Skimmerless???

[Mike]

The small 20g hex has been skimmerless for a while. I do accasionally see white foam buildup on the top sides of the tank. We have a small Koralia pointed up at the surface to agitate the water so we don't get the film and to aerate the water. Does cause a lot of evaporation though.

[Europhyllia]

I think skimmers are great for aeration though,

I agree. I usually have a lot of CO2 in the house so that depresses the pH. I don't go skimmerless but I leave the cup off a lot (I grow and dose phyto in large amounts and don't want to just skim it back out) which seems like a good compromise for me. I still get the surface agitation and aeration (decrease in CO2, increase pH) while keeping my phyto in circulation

[CoryDude]

Troy, stop by and take a look at my 60 cube. Skimmer went out last year and I didn't have the $$$ for a new pump. The tank actually looks better without it. Of course the no3 reactor helps.

[Europhyllia]

I wish we had an area where members could park articles. I think Cory has some interesting info to share in regards to bacterial driven nitrate reduction. I want to see him write an article. I think he has a lot of info to share. (Sorry for detouring the thread for just a second)
back to skimmerless tanks!

[txav8r]

We do! There is a place in the library forum. Just send me the link and I'll add it.

[justahobby]

Forgot to mention I only keep softies, leathers, and lps under t5's (roughly 80w worth on bc14). Tried a monti cap but it lost color. I also haven't been dosing 2 part though.

[kkiel02]

I am semi skimmed. I have the ATS going though so I guess I am kinda cheating. Still have my smaller skimmer going but it doesn't take much out.

[justahobby]

When i had my 58g running, my tank was healthier with a bakpak skimmer than when i switched to an octo 150. That's about the time I learned to let sleeping dogs lie.

[Troy Valentine]

Thank you all for sharing, its interesting to see so many seasoned hobbiest going skimmerless or using a skimmer on a limited basis, and have positive results from it

I will cycle my skimmers on and off, depending on what is happening with the system. Sometimes my tank just looks so darn healthy when they are off. But it is just temporary, within a month or two the systems health begins to slowly decline. I think this is do to competing corals, and decreased water clarity. I also begin to see a skim develop on the surface. But usually with some heavy skimming, and carbon dosing it all goes back to normal within a few weeks.