The Skimmerless Club!

pleasants9

Member
me personally i like the simplest, fewest parts system so i was curious to everyone that does without the skimmer. do refugiums help with nitrates?
 

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by pleasants9
http:///forum/post/2912548
me personally i like the simplest, fewest parts system so i was curious to everyone that does without the skimmer. do refugiums help with nitrates?
They absolutely help not only reduce nitrates but also phosphates!
 

ca161406

Member
i had a 29gal with 2 2" puffers in it with about 15lbs of rock and a fluval(sp)rated for 100gal for about 4months skimmerless. and thought it was doing great. then i put a fission nano skimmer(which is garbage btw) and it improved the water quality and clearness by so much
im not saying it doesnt work without one because ive seen some awesome reefs without a skimmer. but after having my octo on my 125 and seeing what it pulls out i would never have a tank without one. with that being said i have very messy eaters though. ill be adding a fuge pretty soon too to help even more
like said before i think it depends on the set up
 

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Yes, it absolutely depends on the setup. Tanks with heavy bioloads need supplimental filtration.
I have never overloaded any of my personal tanks. Infact, my 30g long will only have one chromis and a yellow watchmen goby :D
BY THE WAY, THIS IS MY 2000TH POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
A

arlene1995

Guest
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33
http:///forum/post/2912642
Yes, it absolutely depends on the setup. Tanks with heavy bioloads need supplimental filtration.
I have never overloaded any of my personal tanks. Infact, my 30g long will only have one chromis and a yellow watchmen goby :D
BY THE WAY, THIS IS MY 2000TH POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL congrats!
SO true! Optimally, a tank should have enough live rock, live sand, and other biological filtration to process all waste so there is no need for a skimmer, waterchanges, etc. BTW, Low Bioloads rock! Just make what's in it count!
 

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Arlene1995
http:///forum/post/2914373
LOL congrats!
SO true! Optimally, a tank should have enough live rock, live sand, and other biological filtration to process all waste so there is no need for a skimmer, waterchanges, etc. BTW, Low Bioloads rock! Just make what's in it count!
+1
Pick the fish(s) that you find the absolute most fascinating and don't get the rest.
 

mantisman51

Active Member
I have neither skimmer nor sump. I have a Fluval 404 and a 100g Skilter, which I haven't turned on to skim in about 3 months. My blue spot mushrooms have gotten much bigger (were dime sized, now 4" across) and colorful and the green zoas are, literally, taking over the LR. There is no algae on my LR and I have to keep feeding spirulina, frozen and sheets, to my yellow tang and lawnmower blenny. My 20 gal sump was a waste of money. I complete a 10% water change every 2 weeks and all parameters are 0% and have been for several months. Since adding the HOB skilter on filter only, I have had no fluctuations in ph-due to the surface aggitation from the filter return. I have not lost a fish in the DT since April.
 
No simmer, on ANY tanks! I had my 75g for 2 years, no skimmer, once a month water changes, never any issues with spikes or deaths of fish or coral, was running 2 330 bio-wheeel filters, good sand bed, live rock, assorted coral, and a couple power head,
Currently have a 110g, running an Eheim 2229 wet/dry canister, uv in-line, and a Eheim hobby pump for my water circulation/flow. Good sand bed, although planning to add more live rock in a few weeks. I change 8 gallons out weekly, if I have the time & remember. No spikes or any elevated levels as or yet. Plan on stocking coral soon, when my new lighting system gets here, which should be here today!
Also running a 16g bow front nano, with a Eheim Ecco canister filter, again, good sand bed, could use a little more live rock though. Change about a gallon or two every week, water has always been perfect in that tank, assorted corals.
Then running a 39g 'northern' saltwater tank, again with an Eheim Ecco canister filter. Good sand bed, took sand from the ocean. Random rocks & structures, again, no issues with spikes or levels. Take a few gallons in/out every couple weeks. Top bioload is in the summer, tank is full or grass shrimp for food, small rock bass, monk fish, chubs, flouders, spider crabs, scallops, etc. It is a fun tank in the summers, gets a lot of attention from people for a smaller tank!
Now the reason I do not have a skimmer is because I do not have any sumps in these systems, all canister filters. I do not want to deal with any possibly overflow issues with all the hardwood floors. I like the looks of a 'clean' tank so I like to minimize the 'hang-on's' as well. I did concider a skimmer for the 110g, but have not made the jump yet. I ordered a special intake from Eheim that pulls water from the bottom normally and has a small intake for pulling water from the surface just to get rid of any film, should be here Monday.
I have been successful without one so far, and if it is not broke, don't fix it!
 
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