[teriyakithunder]

I'm Eric from LA. I'm new to RB and was hoping to learn more about improving my aquarium. I have a 60 gallon tank and its a fish only aquarium. It's been running for about 7 years now and now that I moved back home I can take care of it full time. The first thing that I was wondering is do I still need a regular filter or should I get a skimmer? I've done a lot of reading but books never answer the question, is a skimmer or filter better for the aquarium?

[Waterlogged]

Originally Posted by teriyakithunder

I'm Eric from LA. I'm new to RB and was hoping to learn more about improving my aquarium. I have a 60 gallon tank and its a fish only aquarium. It's been running for about 7 years now and now that I moved back home I can take care of it full time. The first thing that I was wondering is do I still need a regular filter or should I get a skimmer? I've done a lot of reading but books never answer the question, is a skimmer or filter better for the aquarium?

Welcome. Most people here recommend a skimmer and sump/refuge.

[teriyakithunder]

i have 4 damsels, silvertip, brown tang, percula, and a Black and White Heniochis.

[teriyakithunder]

what would be the best kind of skimmer and sump/refuge to get?

[Waterlogged]

Originally Posted by teriyakithunder

what would be the best kind of skimmer and sump/refuge to get?

Most people build their own sump/refuge. With fish only you could do HOB power filter and HOB skimmer because nitrates can be a little higher with fish only. You wouldn't have to do a sump/refuge.
What filters do you have right now?
I just reread your original question and I would say both are important. Do you know live rock acts as a filter?

[teriyakithunder]

I have a Filstar XP2 cannister filter and a filter with a UV light inside it to kill the stuff that produces the red slime algae. I'm at work right now so I don't remember the 2nd filter.

[e_baer]

To get started, welcome to RB!

Sounds like you ahve a nice tank. A skimmer that is rated for double your tank volume is recomended (120g).

[teriyakithunder]

and to your question, I didn't know that live rock acts as a filter. I just started doing research like 2 days ago on the FOWLR and mini reef systems.

[teriyakithunder]

Originally Posted by e_baer

To get started, welcome to RB!

Sounds like you ahve a nice tank. A skimmer that is rated for double your tank volume is recomended (120g).

With a skimmer would I still need to keep my XP2? or should I have both?

[e_baer]

You could get rid of the xp2. Typically canister filters are nitrate factories in that they capture detritus and it just accumulates.

[teriyakithunder]

Originally Posted by e_baer

You could get rid of the xp2. Typically canister filters are nitrate factories in that they capture detritus and it just accumulates.

cool, thanks.

[e_baer]

and the excess nitrites/nitrates will cause algae to grow. Do you have an algae problem now?

[teriyakithunder]

Originally Posted by e_baer

and the excess nitrites/nitrates will cause algae to grow. Do you have an algae problem now?

yea i have the green algae and a little bit of red algae that I've been able to keep to a minimum over the last few years. Neither grows really bad, I think the green just grows because my tank is exposed to a lot of sunlight. A few years ago I had a huge problem with the red slime but the filter I bought with the UV light in it has kept that problem to a minimum.
I did not know nitrates and nitrite causes algae to grow.

[e_baer]

yup, they sure do along with ammonia and phosphates. You may want to look into getting RO/DI water or better yet and RO unit! they basically purify the tap water you would add to the tank.

Do you ever do water changes? Water changes will help get rid of excess nutrients and help lower the algae growth.

[teriyakithunder]

Originally Posted by e_baer

yup, they sure do along with ammonia and phosphates. You may want to look into getting RO/DI water or better yet and RO unit! they basically purify the tap water you would add to the tank.

Do you ever do water changes? Water changes will help get rid of excess nutrients and help lower the algae growth.

yea i change water every month. i don't mean to sound illiterate but what does RO/DI mean?

[e_baer]

Reverse osmosis/distilled. It is basically a way to purify water.

[teriyakithunder]

Originally Posted by e_baer

Reverse osmosis/distilled. It is basically a way to purify water.

with RO, would it eliminate all of the algae or would there be a little bit growing from the sunlight?

[e_baer]

For algae to grow it needs nutrients in the water. It cant grow with only sunlight. If you use RO/DI water for you water changes and a good skimmer, you should not have any algae. With the combination of those 2 things, that will eliminate most, and I say most because there will always be a little, of the excess nutrients. You also need to make sure you dotn overfeed, you do your weekly or biweekly water changes etc.

[e_baer]

take a look around this site:

Melevsreef.com - Reef Tanks!

It is very helpful in many ways.

[DEWAYNE]

no, disrespect e_baer, I have never changed my water that often, and never will. I am not the know it all here, I have learned alot from you guys. I guess when you find what works for you, then stick to it. I change my water about every 3 to 4 months, it has worked out great. I just think that with water evaporation, like I have I add 3-5 gallons of water every week. I just don't think changing your water that often is a must, and why? stress out your fish and corals with that many water changes, as long as your water parimaters are in check, why? fix something that is not broken. e_baer, please know that this is no disrepect to you or anyone else that does regular water changes like that, just curious really as to why? so many water changes.

[teriyakithunder]

Originally Posted by DEWAYNE

no, disrespect e_baer, I have never changed my water that often, and never will. I am not the know it all here, I have learned alot from you guys. I guess when you find what works for you, then stick to it. I change my water about every 3 to 4 months, it has worked out great. I just think that with water evaporation, like I have I add 3-5 gallons of water every week. I just don't think changing your water that often is a must, and why? stress out your fish and corals with that many water changes, as long as your water parimaters are in check, why? fix something that is not broken. e_baer, please know that this is no disrepect to you or anyone else that does regular water changes like that, just curious really as to why? so many water changes.

wow 3-4 huh? thats a long time but i guess if it works then its fine. I try to change my water every 4 weeks or so since that is what my dad taught me when I first started but I usually get around to it every 4-6 weeks since the aquarium is at my parents house.

[Waterlogged]

No disrespect because I am still learning but if he has a skimmer and gets rid of the canister filter what will break down the nitrites and ammonia?

[teriyakithunder]

i thought the skimmer filters out the fish poop and other rotting things to keep the ammonia down.

[Waterlogged]

There are 3 basic types of filtration.
1. chemical
2. biological
3. mechanical

[WILLIAM1]

WELCOME....You could make a small refugium out of a 15-20 gallon walmart tank. And just pick up a great skimmer one rated for a 120 gallon would be perfect. Do you test parameters which ones? Ask anything you want we are here to help.