New 72 gallon bowfront,FOWLR.
- Thread starter davexstumpe
- Start date
Those are nice for smaller tanks but I don't think it would be sufficient on a 72G tank. The cost to make one seems a little excessive for what you get. If you had an old Aquaclear HOB filter just collecting dust, sure, use it, but to spend $90 on a new one to make it just doesn't seem the most cost effective route for that size tank. Just my opinion. 
Don't you think it would be enough to keep the pH swings down? I don't see it doing much for exporting nutrients but I thought it might help with the pH if that in fact turns out to be a concern. I know he doesn't have a sump which is why I suggested it. There are also the large CPR Aquafuges too but they are a bit more $. The large ones are fairly good size though. Just some thoughts. Probably better ways to go than this.
I had another member ask me before about whether or not they should completely ditch their skimmer. I don't see this as being necessary, since they all perform very different functions. The scrubber directly reduces dissolved inorganic N and P, whereas the skimmer removes some organic carbon, particles and, possibly more importantly, heavily aerates the water. I think the two of them serve very valuable functions and using them together certainly helps. It gives you yet another excuse to feed uncomfortably large amounts of food
. JMHO.As far as the added 'fuge, that may reduce the daily swing slightly. There will still be a net decrease, but it will offset it slightly, especially if it is heavily lighted.
pH hasn't affected anything yet, but i have read corals require a pH of at at least 8.2 . Haven't added any corals yet but I'm just being prepared.
A pH of 7.8 is perfectly fine for corals
. Just make sure you have a correspondingly higher alkalinity (KH).
A steady pH is more important than a constant pH of 8.2. If your going 8.2 at the end of the day and 7.4 in the morning that is a much bigger concern than if your doing 7.8 at the end of the day and 7.6 in the morning. There have been many Tank of the Months that have pH around 7.8 and obviously doing great if they are TOTM on RC.
On the topic of skimmer/scrubbers.. this is just my current opinion, but it can change tomorrow so don't think this is by any means a golden rule. I feel from what I have read and experienced that if you use good carbon + a scrubber + an air stone in the sump (I know for this thread the sump is not an option) will give you better results than a skimmer and cost less short term... long term with replacing carbon will make the skimmer a cheaper option, but I feel that carbon can do much more than a skimmer can do in regards to removing organics, air stone will give you the O2 back, and scrubber will remove N and P, something a skimmer doesn't really do at all. From what I have read, adding O2 back into a SW tank is extremely difficult, FW is much easier.. sure there is some scientific reason that totally slips my mind now as to why, I just have always been told to aerate your RO/DI water BEFORE adding salt because once you add the salt it is almost impossible to do it in any degree that matters. Again, just my opinion as of today and that can change tomorrow if I read some scientific study that shows me something different.
On the topic of skimmer/scrubbers.. this is just my current opinion, but it can change tomorrow so don't think this is by any means a golden rule. I feel from what I have read and experienced that if you use good carbon + a scrubber + an air stone in the sump (I know for this thread the sump is not an option) will give you better results than a skimmer and cost less short term... long term with replacing carbon will make the skimmer a cheaper option, but I feel that carbon can do much more than a skimmer can do in regards to removing organics, air stone will give you the O2 back, and scrubber will remove N and P, something a skimmer doesn't really do at all. From what I have read, adding O2 back into a SW tank is extremely difficult, FW is much easier.. sure there is some scientific reason that totally slips my mind now as to why, I just have always been told to aerate your RO/DI water BEFORE adding salt because once you add the salt it is almost impossible to do it in any degree that matters. Again, just my opinion as of today and that can change tomorrow if I read some scientific study that shows me something different.
Everything you said is correct. But, the money has already been spent and its in there, so it stays--at least until the tank fills in more and can do well without it. Right now, I'm feeding very heavily with a relatively small coral density, which makes the skimmer invaluable for removing the smaller particles that aren't eaten. Other, more filled tanks won't have that issue and will likely be just fine without a skimmer. That being said, the skimmer is usually offline (by that, I mean not skimming, but on) because of all the food. It may be safe to assume that the scrubber is doing the majority of the work, at least at the moment.
O2 is simply less soluble in seawater when compared to freshwater. I'm hoping an increase in the amount of photosynthesis, for me at least, will help with any O2 issues, if they are present.
O2 is simply less soluble in seawater when compared to freshwater. I'm hoping an increase in the amount of photosynthesis, for me at least, will help with any O2 issues, if they are present.
Oh, absolutely. I wasn't even thinking about your situation when I wrote that out, which is the same as mine, already spent the $ on the skimmer. I completely agree and will be doing the same, run the skimmer along with everything else, I am just trying to design a good scrubber that will work in my circumstance at the moment.
I was talking more in general terms of what is the most cost effective way to do the most good from a fresh setup point of view, solely an opinion and not saying my opinion is the only way. The best thing anyone can get when asking a question is multiple opinions in hopes that between them all a good conclusion for their setup can be found.
I was talking more in general terms of what is the most cost effective way to do the most good from a fresh setup point of view, solely an opinion and not saying my opinion is the only way. The best thing anyone can get when asking a question is multiple opinions in hopes that between them all a good conclusion for their setup can be found.
