Protein Skimmer vs. Refugiums?

[redbrick]

Hi,

It's been over 10 years since I operated a salt water tank, and new techinques
has left me in catch up mode. So after much reading I have
come to the following conclusion, and I would like opinions / corrections
to finish off my understanding.

I will be setting up a Nano reef system....the AquaMedic Nanowave 9. It
comes with a proten skimmer and a Refugium. I am thinking about running
the system without the skimmer and if the refugium is stocked properly all
should be fine. What do you think? Of course there's the regular
regiment of maintenance required...but the concept of setting up an
almost self sustaining ecosystem really appeals to me. Of course nothing
beats my eco-sphere yet...but that's another project.

Let me know what you think. Thanks


Redbrick

PS: My last tank was a 10 gallon sal****er fish tank with a 1 gallon
sump...believe it or not...I sat the whole setup by the
window and used the sunlight as the lamp...cooling the water was critical
then...but the water quality was so easy to maintain

[Wayne Sallee]

No you don't have to have a skimmer, but it is very
beneficial. Since it comes with a skimmer, why not
use it?

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


redbrick wrote on 3/12/2007 7:40 PM:
> Hi,
>
> It's been over 10 years since I operated a salt water tank, and new techinques
> has left me in catch up mode. So after much reading I have
> come to the following conclusion, and I would like opinions / corrections
> to finish off my understanding.
>
> I will be setting up a Nano reef system....the AquaMedic Nanowave 9. It
> comes with a proten skimmer and a Refugium. I am thinking about running
> the system without the skimmer and if the refugium is stocked properly all
> should be fine. What do you think? Of course there's the regular
> regiment of maintenance required...but the concept of setting up an
> almost self sustaining ecosystem really appeals to me. Of course nothing
> beats my eco-sphere yet...but that's another project.
>
> Let me know what you think. Thanks
>
>
> Redbrick
>
> PS: My last tank was a 10 gallon sal****er fish tank with a 1 gallon
> sump...believe it or not...I sat the whole setup by the
> window and used the sunlight as the lamp...cooling the water was critical
> then...but the water quality was so easy to maintain
>

[KurtG]

redbrick wrote:
> I will be setting up a Nano reef system....the AquaMedic Nanowave 9. It
> comes with a proten skimmer and a Refugium.

I'd be concerned about sufficient gas exchange. You may want to use the
skimmer until your fug is established and then ween yourself off of it
as long as the water parameters stay good.

I'd also consider running the fug with a reverse lighting cycle.

[redbrick]

Okay...I'll use the skimmer then.

Thanks

Redbrick

In article >,
says...
>
>redbrick wrote:
>> I will be setting up a Nano reef system....the AquaMedic Nanowave 9. It
>> comes with a proten skimmer and a Refugium.
>
>I'd be concerned about sufficient gas exchange. You may want to use the
>skimmer until your fug is established and then ween yourself off of it
>as long as the water parameters stay good.
>
>I'd also consider running the fug with a reverse lighting cycle.