Protein Skimmer?

[rduncan767]

I have the Red Sea Max 250. I like the tank a lot, except for the Protein Skimmer. It has given me many problems. It's almost impossible to adjust to the right point without it just overflowing a few hours later. It also is very loud and quite annoying. My reef tank has few fish and therefore little waste is produced. I also do regular water changes. I am trying to decide if it would be ok or not to just take the protein skimmer off of the system. I could put some type of filter media in it's place. What do you think?

 

[snowmansnow]

a protein skimmer is NEVER a must. THAT being said... it sure makes life better... most of the time.

B

 

[siavashv]

I have one too and I keep mine on but I have seen a couple of people that take theirs off. I think as long as you do regular weekly water changes, there is nothing wrong with not running the skimmer. In fact, Pure Reef, when they had their RSM250 up, they didn't run the skimmer and did a consistent 5 gal water change every week and their tank looked amazing. I do 15 gal every other week and run my skimmer and all is well too.

 

[jimknutson]

Depending on the corals you keep makes a huge difference too. I would say if you have alot of fish then the protein skimmer would be a must.

 

[slowjazz]

rduncan767;758116 wrote: I have the Red Sea Max 250. I like the tank a lot, except for the Protein Skimmer. It has given me many problems. It's almost impossible to adjust to the right point without it just overflowing a few hours later. It also is very loud and quite annoying. My reef tank has few fish and therefore little waste is produced. I also do regular water changes. I am trying to decide if it would be ok or not to just take the protein skimmer off of the system. I could put some type of filter media in it's place. What do you think?

While it is not a must, I would ask one question...

Why is it overflowing? ie: Do you have a ton of food/waste in the water?
Is the overflow bubbles and clear water or dark goo / liquid ?

I have an Eshopps on my 55gal. Other then a small hum, you really do not notice it. Almost sounds like air is not getting in there correctly or the water level is too high in the skimmer.
Is it a HOB or in a second tank? If in a second tank, maybe it is not at the correct level.

 

[peaches7412]

You can always just put filter and a bag a chemi-pure in there, that to will help.

 

[seth the wine guy]

If nothing else, dial it down to an extreme that you know it won't overflow. Let it run for nothing more than the oxygenating effect. I think that is often overlooked as a great contribution that skimmers bring.

 

[peaches7412]

seth the wine guy;758142 wrote: if nothing else, dial it down to an extreme that you know it won't overflow. Let it run for nothing more than the oxygenating effect. I think that is often overlooked as a great contribution that skimmers bring.

+1

 

[ruadh]

I put the deltec MC500 in my RSM 250, it works great and pulls some chunky sludge.

 

[reeferman]

i ran a very successful rsm 250 for a few years.heres a few tips to try.raise the skimmer neck as high as it will go while still allowing the cap to sit on.only adjust the skimmer with the air adjusting screw and leave the neck alone.keep the water level in the back right up to the high marks in the window on the left side.raise the overflow grate as high as it will go also.this is how i ran my setup and not once did i ever have a skimmer overflow.i really never had to touch the skimmer adjustments at all once i found its sweet spot.