Episode 54, pt 1. The Protein Skimmer & Calcuim Reactor, LA

[Yinfin21]

ummmmmmmmmmm i gotten confused at 0:30 to 8:24

[lordlong]

Hey actually I was wondering about protein skimmer, do they pull out a lot trace elements from your tank? wouldn't that be costly over time to keep dosing the tank? is there no other alternative around it without reducing filtration? oh well i guess more frequent water changes?

[lafishguy]

hey L, i would not worry about that. by doing regular water changes you will easily keep up with any trace element useage / consumption.

[lordlong]

do I have to have a calicium reactor for my 55 gallon reef tank to thrive? I'm only planning to get a protein skimmer and a sump/refugium for it, didn't want to deal with all the co2 setup

[lafishguy]

hey L, if you are doing mushrooms, leather and soft corals you dont need a Cal. Reactor. there are a few 2-part Calcium Additives available that do very similar to what a Cal. Reactor does.

[lordlong]

@lafishguy oh okay, well then that's bad news for me, I intended to advance to sps after I became more experienced with the skimmer and sump setup. guess I'll invest in a calcium setup later on

thanks for the fast replies! hopefully it won't take to many trials and errors to get the setup just right.

[lafishguy]

hey L, check out Episode 98, somewhere in there I show his 2-Part Cal. dosing system. he keeps some SPS, 50% do well but I dont thats not due to lack of Calcium. BTW, its easier to adjust Calcium and Alkalinity with the 2-Part.

[bikeboss11]

Huge fan of your videos Jim keep it up ..... i recently setup a 75gallon reef system and wen i installed the protein skimmer i noticed that in the body of the skimmer it only had bubbles in 1 of the chambers.... its 1 of those Berlin 25 -250 hang on skimmers.... for some reason it appears to works perfectly when i run it in a bucket with salt water but as soon as i hook it up to my system less bubbles are present in the skimmer.... do you have any idea what could be the reason for that.....

[lafishguy]

hey B, I am not familiar enough with that skimmer to answer the question, and info in Google is very limited.

[bikeboss11]

@lafishguy yes it's really hard to get information on them, i think am going to leave it in for another two weeks and see if it improves, if not am going to invest in one of those AquaC EV180 skimmers..... "keep moving forward" thanks for your help Jim.

[mikeydude319]

hi lafishguys i was wondering how much a 75 or 100 gallon tank is because my 55 with goldfish is getting a little over crowded with i think 8 goldfish (fancy) a sailfin pleco and 4 cory cats with a top fin 60 and aquaclear 70 with total of 600 gallons per hour i was wondering if you could give me some advice?

[lafishguy]

hey M, take a look at my other web site MyFishTankDOTcom for prices on acrylic aquariums.

[monsterman1122]

Hey, I have a 50 gallon aquarium. I was going to get a wet-dry filtration system with a protein skimmer. What model wet-dry filter should I get? And also, what type of water pump and protein skimmer should I get? I am planning on making a reef type tank. Thanks!

[lafishguy]

hey M, most w/d filters have a tank size rating. if your tank does not have an internal overflow you will have to seek out a filter that includes an external overflow version. also make a decission as to whether its an submersible or external water pump and yes its a good idea to include a protein skimmer in your reef tank. do some more research so you understand what it is you are doing.

[monsterman1122]

@lafishguy hey la fish guy, i got an eshopps wet dry filter with an eshopps in-sump protein skimmer. It came with a little, flimsy, opaque type tubing that stretches from part of the pump to the top next to the collection cup. I have seen other videos of people who have the same skimmer and attached to the top of the tube is some sort of black thing... mine doesnt have one. Do you have an idea of what it could be? and if so, is it essential to have one?

Thanks

[lafishguy]

hey M, no idea. why not call e-shops?

[karsseboomh22]

@monsterman1122 wet dry filters are bad they cause nitrates, dont use them in saltwater

[adrian17663]

thanks for answering my question i wasn't sure if you where going to answer this is a big surprise, any way that explain a lot about the calcium reactor my next question hopefully you don't mind should every salt water have one? hope you have a nice holiday.

[lafishguy]

hey A, you would use a Calcium Reactor on a reef tank with corals that need extra calcium. a fish-only system does not need extra calcium, thats is added with water changes.

