Protein Skimmer for 5 gallon

[+Melissa]

Looking for a small protein skimmer for my 5 gallon. I have never bought one, so I don't know what prices to expect. On a budget, so....

UNLESS.. you know how to fit this onto my tank. It's just to tall for it. That would be enough skimming action then right? (seaclone 100)

Edited March 24, 2010 by Melissa

[Gonzobob]

Hi Melissa,

Most people don't put skimmers on pico tanks. In general the ease of water changes makes them easy enough to do a little more often and avoid the need.

That being said I'm not sure anyone makes one for a tank this small even most 'nano' skimmers would overwhelm a 5gal.

[Zarathustra2]

you can pick up the bio-cube airstone driven type for about 40-50$ new. I used one for quite a while and while it is a bit tricky to setup I found that it worked very well when dialed in. This was on a 24G nano. I ran it in the main chamber of the tank and never really ran into a bubble problem but your milage may vary.

Note that even on this small thing (smallest skimmer I have seen) was still about 2.5x2.5" and maybe 6 or 7 inches long. Gonzobob is setting up a pico with a 20gL as a sump to run the skimmer and other equipment. You might want to look into that as a 20G is a cheap cheap piece of hardware.

[polarbear]

+1 on what Zarathustra2 said. i had one in my 14 gallon biocube and it worked well.

[Gonzobob]

I may be updating to run a 7.5 gal pico with a 5.5 gal sump due to limited space in the stand.

Considering building yet another stand so I can stay with the originally planned 40 gal sump

[+Melissa]

<br>Hi Melissa,<br><br>Most people don't put skimmers on pico tanks. In general the ease of water changes makes them easy enough to do a little more often and avoid the need. <br><br>That being said I'm not sure anyone makes one for a tank this small even most 'nano' skimmers would overwhelm a 5gal.<br>

<br><br>What percentage, and how often would you suggest to change the water on a tank that size? No fish, just a shrimp to clean around the frags. Oh, and a little Strombus Snail I call Gary <img src="http://www.austinreefclub.com/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif" class="bbc_emoticon" alt="">  I already do 40% weekly. Is that too little or much? Edited March 24, 2010 by Melissa

[Gonzobob]

Wow! OK, I've had my 7.5 up for a little over a week and I'm doing 5% every other day. (worked out as I have a cup that makes 5% easy)

[+Melissa]

So too much? Maybe thats my problem lol.

[Gonzobob]

Maybe maybe not. I think I'd spread it out to several changes to minimize any 'swing'. While I've had nanos up for over a year this is my first pico. Lots of good info on nano-reef.

[absolut_racer]

I'll do 10-20% weekly. When I had a 3-gallon pico, I didn't run a skimmer. I think the Nano Fission is possibly one of the smallest skimmers on the market, but I have heard that they did not perform well or were hard to tune.

[versace]

OR

http://www.marinedepot.com/protein_skimmers_taam_rio_nano_skimmer-ap.htmlhttp://www.marinedepot.com/protein_skimmers_taam_rio_nano_skimmer-ap.html

[+Melissa]

Wow. Ok that's really good to know. I am going to cut back on the volume I pull out and do more like yours. I guess I am so used to my massive freshwater water changes, that I assumed it was the same for salt. Dang, where did my Saltwater for Dummies go ?? THanks guys.