To skim, or not to skim?

[Chris]

In this hobby, there happens to be a very large audience of devout users of skimmers.

There are some beautiful tanks out there with skimmers running on them, but there are also many tanks just as beautiful without skimmers.

So what is your stance on this subject? Please feel free to share any bit of information you may have. Do you buy into the hype that bigger is better? Do you think those people without them are nuts?

Discuss....


:grin:

[Tim Marvin]

Actually with a good refugium you don't need a skimmer. The drop from the tank will oxygenate the water enough as well as plants. Refugiums work better and more natural. Skimmers do work, but sometimes a little too well. It is important to do your water changes especially with a good skimmer because they take out the good elements as well as bad. It has been said you can run a refugium with no skimmer or water changes, but I still change my water at a rate of about 30% a month.

[Texreefer]

i have been running a 10 gal reef for a while with no skimmer and no refugium... just small water changes... things are growing good

[Tim Marvin]

I have a 20 gallon that didn't even have a filter until a week ago. Just a powerhead and small water changes each week. Tons of life and coralline.

[Derek B]

I am strongly considering eliminating my skimmer and moving to a refugium only. Actually, I have some macroalgae growing in my main tank, which I think is a major reason I have had good success. Since I only have a 65g, I was going to try the hang-on CPR refugium. The more facts I read on skimmer vs. skimmerless, the more it makes sense to go skimmerless.