refugium or protein skimmer

[gogol]

I have read about people favouring the skimmer over the refugium, but I always seem to side a more natural option if it's viable. I have 20L that I would like to keep softies for now, and may be SPS/LPS after I am adequately proficient in not messing up my setup.Please advise for/against my inclination towards the refugium.

Also, once I have either, can I remove my power filter?

 

[onefish2fish]

a protein skimmer basically blends the water while creating bubbles to allow inorganics to stick to the bubbles and rise up the tube into the collection cup.
a refugium is a place for macro algae, possibly a deep sand bed or a few pieces of live rock and acts as a breeding ground for pods.

i suggest holding off on both and when you go to the 40 breeder you said your most likely planning to include a sump/refugium setup for that. a 20 long tank would make a good sump. sumps are a place to hide equipment (like heaters, and protein skimmers) while adding more water volume to your system. (the solution to pollution is dilution) and the refugium section is a low flow area for pods to breed.
read reviews on skimmers before any purchase as some are just garbage while others golden.

for now, i would stick with water changes, actually softies prefer slight dirty water anyways.

 

[redfishbluefish]

As I’m typing, onefish jumped in to answer…anyway, my two cents:


I will speak for the convention and not for those of us who are daring enough to try other means of filtration.  I am still in awe of the guy on Long Island who is running an under-the-gravel filter (in reverse) on his saltwater tank…and it’s been going for some 20-odd years.  If it works, go for it.

Anyway, the convention (if there is such a thing), is to have a sump / refugium along with the protein skimmer (Berlin Filtration System).  The protein skimmer removes the dissolved organic compounds (DOC) from the water.  This is predominantly protein (i.e. protein skimmer) from waste products.  And yes, using a Berlin filtration system, you can get rid of the power filter you have on your tank.  There are many designs for sump / refugiums where you can purchase or DIY.  I’m partial to DIY so that you can easily custom build to your specifications.  You can also pay for a custom sump, but more than I’m willing to spend.

 

[gogol]

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess I will hold off on the refugium/skimmer. Depending on my success with the 20L, I suppose converting the 20L to sump would be my summer project .

 

[vangvace]

I know decisions have been made but I'm going to say this anyway

If you can find an used aquaclear 500 powerfilter you can turn that into a refugium cheap. I also prefer a fuge to skimmer on most sumpless nano tanks do to the water level changing more rapidly than on a larger tank.

 

[mkreef]

the solution to pollution is dilution

Another way of saying "Fart outside, not in a closet".

 

[RobbiesReef]

i use both