I'm looking at buying a new skimmer for my (29g tank/10g sump). cause the cheap one I got off of ebay never seamed to work right from the day I got it. And just started setting my tank up for the second time from moving and know the skimmer seems to leak around the pump and I get bubbles coming out every were. So I figured that it is time for a new one and the last one only cost $30.
So I would greatly consider any advice and I am working on a budget of around $150. But could max the card out to $300. You got to love those free rates for one year.
Ooo pulse if you what to check up on my tank progress you can go to my tank journal page at 29 gallon Tall Mix/Reef Tank.
Thanks all I kinda like the Tunze Nano DOC Protein Skimmer 9002 compared to the AquaC Nano Remora Protein Skimmer. I was looking on Marine Depot and found the Tunze had better reviews then the Remora and I don't like the look of the cpr. But I'm going to wait to see what others think.
Hello Kan! I don't know anything about the Tunze Nano DOC, but I do know about the Aqua C Remora Skimmer as I have one on my 20G Nano. I've had it for 2-3 years and I like it very much. It has a streamline design and needs very little room to hang on the back of the tank versus other brands out there that require several more inches of back access. When I originally purchased it, I also included one of those medium boxes, but only used that for about 6 months as I felt it took up too much room in my tank and was unsightly. Perhaps if I had painted the back of the tank black, it would not have been so visable. Just do your research and I'm sure whatever you choose will work out fine.
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I don't know about that... Some say yes, that you can remove trace minerals and even reduce the salinity of your system.
However, I've found that in times when my tanks run fallow, the skimmate production actually stops all together. I've cleaned the pumps, the skimmer throat etc. and still no skimmate. I've then put in new LR or whatever, and whoosh.. it starts to skim again.
I'm pretty sure that if you don't have the particulate matter in the water, the skimmer has nothing to skim because the water surface tension is low. When there is something to skim, the tension is high again, therefore "solid" bubbles, therefore skimmate.
I'll let others chime in. There are some folks who say that agressive skimming causes crashes in pod populations and such. This should be an interesting discussion.
Well I was think if I did upgrade to another tank that I would get something big enough to skim them both and was think of putting the skimmer on a timer so it wouldn't over skim.
I've used big Euroreef Skimmers for all my systems with a sump. No matter what size the tank is. I've used the Remora and the Bak Pak for my 20 and 26 bowfronts because I didn't have a skimmer connected. They are great HOTskimmers. IF you have the footprint to put in a larger skimmer, you should do so. The ONLY problem I've had with this configuration (big skimmer, small volume tank) is that the associated pumps (Sedra and/or Mags) have caused a lot of excess heat in the tanks. Something to keep in mind.
I don't know about that... Some say yes, that you can remove trace minerals and even reduce the salinity of your system.
However, I've found that in times when my tanks run fallow, the skimmate production actually stops all together. I've cleaned the pumps, the skimmer throat etc. and still no skimmate. I've then put in new LR or whatever, and whoosh.. it starts to skim again.
I'm pretty sure that if you don't have the particulate matter in the water, the skimmer has nothing to skim because the water surface tension is low. When there is something to skim, the tension is high again, therefore "solid" bubbles, therefore skimmate.
I'll let others chime in. There are some folks who say that agressive skimming causes crashes in pod populations and such. This should be an interesting discussion.
Dave
I second this opinion. I was having horrible problems with a cloudy tank in November. Turns out I had a bacterial bloom with no biomass to feed on! The skimmer did NOTHING for 3 weeks, with all the tweaking, adjusting, cleaning and swearing. It was a learning lesson for me. I realized that the skimmer is not going to produce a magical foam if there's nothing for it to skim out!
I agree with the others.... can't take something out with the skimmer when there's nothing to take out and I do not feel that it causes your salintiy to change either. If that were so, we'd need a spoon or spatula to clean out the skimmer cup. I do agree with Bobby also on the heat factor with a large pump also. Alot can add up fast when you are dealing with a small volume of water and have other heat producing equipment. Just something to keep in mind, so there's no shock value when you're finished with your build.
Well thanks all I think I'm going to get AquaC Urchin Protein Skimmer. Cause I want something to go in my sump and not hang on the tank. Then if I go with the bigger tank I'll just get a bigger skimmer then I'll have a spare if the other one goes.
Skimmer Advice for 29g 
I agree with the others.... can't take something out with the 
I do agree with Bobby also on the heat factor with a large pump also. Alot can add up fast when you are dealing with a small volume of water and have other heat producing equipment. Just something to keep in mind, so there's no shock value when you're finished with your build.