skimmer. Heck, my nano reef colors blow that tank away and I use a skimmer
While that tank is very nice I can show you 100 better tanks that utilize a skimmer. Heck, my nano reef colors blow that tank away and I use a skimmer
The link i put up in the one thread i have up http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/salt...mover-diy.html makes reference to a sps tank of the month on another reef site some where in the thread.
- Location
- Throggs Neck, BX
- Location
- midtown
one question switch is it annoying with the water trickling in the sump or do u put it half way in? just curious cause ill be trying this soon
To Midtownman--There's many different set ups for Turf Scrubbers, some more elaborate than others. In terms of noise level you can always modify it to make it more quiet (this is my specialty lol).
Anyway... I don't know how this turned into a 6 page thread when most of the stuff was clarified on the first page. Please keep in mind we weren't trying to give you a backlash. I was trying to prevent many unguided newbies/lurkers on this site from going "oh man so I don't need a skimmer FOR SURE, let me cheap out and then ultimately lose more money when something goes wrong and let me go make a turf scrubber without understanding what it is, how it works, potential risks, etc." Like you said...open mind...this requires alternatives. Also for another new reefer can potentially go, HEY he isn't using an RODI so I don't have to too...then we will see a post 2 weeks later, why am I having x and x algae problem...
-You're running a turf scrubber and you do water changes and it works...yes we know, but it's not readily purchased and has to be DIY'd and this takes trial, error, and time.
-Everybody has different ways of reefing..
-Your tap water depends on your source and the corals you keep, please keep in mind hardy animals adapt...maybe yours adapted. Not all water is the same, you forgot to consider the other variables.
With regards to maintenance. I am surprised you guys even spend 5 minutes a day.
I spend 5 minutes a week...because I have a "real job" too. Not even sure what that was trying to imply.
Anyway... I don't know how this turned into a 6 page thread when most of the stuff was clarified on the first page. Please keep in mind we weren't trying to give you a backlash. I was trying to prevent many unguided newbies/lurkers on this site from going "oh man so I don't need a skimmer FOR SURE, let me cheap out and then ultimately lose more money when something goes wrong and let me go make a turf scrubber without understanding what it is, how it works, potential risks, etc." Like you said...open mind...this requires alternatives. Also for another new reefer can potentially go, HEY he isn't using an RODI so I don't have to too...then we will see a post 2 weeks later, why am I having x and x algae problem...
-You're running a turf scrubber and you do water changes and it works...yes we know, but it's not readily purchased and has to be DIY'd and this takes trial, error, and time.
-Everybody has different ways of reefing..
-Your tap water depends on your source and the corals you keep, please keep in mind hardy animals adapt...maybe yours adapted. Not all water is the same, you forgot to consider the other variables.
With regards to maintenance. I am surprised you guys even spend 5 minutes a day.
I spend 5 minutes a week...because I have a "real job" too. Not even sure what that was trying to imply.
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- Location
- Southampton UK
Just one question at this point if i may..
Taking account that the top up on just about any open top tank far exeeds whats exchanged out via water changes over a month/year/years basis....
How does the algae control accumulations of everything thats coming in via your tap water besides N03 and Po4 ?......however hard you try (unless you change out the same as you add in top up on a monthly basis..which is alot)..you are allways 'adding' (via using untreated tap water) pollutants, not taking them away..If your water change water is tap water as well, you effectively cancel out any removal.
Ie what are the algaes utilisation abilities for the various heavy metals, pesticides, and a whole stack of other contaminats that are found to varying degrees in just about every non purified water source..
If your tap water has high Ca,Mg, levels etc which you are then adding to an already balanced salt mix...how are you then balancing (in the aquarium) core element levels such as the natural oceanic balance between Ca/Alk/Mg....?
ok, so thats a few questions....I lied...:tongue1:
Regards
Taking account that the top up on just about any open top tank far exeeds whats exchanged out via water changes over a month/year/years basis....
How does the algae control accumulations of everything thats coming in via your tap water besides N03 and Po4 ?......however hard you try (unless you change out the same as you add in top up on a monthly basis..which is alot)..you are allways 'adding' (via using untreated tap water) pollutants, not taking them away..If your water change water is tap water as well, you effectively cancel out any removal.
Ie what are the algaes utilisation abilities for the various heavy metals, pesticides, and a whole stack of other contaminats that are found to varying degrees in just about every non purified water source..
