Protein skimmer verses refergium verses algae scrubber

[Ilawis]

Here I'm designing a monster tank reef aquarium and I'm trying to figure out what is best for the filtration
I have 2.2 meters under the stand to install it all so if I felt like it there is enough room to install all of them but I want to know what's best for the corals and fish
What do you recommend I do and why? Tank is a bit over 600 gal not including sump

 

[Lepisosteus]

Protein skimmer. It's always best to have a good protein skimmer on the tank. Algae scrubber I would say is the least important, how many tanks do you see them on anyways, they are not very common as their function can easily be replaced by using a refugium. Is personally use a refugium and a protein skimmer, just requires more planning of the sump. I don't see how you can have room for a 600 gallon tank but not enough room for a protein skimmer algae scrubber and a refugium compartment in the sump

 

[Lepisosteus]

Here I'm designing a monster tank reef aquarium and I'm trying to figure out what is best for the filtration
I have 2.2 meters under the stand to install it all so if I felt like it there is enough room to install all of them but I want to know what's best for the corals and fish
What do you recommend I do and why? Tank is a bit over 600 gal not including sump

You have 2.2 meters under the stand, that's more then enough room for all three

 

[duanes]

I used all 3 on freshwater tanks, and if there were room, I also do all 3.

 

[nossalucard]

I used all 3 on freshwater tanks, and if there were room, I also do all 3.

Protein skimmers are not efficient on Freshwater, so why would you use one there? It's a waste of time and effort for extremely low returns, even if using something a powerful as a Deltec...

 

[Ilawis]

I do have enough room for all 3
Would you just increase the size of the refergium to make up the lack of the algie scrubber?
I've heard that the skimmer is so efficient that it removes things you would need for your refergium?
Also would having a refergium cause whatever your growing in there to bloom in your display tank?

 

[duanes]

I have protein skimmers on tanks, and ponds and they work fine. I believe most people just don't know how.
Below is a video of one working on my 500 gal pond, it is a biofractionator, and I'd hardly call it inefficient.

 

[Ilawis]

That's really cool I thought you needed the micro bubbles for a skimmer but that's great it works so well

 

[duanes]

Fractionation is much easier to accomplish in salt water because of its density, but it has more to do with creating the appropriate amount of turbulence to "fracture" out dissolved organic compounds at the air water interface. Whenever you see foam on a lake shore from wave action, or foam under waterfalls or in rapids, that is natural fractionation.
If you page right, on my photos, you can see where I did a desiccation test back in the 90s in the lab, where I compared the dry weight of fractionation waste with the desiccation waste of solids in tank water. The difference is significant, and in the pics you can see the dark desicated on filter pads.
And because fractionation removes invisible waste directly from the water column, before filtration, I consider it one of the best "chemical filtration" techniques available.
I agree most commercial units are too wimpy to actually work, pump age and pressure must be high enough to fracture waste from water. Most 500gph pumps are not strong enough. I found 900 - 1200 gph pumps were minimal depending on fractionation construction and design.

 

[SantaMonicaHelp]

2.2 meters is more then enough to install a protein skimmer and an algae scrubber. People can even build algae scrubbers at home. There are a few DIY's on scrubbers. Here's a link to a DIY thread that you may find fascinating: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/t...nd-phosphate-remover-diy.180385/#post-2294642

Not downplaying skimmers at all, I just thought you mind find this fascinating.

- C. Smith