skipping the skimmer

[jazzyz]

i guess this was the better place to post this question. ive been thinking about skipping the protein skimmer. does anyone out there run a reef tank without one? it just looks like the majority of what the skimmer actually takes out of the water is calcium and iron, 2 pretty important things for a reef. the biggest benefits that i know about it removing the film on the water to improve gas exchange and remove excess nutrients. but doesnt an overflow also remove that top layer?? and in a fully stocked reef tank would there be a huge excess of nutrients?

 

[demartini]

It's always nice to have a protein skimmer. What size tank do you have?

 

[jazzyz]

i am either goin to do a 125 or a 240

 

[mudplayerx]

Skipping the skimmer is a very bad idea in my opinion. It oxygenates the water as well as reducing your DOC more efficiently than any other device in the hobby can.

 

[cowfishrule]

i have a mini-reef (if thats what you want to call it)
i only have 16# lr, and i have a torch, hammer, pulse zen, zoos, shrooms, kenya tree, and brain coral, plus a real heavy bio load- all in a 40g.
i dont have a skimmer, and everything is flourishing.
i run a fluval 305, and it seems that the less i bother with the tank, the better off the tank is.
i recommend you get a skimmer, but i am having lots of success without one.

 

[jazzyz]

Originally Posted by mudplayerx
Skipping the skimmer is a very bad idea in my opinion. It oxygenates the water as well as reducing your DOC more efficiently than any other device in the hobby can.
I agree w u mud but at what cost??

 

[puffer32]

Originally Posted by COWFISHRULE
i have a mini-reef (if thats what you want to call it)
i only have 16# lr, and i have a torch, hammer, pulse zen, zoos, shrooms, kenya tree, and brain coral, plus a real heavy bio load- all in a 40g.
i dont have a skimmer, and everything is flourishing.
i run a fluval 305, and it seems that the less i bother with the tank, the better off the tank is.
i recommend you get a skimmer, but i am having lots of success without one.
I would never run my 150 DT without one, but my nano is skimmer free. I do a 5 gal water change on it weekly, otherwise, I would use a skimmer.

 

[fallnhorse]

At garf website www.garf.org they have a chapter about when they did. They did an experiment and recorded the data. There coral grow faster with less skimmer. But no skimming after a while they had algae problem. Really good info there. Much more on corals.

 

[trainfever]

I dont run a skimmer although I do have one. But I do have a refugium in my system.

 

[cowfishrule]

Originally Posted by fallnhorse
At garf website www.garf.org they have a chapter about when they did. They did an experiment and recorded the data. There coral grow faster with less skimmer. But no skimming after a while they had algae problem. Really good info there. Much more on corals.

i was suffering from a major hair algae outbreak- it started when i went from pc's to mh.
i also mis-calculated the evap rate, and was accidently topping off with saltwater- not fresh.
my salinity was off the charts and wiped out my bta and 2 fish.
i switched back to pc's and it took about 20 months before i got my hair algae under control (thanks short photo period and mexi turbo's)
other than that, i am doing good without a skimmer.
i still recommend one, though.

 

[75bownut]

Originally Posted by trainfever
I dont run a skimmer although I do have one. But I do have a refugium in my system.
I guess you'd say I have a skimmer back-up, I have used it but not very often and only for a couple days at a time.