If your tap water has high Ca,Mg, levels etc which you are then adding to an already balanced salt mix...how are you then balancing (in the aquarium) core element levels such as the natural oceanic balance between Ca/Alk/Mg....?
ok, so thats a few questions....I lied...:tongue1:
Regards
- Location
- Corona
May God Bless your skimmerless tank
midtown no water noise i started a 20 long over 2 years ago tanks still doing great just a hob filter with a lil carbon it was my first tank and used tap water did not know better but i have tanks for a while now wow i still use tapwater anyone want to test it will send a sample i do get small algae outbreaks once in a while thats ok the tangs take care of it so go fig?? as far as tank of the month a good camera and someone who can take pics and make any tank look good i just want to show u can have a happy tank without a lot of equipment IF U DO RESEARCH AND DO A LOT OF READING AND USE A LIL COMMON SENSE remember when nano tanks were Impossible u CANT have a 5 gal saltwater tank now look 2 gallon saltwater tanks? who knew funny huh:bablefish
- Location
- Franklin Lakes, NJ
I don't even know what to say to this statement. You're seriously so desperate to be right that you're saying that the TOTMs are only there because of great photography? So how come you haven't had yours up there yet? With all the money you've saved on a skimmer, you should have plenty for a good camera.
- Location
- poughquag, ny
this thread is dead, going no where on a debate that really isnt a debate more of a choice how to run systems in different ways, the cost of the electric to run the two lights is about the same as my skimmer and i dont need to buy anything every year { bulbs } to keep it going
wow a lot of factors go in a pic is what im saying and pics can be adjusted photoshop ect i suck at taking pics and dont have a good camera but you know whatever beerfish this post for people who want to try 2 maybe learn something new or just wondering about scrubbers so go have a beer
- Location
- Staten Island
Hey Switch420, does the algae growing on the screen of your turf scrubber stink up the room or area around your tank?
- Location
- Franklin Lakes, NJ
This thread was never about anyone learning something. There's already a post about turf scrubbers for that that is very educational. This post is about you wanting to prove that everyone is wrong and you're right. Everyone here has admitted that a turf scrubber can work, but it's not enough for you. You're now trying to say that the TOTMs are not all that great, it's just the pictures.
The problem I have with this post is some newbie seeing it, using tap water, setting up a DIY system and killing livestock or getting out of the hobby when their tank fails. Skimmers and RO water aren't myths. They are proven ways of running a tank.
So let's clarify for the newbies:
You can argue all you want that turf scrubbers work. No one is disputing that fact. What everyone else is saying is that skimmers work. RO/DI works. They are not a waste of money for people that want to minimize the time spent maintaining their tank, or for people unsure about how to properly set up alternate filtration. They should be included on most tanks set up by new hobbyists due to their simplicity.
The problem I have with this post is some newbie seeing it, using tap water, setting up a DIY system and killing livestock or getting out of the hobby when their tank fails. Skimmers and RO water aren't myths. They are proven ways of running a tank.
So let's clarify for the newbies:
You can argue all you want that turf scrubbers work. No one is disputing that fact. What everyone else is saying is that skimmers work. RO/DI works. They are not a waste of money for people that want to minimize the time spent maintaining their tank, or for people unsure about how to properly set up alternate filtration. They should be included on most tanks set up by new hobbyists due to their simplicity.
Sorry I just read through 8 pages of this thread ... I get you are trying to promote your system ... and it works for YOU ... I think everyone has an open mind here ... hence people asking questions ALL OF THE TIME, whether it be lighting, filtration etc.etc. ... but what are you trying to accomplish with this whole thread? We are wrong and you are right? All the ToTM's are manipulated with the use of a great camera? Are you trying to be the savior and prevent people from buying skimmers (kind of like the idiot that wanted to stop us from buying vortechs because he got a faulty one) ... Sorry I am trying to learn from this thread and it it's not easy to read through some of the cocky behavior.
It would help if you blew up the pictures of your system so that we can all see what's going on there. Closer shots of your livestock as well. Even a small video clip would help.
Sorry to be so blunt ... but hey ... just trying to learn here.
(plus being in this hobby 15 years ... I did use tap water a LONG time ago, and living in CT with well water ... algae outbreaks all over.)
It would help if you blew up the pictures of your system so that we can all see what's going on there. Closer shots of your livestock as well. Even a small video clip would help.
Sorry to be so blunt ... but hey ... just trying to learn here.
(plus being in this hobby 15 years ... I did use tap water a LONG time ago, and living in CT with well water ... algae outbreaks all over.)
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- Location
- Throggs Neck, BX
I think Rick nailed it right on the head and I agree since I run an ATF setup. An ATF is just a glorified fuge. Its no different than cheato or caluerpa. None what so ever. Just that your using microalgae instead of macroalgae.
There is no smell as long as the water is flowing over the screen. When you shut that pump down thats feeding the screen, then the ocean scent comes
There is no smell as long as the water is flowing over the screen. When you shut that pump down thats feeding the screen, then the ocean scent comes
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