Skimmerless aggressive tanks

[00nothing]

Just wondering how many are running them and how you deal with keeping the water in check
I am in the process of setting up a 90 galon aggressive that I am planning to stock on the heavier side and the current plans are to attempt to run it skimmerless if at some point i decide to add a skimmer it will be easily done but for the time being at least i want to try to have a go at it without
I have a large diy wet/dry made from a rubbermaid brute that I am working on as well as 20 gallon that wil be running as a remote dsb for denitrification the actual display will have no LR and minimal base rock for display purposes only. I think the overfiltration the large dsb combined with water changes I should be fairly succesful at alow tech system
Would love to hear from others on this topic and what has worked for you

 

[gmann1139]

I'm interested. With the cost of a protein skimmer relatively comparable to one good-size aggressive fish, why not just add the belt to the suspenders?

 

[usirchchris]

Originally Posted by 00nothing
http:///forum/post/2910185
Just wondering how many are running them and how you deal with keeping the water in check
I am in the process of setting up a 90 galon aggressive that I am planning to stock on the heavier side and the current plans are to attempt to run it skimmerless if at some point i decide to add a skimmer it will be easily done but for the time being at least i want to try to have a go at it without
I have a large diy wet/dry made from a rubbermaid brute that I am working on as well as 20 gallon that wil be running as a remote dsb for denitrification the actual display will have no LR and minimal base rock for display purposes only i think the overfiltration the large dsb combined with water changes I should be fairly succesful at alow tech system
Would love to hear from others on this topic and what has worked for you

Years ago I kept triggers in tanks with no live rock...no skimmers...just a HOB and an undergravel...also crushed coral and coral skeletons (guess is what you would call them). Just kept up with water changes. It can be done...all these newer things just make things easier, and "better" IMO. I am not recommending you or anyone else go this route...simply stating it can be done. I kept a picasso an undulate and an eel like this for 3-4 years...till I moved and had to sell them to my LFS.

 

[00nothing]

a lot of the reason for going no skimmer on this project has a lot to do with the remote dsb and its abilities short and long term I actually have a CSS 220 on standby if its needed so am not to worried there. Not sure if I am allowed to link to other forums but hopefully this doesnt get me in any trouble
http:/*** I am sorry, but you are not allowed to post links to other forums -Sep I made that post many moons ago after reading a very lenghtly thread on -- but never got a real chance to test it out on the 135 as i had to sell it due to a move, but after coming back tot he hobby recently and catching up on a lot of reading and what the results some people had from rdsb i must try it for myself and i figure where better than on a big aggressive poop factory with a wet/dry.

 

[00nothing]

guess outside linking wasnt allowed sorry about that but if you google rdsb and calfo u should be able to find it

 

[bioneck47]

I'd def. go with a skimmer, without a doubt, especially with a heavily stocked fish only with no live rock setup. Also, if I had to choose, I'd go with a good skimmer over a rdsb. Skimmers have way more benefits than you may think, and you'd also save more money in the long run with fewer water changes. So def. invest in a good quality skimmer. If done properly, rdsb's are not bad but can't touch a good skimmer.

 

[00nothing]

Originally Posted by bioneck47
http:///forum/post/2910665
If done properly, rdsb's are not bad but can't touch a good skimmer.

And thats exactly what this setup is all about I am not disagreeing with you but rather want to put that theory to the test I have seen many tanks with more than adequate skimers still have nitrate issues wether it was from ownere neglect or what i cannot tell u, but I really want to know how effective is a DSB and can it be relied on I wont be doing anything outside the norm as far as water changes go unless the tank needs it.
A lot of my reasoning behind this is how many of us have setup tanks for friends or family only to come back later and find the tank seriously lacking and neglected If i knew i can rely on a DSB for most nitrate removal then hell I would never setup another tank without one and it would make the tank and hobby that much more interesting for the person u set it up for

 

[gmann1139]

Protein skimmers aren't about nitrate reduction, they're about reducing the amount of unclassified 'gunk' in our tanks, that is really only reduced by water changes.
Lower nitrates should theoretically occur, but its not the primary benefit.