Yes I saw that it was big, I've heard that they are a good skimmer what lead to your choice of this skimmer?
210g Build Thread....
- Thread starter wantvws
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I haven't yet...since my tank is just beginning it's cycle, I figure I don't really need it at the moment (my understanding is that the less filtration during the cycle, the better). I may hook it up just for the heck of it just to see how it runs...more specifically to see if I can make it work properly.
The one thing I can say right now is that this thing is friggin' huge! It's 25" from top to bottom.
Robbie
No filtration is fine.. You can run as many air pumps, the filtration to your wet/dry filter etc. In fact I would say that you should probably keep the water moving so it doesn't stagnate. Skimming however is not needed as you don't have anything in the tank that should be producing anything to skim. That and why use the electricity... Same goes for lights.. You really don't need them for the cycle. There are however things in a persons tank that might require light such as algae, etc.
Well, the choices were immediately narrowed down due to the size of my tank. And next came price. I didn't want to get the cheapest one, but I couldn't afford the best one (maybe I did buy the cheapest
?). I trust my LFS (so far), and they have these in quite often and said it was a decent one. I ordered this one from Foster and Smith. Like I said I have not had a chance to run it yet...I hope it will be fine!
Robbie
That's what I'm doing. I have the wet/dry running and three powerheads and my Magnum 350 with no media. Although I have been turning the lights on for a little bit at night (I can't help it-it's so cool).
Robbie
You will keep me posted on the use of the skimmer, I'm looking for HOB skimmer for my 180 I feel that it would be easier to keep a eye on and clean.
No problem. Although it will probably be a few weeks before it's up and running. When I bought this thing I had originally thought I could somehow make it stand alone...but I have since decided against it (probably a good thing...). I thought that the HOB would be hideous considering the size, but it doesn't offend me in the least, and the 9" of wall clearance it needs has been helpful, to say the least! And it looks like it will be quite easy to empty.
We'll see how it works!
Robbie
We'll see how it works!
Robbie
My cycle seems to be progressing nicely. At least I think it is. The ammonia has gone from 4.0 to 0 as of tonight, the nitrites went up to 5.0 and now have dropped to 2.0, and the nitrates are around 20-40. It's been almost three weeks since I filled it up. So when the nitrites reach 0, my understanding is that the tank is cycled, right? Then I need to do a big freakin' water change (ugh) and I'm ready for fish?
Any suggestions on how often I should change the water? I assume the bigger the tank, the longer I can go, correct? I really can't see doing a weekly water change on a tank this big...
Thanks for looking!
Robbie
Any suggestions on how often I should change the water? I assume the bigger the tank, the longer I can go, correct? I really can't see doing a weekly water change on a tank this big...
Thanks for looking!
Robbie
The amount and frequency of changes is going to depend on the bio-load and your test results. If you don't plan on maxing it out with fish/inverts/corals then weekly water changes shouldn't be necessary or smaller weekly water changes should be ok. But if you do plan on having a large number of fish, or messy eaters, or overfeed then you will probably need to perform weekly changes. But this will become evident with your water parameter testing.
Once your cycle is finished you probably want to look at macro algaes for nutrient export (nitrate take up etc) so that will bring the need down for water changes to an extent. But also realize that the water change is not just for nutrient export, it is for import as well. There are necessary components of a good salt that are required for every salt system to sustain itself.
Once your cycle is finished you probably want to look at macro algaes for nutrient export (nitrate take up etc) so that will bring the need down for water changes to an extent. But also realize that the water change is not just for nutrient export, it is for import as well. There are necessary components of a good salt that are required for every salt system to sustain itself.
I am ready for fish! :woot:
Well, at least I think my cycle is finished. Still need to do a big water change. Here are my numbers as of tonight:
ph 8.2
sg 1.023-1.024
ammonia 0
nitrites 0
nitrates 20-40
I think there is the slightest hint of diatoms, but I don't know. There are tiny little brown spots here and there in my sand bed, and I think there is a very slight brownish tinge to my rocks. Could be after reading all these post about the diatoms popping up at the end of the cycle, I'm imagining things on the rocks, but the brown spots are definitely there.
Robbie
Well, at least I think my cycle is finished. Still need to do a big water change. Here are my numbers as of tonight:
ph 8.2
sg 1.023-1.024
ammonia 0
nitrites 0
nitrates 20-40
I think there is the slightest hint of diatoms, but I don't know. There are tiny little brown spots here and there in my sand bed, and I think there is a very slight brownish tinge to my rocks. Could be after reading all these post about the diatoms popping up at the end of the cycle, I'm imagining things on the rocks, but the brown spots are definitely there.
Robbie
