Skimmer?

[CoreyB]

Ok, I was told I need a skimmer for my 18 gal. I dont feel like I can afford to do water changes every week and I was told that the skimmer would make it to where I wouldnt have to do them as often.

What kind should I get? Keep in mind I dont have alot to spend either

[Sugar Magnolia]

You really need to do a weekly water change with a nano because you are dealing with a much smaller volume. Do you mean you can't afford to do the water change $$-wise or time-wise?

As far as a skimmer goes, you can put one on there, but even with a skimmer, you shouldn't go more than two weeks between water changes in a nano. A good skimmer isn't cheap, as I'm sure you've read here on the forums. From my own personal experience, the Prizm isn't worth the money...poorly constructed out of cheap plastic and hard to regulate the skim rate. Next best thing would be the CPR Bak-Pak or the Remora, which is what I have. IMO, save your money, it's easier to just do weekly water changes.

[dono]

i have a 14 gallon aqua via and i do weekly water changes and i'm running a remora

i used to hate water changes... now i just do it out of habit

[CoreyB]

I dunno if I can afford the salt for each change.

How much water should I take out? And how long should the water sit after I add the salt?

[Sugar Magnolia]

Corey, you want to do a 10% change weekly which for you is close to two gallons, so just go with the 2 gallons. I know IO salt mix is 1/2 cup per gallon, so 1 cup per week isn't much. Keep in mind that if you buy it in larger quantities it is cheaper in the long run.

When I used to do my own saltwater I'd mix it up for a couple hours with a PH in a bucket with a heater. On occasion I got lazy and just mixed it up really well and dumped it in the tank. Not recomended! Most people that mix their own saltwater let it mix for 24 hours or so. Now I'm really lazy and buy premixed IO made with RO/DI from the reef store near me. I buy 10 gallons at a time which lasts me about a month with my 30 and 2.5.

[CoreyB]

yeah, my LFS sells saltwater thats already made by the gallon. Dunno how much though

[Kevsawce]

mine sells 50cents a gallon

[cich1]

my lfs sells IO salt for $16.95 for a 50g bag, that equals .34 cents a gallon to make your own water, 2 gallons a week would be .68 cents a week or less than $3 a month for water changes, water changes are the least expensive part of this hobby, if you can't afford water than you're in the wrong hobby, i'm not trying to dog you Corey but this is the second time you've said that you can't afford water changes. with an 18g tank there is no way you can get by without regular waterchanges if its the money send me your address and i'll send you some salt, if your just to lazy to do the waterchanges i can't really help you there, i'm sorry bud but nothing can make your tank maintainence free, a skimmer helps and a refugium helps but in my opinion nothing takes the place of regular water changes

[CoreyB]

I know, I know. I feel stupid for saying that now :?

my LFS will mix saltwater to any salinity for $1 a gallon. But Im gonna buy a 50 gal bag and do it my self


Sorry for saying stupid stuff like before :oops:

[cich1]

i didn't mean to come off harsh but i hate to see your tank fail over a little salt and water, good luck to you