Old but a good question

[Joker]

This is definitely a question many of us has had come across our minds. I know both is best but what if you had to choose between the two, which would you choose? Right now I'm stuck with this dilemma. As you all know I have added a frag tank to my main system which now is totaling about 90-100gs. My old skimmer is not cutting it anymore. I have a larger skimmer rated for 200-250g (I know its huge its ment for my upgrade) but it will only fit in my sump if I remove the refuge section of the sump. My chaeto doesn't seem to be growing but not dying either. I have added fish to the frag tank as cleanup crew so that's where the added waste is coming from. Let me know what you guys think.

 

[chadfish]

I’m still learning, but after seeing @dz6t’s setup, I’d say it’s okay to drop the fuge if you have a big skimmer, lots of rubble, and lots of frags to soak up the nitrates.

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

I haven't ran a refugium since 2006. Heavy in, heavy out for nutrients. I have a skimmer rated for 200 gallons heavily stocked, or 300 with a medium bio load. I have two tanks, a 100 and 80 that share a common 34 gallon sump. 2 clowns, 2 pajamas, 1 yellow tang, 1 magnificent foxface, 1 2 spot/ blue eyed, 1 niger trigger, 1 desjardini, 1 chocolate/mimic and 1 tomini. I don't feel that I'm even close to medium bio load yet and run the skimmer 24/7 on the highest output. I feed heavy and remove heavy, always worked for me.

 

[Joker]

I haven't ran a refugium since 2006. Heavy in, heavy out for nutrients. I have a skimmer rated for 200 gallons heavily stocked, or 300 with a medium bio load. I have two tanks, a 100 and 80 that share a common 34 gallon sump. 2 clowns, 2 pajamas, 1 yellow tang, 1 magnificent foxface, 1 2 spot/ blue eyed, 1 niger trigger, 1 desjardini, 1 chocolate/mimic and 1 tomini. I don't feel that I'm even close to medium bio load yet and run the skimmer 24/7 on the highest output. I feed heavy and remove heavy, always worked for me.

To be honest I think this skimmer is ment for a much larger tank. It's a reef octo diablo with a body diameter between 6-8 inches, Ran by a jebao dc 6000 that i also bought a upgrade kit needle wheel for.

 

[Zirky]

What about selling the skimmer and picking up a lifereef. They have extension kits so you can run a 24 now (if it fits) and add an extension when you upgrade. That way you can keep your fuge.

 

[Mixed Reefer]

How do you know it’s not working? Rise in nutrients? Feed less water changes. Add more frags to absorb nutrients. With a larger skimmer or oversized it won’t be skimming consistently. I think we need more info and pictures to help.

 

[Joker]

How do you know it’s not working? Rise in nutrients? Feed less water changes. Add more frags to absorb nutrients. With a larger skimmer or oversized it won’t be skimming consistently. I think we need more info and pictures to help.

Its increase in my nitrate. I do weekly 15g water changes and my nitrate still climbs. I fed 2 times a day in my main tank and once every other day in the frag tank. I have sense dropped the main tank feedings to 1 time per day. Plus my other skimmer fills up within a day of pure black skim. The skimmer is only rated for a 75g at lite bio load and 50g or less with a heavy bio load. I know I have a heavy bio load and it was not keeping up.

 

[chadfish]

To be honest I think this skimmer is ment for a much larger tank. It's a reef octo diablo with a body diameter between 6-8 inches, Ran by a jebao dc 6000 that i also bought a upgrade kit needle wheel for.

Ha! I have that pump as my return pump. Way oversized for my 50 gal

 

[Joker]

Ha! I have that pump as my return pump. Way oversized for my 50 gal

Lol I'm sure it is.

 

[Bandit13]

Wouldnt say its a huge skimmer but currently running reef octopus classic 110 INT skimmer on 65G with 20G sump. Rated for heavily stocked 60G, I got 9x small fish with biggest my coral beauty.

I use to run skimmer and chaeto in my sump. Chaeto started not to do so great after a few months, ended up chucking it. Much less hassle with just the skimmer, chaeto fragments always found a way to make it into my pumps reducing efficiency/more maintenance.