Skimming... An old question but still a good one

[bluepippa]

Hi All.

My system is now over 6 years old. Its small at 50ish gallons and is run as a minimalists system.... my middle name is scrooge.

I have twin MH lights, a single stream, a fuge with a DSB. I dose kalk every night and do about 10% water change every couple of months.

6 months ago I had enough of the MCE600 skimmer and took it off...... Guess what no change to the system at all.... well small lie, some of the corals that had died back have started to flourish again.

Now I know its not what everyone wants to hear having spent a fortune on equipment but I am a real convert to "less is more".... What I would love to know is how many others are skimmer less... I cant remember a poll being done for some years. pics of my system below (sorry for the quality)

Cheers
D

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q4/CIMG5376 (929 x 697).jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q4/CIMG5375 (929 x 697).jpg

[Lost Boys]

On small systems with low load and smallish feeding then water changes can be as good as skimming but on large systems or systems with heavy bio loads then you do really need to skim to take rubbish out of the water.

[Long dave]

i took mine off for a few weeks to trial but didn't have the cohones to keep it off,
when i started it up it pulled loads of gunk out!!! if you turn yours off you'll have to report back if there are any negative effects on corals or anything!

[GCT]

hi, i took mine out last May. my tank has never been so healthy,corals doing really well,i must admit i dont have many fish:)

[exotic reptile housing]

great thread already, im thinking of running the new system skimmerless 7x2x2.5 would like to hear any useful comments on it, ohh im running a turf scrubber btw on the new system

[Bradden]

I would love to know what test readings you're getting on a skimmerless tank. I'd be tempted to try it myself but.. :fear:

[mikk1301]

I would love to know what test readings you're getting on a skimmerless tank. I'd be tempted to try it myself but.. :fear:
:ermm::shock:

[aquadorge]

I ran skimmerless for 5 weeks between selling my old skimmer and my new one arriving - probably no more than 15" of fish in 400l and the downturn in the tank was very noticable - algal growth, cyano, diatom like covering on the sand, coral colouration lost.

Thank Crunchie for ATB and their cone skimmers is all I can say on the matter....

[JayR]

We didnt skim for years on a system slightly bigger than yours and got away with water changes every weekend but when trying it on the new 100 plus gallon it didnt work at all!!!

That said you will get away with it on smaller systems permitting you have a strong will to manually maintain but not on larger systems imo.

[simon garratt]

Im obviously down as a yes, but to expand a little on the topic.

Do you 'need' to skim?...to which 'from a scientific standpoint' the answer would be no...Do you need to have some control over the flow of nutrients through a closed system? then yes

How you go about that is realy down to the individual imo. There isnt anything a skimmer does that alternate methods of filtration cant cope with or in some cases do better. Additionally, on larger systems over time, the growing diversity takes account of a larger and larger chunk of the free nutrient pool, so you could actually argue that on larger more established systems, the skimmer becomes less and less 'essential' and more of a backup. Id never go as far as to say ( nor have i ever seen) it can 'hinder' a system to any notable degree that forms a diffinative trend (like what the anti skimmer brigade claim), but there are deffinately combinations of alternate methods that fit the bill if you understand the limitations of each part of the cycle.

In essence, skimmers are just a very clever way of fullfilling several roles within a small space, but they arnt the be all and end all of a successful system by any means...they just increase your chances of success.

regards

Si.

[hermitz]

Yes I skim, I can't say if that's down to science or the fact I simply have a fettish for skimmers.

[Bladrick]

The question is would you drink the stuff that comes out of your skimmer.. The answer for me is NO and I don't think me fish would appreciate swimming in the same stuff.

[Volitans13]

I was always under the impression that any tank needed a skimmer and they are very important!?

[GCT]

I would love to know what test readings you're getting on a skimmerless tank. I'd be tempted to try it myself but.. :fear:

my test resdings are spot on:) for some reason corals are doing much better in growth and colour:) but dont have many fish .

[Sanj]

would have been good to include another option for intermittent skimming. I am finding it quite tough to decide, I am soon to set up a mud based algae filter system.

[Manta]

After seeing what a skimmer removes in my system I'm not sure there is any alternative.