Cloudy tank, recommendations on protein skimmer

[arshirer]

Hi all! Just a few months in here and I am looking into getting a protein skimmer. I need a hang on the back and I am not exactly sure where to start looking. I have a 55 gallon tank. Currently running a hydor professional 350 canister filter. Tank is looking a bit cloudy recently. Did a 20% water change yesterday and helped slightly.

 

[Diesel]

How often you clean your canister and what kind of media you have in there?

Reef octopus have some great HOB for a 55 gallon.
I suggest to go double the gallons on a skimmer.

 

[cloak]

How old is your tank? The cloudiness your seeing could just be a bacterial bloom. This is quite common for new tanks to go through. As far as the skimmer goes you might want to lok into the AquaMaxx HOB skimmers. These seem to be pretty popular.

http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaMaxx...s_Nano_Skimmer-AquaMaxx-UJ1151-FIPSNS-vi.html

 

[arshirer]

How often you clean your canister and what kind of media you have in there?

Reef octopus have some great HOB for a 55 gallon.
I suggest to go double the gallons on a skimmer.

As directed by a small fish store (not petco or petsmart or any type of chain store) we clean it once a month. We have activated carbon, phosguard, and then fine filter sponge, biological filtration, and then a highly porous filter sponge

 

[Diesel]

As directed by a small fish store (not petco or petsmart or any type of chain store) we clean it once a month. We have carbon, phosguard, and then fine filter sponge, biological filtration, and then a highly porous filter sponge

Canister filter are commonly put under PO4 factories if not cleaned regular and my advice is weekly.
The biological eco system just won't kick in a canister as it does with freshwater tanks that you can just sometimes go for months at the time.
Running AC is a good thing in a canister as basically you use it as a carbon reactor.
As @cloak mentioned it also can be a bac bloom.

 

[arshirer]

How old is your tank? The cloudiness your seeing could just be a bacterial bloom. This is quite common for new tanks to go through. As far as the skimmer goes you might want to lok into the AquaMaxx HOB skimmers. These seem to be pretty popular.

http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaMaxx...s_Nano_Skimmer-AquaMaxx-UJ1151-FIPSNS-vi.html

Our tank is 3 months old. If it is just a bacterial blood do we just wait it out?

We were under the impression when we bought the tank a skimmer was coming with it. When we picked it up we found out it didn't. The small local store said we could get away with not having one for a little while. But I think it's about time to invest in one

Thanks for the recommendation

 

[Diesel]

Yes a bac bloom you wait out as it correct it self

 

[Diesel]

Ok how do you know you need a skimmer?

 

[arshirer]

Here is a picture

 

[Diesel]

You have any live stock in there?

 

[arshirer]

Ok how do you know you need a skimmer?

I do not for sure. I was told at some point I would need to get one. I would love to branch out to a soft coral but want to get all of this stabilized first.

 

[arshirer]

You have any live stock in there?

They all happened to be hiding I guess. But yes, 2 damsels, 1 clown, 1 tang, and a snowflake eel

 

[Diesel]

You ever did test your water?
If so what all you tested for?

 

[arshirer]

You ever did test your water?
If so what all you tested for?

Yes. Tested yesterday ammonia 0 nitrite 0 and ph was 8

 

[JMF2324]

Hey, by looking at the picture, I would say you need more rock in the tank. How many pounds of rock do you have?

 

[JMF2324]

Also, that tank is too new and small for any Tang

 

[Diesel]

Yes. Tested yesterday ammonia 0 nitrite 0 and ph was 8

Well, that's a good thing that we have two zero's on the ammonia and No2.

What about Po4 and No3?

 

[arshirer]

Well, that's a good thing that we have two zero's on the ammonia and No2.

What about Po4 and No3?

I don't have the kits to test but I can definitely pick them up and test!

 

[arshirer]

Hey, by looking at the picture, I would say you need more rock in the tank. How many pounds of rock do you have?

We have about 30 pounds right now

 

[arshirer]

Also, that tank is too new and small for any Tang

We got him from a local store that told us he was okay for the tank size we had. Unfortunately I'm starting to think that might not have known what they were talking about and giving us misinformation ...