[adrian17663]

hello Jim I'm a big fan of yours i love all your videos i learn a lot from you, but I'm kind of confuse of you putting a co2 reactor, my question is if you connect a co2 reactor to the calcium reactor when the water flows through the sump and up to the tank would the PH decrease in the main tank and anything you put in the there would die? just curious to know i have a salt water tank my self so that's the reason why i watch your videos.

[lafishguy]

hey A, the CO2 is introduced into the Calcium Reactor where its low pH causes the gravel to dissolve. the effluent coming out of the reactor may be low in pH but its affect in the main tank is minimal.

[saltburnsurfer]

couldn't you just fill the sump with the calcium media?

[lafishguy]

hey S, the point of the CA Reactor is dropping the pH of the water to dissolve the gravel. you cant do that in an open sump.

[Nanovirus5995]

Epic rinsing music >:)

[mrsskritch]

cé joli mai ca cer a koi cet mrd

[lafishguy]

hello M, english please

[tashdog1]

you bought thar from lifereef from jeff turcheck at lifereef, i know jeff, and i live

live in the uk and when i orderd a calcium reactor i orderd a custom built one

meter tall 5000,litres capacity, me jeff keep in contact

[blairfritz]

Hey jim,

I bought a used protein skimmer and there was a tiny hole and little airline plastic piece in that hole in the part where all the organics go. Do you know what that is?? I think it is important because and put airline tubbing in it and i have no idea what to do with it??? What is it and what do i do???It is a MPS 75 gallon protein skimmer.. Please help!

[blairfritz]

i saw that this protein skimmer has that little plastic piece sticking out of the organic container??? What is that and what does it do? Thats what i meant to say. The piece is in the shape of an "L" in this video.

[lafishguy]

hey B, I am not familiar with this unit, you should look up that unit on the internet. the tubing either connects to a wooden airstone and requires an airpump or its part of a venturi valve inlet nipple.

[blairfritz]

@lafishguy alright! Thanks

[kikeronaldo]

is way better and less expensive use balling method than calcium reactor =D

[TheLaxGoalie1]

hey jim i have had my protein skimmer in my old aquarium for a long time but now i got a bigger aquarium and i put the protein skimmer in my new aquarium and it is making alot of very small bubbles go in my tank do you know why it is doing this?

[lafishguy]

hey T, some skimmers need a break-in period, sometimes skimmers react odd to new SW, or maybe something is out of adjustment. if its a venturi clean the air port.

[TheFishMan101]

Hey jim,I was wondering if you have had any experience With Remora C HOB skimmers. I am thinking about getting one for my 55 gallon.

[lafishguy]

hey T, i used one years ago. it worked fine for its application ( no sump ).

[TheFishMan101]

Thank you

[iluvpie1223]

Awesome video. barb nipple 1:08 i just had to :p

[jeenagail]

hey jim, how much do you think it'll cost to set a 100 Gallon reef tank with a complete set up (minimum to maximum cost). thanks

[lafishguy]

hey J, anywhere from $2,500 to $10,000 depending on the bells and whistles you add to it.

[mussedeq]

hey nice vids im thinking of a nano reef what filters should i use should i try the wet and dry and skimmer? if not what should i use its going to be about 20 gallons

[lafishguy]

mey M, i do not feel anyone should try SW in less than 55/60 gallons simply due to the lack of volume and stability.

[kestralboy]

Hey jim would you recommend using one of those or adding it in your self?

[lafishguy]

hey K, it depnds. if i was doing SPS i would use a reactor, if it where a LPS or Soft Corals i would stay with a 2-part additive.

[crabsyman]

Thanks jim, you're the best. Can't wait to see it. Hope you get your TV shot.

Any experience with the Kold-Steril water purification unit with add on phosphote removal. Supposedly there's no wast water. And it produces greater quantities per day than RO. May be good for your applications?

[lafishguy]

hey C, I think it use to be called Poly Pads. it does a good job and does not waste water.

[crabsyman]

Thanks Jim, you're the best. Can't wait to see it. Hope you get your TV shot.

[crabsyman]

What happened to the lighting episode?

[lafishguy]

hey C, episode 56 is now on-line.

[andrewsmoyogi]

very good quality of the videos Jim!!!.... looks like HD!!!

[anthonymovies5]

sweet tank jim are u going to use live rocks as a filter in the sump?

[lafishguy]

hey A, no there is no LR in the sump. go watch the video again.