Skimmers do nothing?

[MikeP]

I skim only about 3-4 days a week. Sometimes less. Unless I am feeding a lot or my leathers are shedding a lot of crap into tank I don't seem to have too many problems. I also only do W/C once every 2 weeks about 10% on my 46 gallon. If you have no skimmer you still need a way to export some of those nutrients whether they are utilized by organisms in LR/Sand or macroalgae. I think all the macro I have in my tank (got a new fuge too) let's me get away with skimming less.

[Jeff Post]

I went skimmerless when I first heard that they might not be necessary. That was a couple of months ago and I have seen no problem. I have also recently added a refugium to replace the need for a skimmer.

[Jimnorris]

I do not use a skimmer on my show tank either. I do have a refug. My main filter for the system is a (approx) 15lb. gigas clam. He does a great job!
Jim

[MikeP]

Jim, how big is your Gigas? I understand they can get to about 4' over a 10 year period in the wild? If I ever get a 10 foot tank I may try one :)

[utmachete]

I am going to go skimmerless soon, my skimmer doesn't hardly skim anything anymore. I have a 50 gallon refugium with about 20 mangroves and lots of grape caluerpa. My water qualities are great and I only do about a 20 gallon water change every 3 months (plus daily kalk+R/O water as make-up). 20 gallons is not much for 180 tank + 50 ref. The only corals I have lost are the ones that were smothered by their sps neighbor. (I know thats pretty lazy I should move them before they are murdered)
I think that skimmers are very useful for new tanks mine worked overtime when I first started my tank. I'm kinda getting tired of looking at the ugly thing though so I'm letting a customer borrow it till her tank becomes established.

[Jimnorris]

My gigas is about 17 inches now!
Jim

[Tim Marvin]

With a refugium your skimmer is detrimental. It can actually take out good stuff as well. Refugiums will export most of the bad stuff and extra nutrients. Water changes will take care of the rest.