Skimmerless..............WOW!

[todd22]

I tried going skimmerless for a week or so and sure enough all my coralline algae was overrun by green slime and my polyps all receded. It has been months after replaceing the skimmer and I still have not gotten all my beutiful coralline algae back. I would like to hear the conditions of those skimmerless ones in order to solve why my venture went south. e.g. Additives?, DSB?, water changes?, how often?, refugium?

 

[Minh Nguyen]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by jamesw:
<STRONG>And when oxygen demand is highest in the system??? Doesn't sound like a good idea to me.

HTH
James</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

A minor point, but the Oxigen demand is the same night or day, but your tank produce Oxigen durring the daylight hours from photosynthesis and none at night.

 

[Henry1]

I'd like to re-echo esmithiii advice to newbies from going skimmerless.

I believe the success experienced by here could be attributed to a matured, well maintained system in the hand of knowledgeable reefers.

I am also keen to know if skimmerless practice can be sustainable in the long term.
Please keep us posted.

One observation with regard to coral polyps opening is the effect of fine bubbles (from the skimmer's return)irratating its tissues.
When the fine bubbles are removed, polyps extension improved.

cheers

 

[mweber]

Hi, I just saw this after beginning my thread on HIGH PHOSPHATE. I shut mine off about 2 months ago and my phosphate has gone from 1 to 2.1ppm. Now I see hair beginning. Without a skimmer, how do we export the phosphate? I do have a refugium. See other thread for more details if you wish.

 

[guppychao]

question about Tunze skimmers, i hear they only skim out the bad stuff and leave the good stuff? how true is that?

 

[Mike106]

I run a hybrid Jaubert method, I have a plenum but I still sometimes use a skimmer (bubbles are annoying). The true Jaubert method calls for no skimmer. I also believe it depends on what type of corals you are keeping. People who are keeping sps might need to skim more while soft coral may appreciate less skimming.

later

 

[dragon0121]

Wow! Wish I could get one of those Tunze skimmers that can pick and choose what it skims!

There is a skimmerless forum at Aqualink, would make some very good reading for anybody contemplating this method. And like any other method, it is a matter of understanding nutrient import and nutrient export.

 

[scavdog]

I have just passed the 5 day mark on skimmerless. So far everything looks great. However I have a rather large system that incorporates a 100 gallon prop tank (3+" SD sand) which feeds a 75 FOWLR (4" SD sand) and 50 Gallon Refugium/Lagoon (6" SD sand). So far my water tests perfect.
I figured 5 days on 5 off with skimming. Anyone else experiment with this?

[ October 10, 2001: Message edited by: ScavDog ]

 

[suckair]

I went skimmer less about 6 weeks ago on my home system and have noticed slight improvements in a few of my animals but nothing drastic. One thing I did notice is that my macro algae grows much better than it used to. “ I am sure that is due to more nitrates in the system” Many corals use nitrates and a sterile system can deprive them of this if the system is underfed or over skimmed. I guess it is all a balance act just depends on your setup. Another thing I have thought about doing to improve the nitrate situation is to use bio balls to convert nitrites into nitrates. This fast way of breaking down waste can also increase the nitrates in your system. “Who would of thought I would want more nitrates in my reef!”

My skimmer is setup for aeration only “as my tanks are covered”. I have done this by setting the unit to skim but adjusted it so no skimmit would reach the top and overflow. One-thing reefers could do if they want to go skimmer less is to do it in stages by adjusting their skimmer so it is harder for the skimmer to push the skimmit to the overflow. By doing this they could slowly adjust the system until no more skimmit comes out. If an emergency happens the skimmer would then produce foam that could reach the outlet. Just a thought. I feel that skimmers are still a requirement for new systems or systems that are cycling. You would be amazed at how much life you can save on new live rock if the skimmer is rocking!

Well just a few of my thoughts.

Randall
Aka suckair

 

[spectral_ranger]

I've had my 46gal reef skimmerless for about a year now with no ill (or beneficial) effects. Had a CPR Bakpak, which pulled out a moderate amount of gunk. Got tired of constantly cleaning the Rio pump, so I just nixed the whole thing. Didn't have any nuissance algae take-over or anything. I do have a good DSB, and a refugium. Some macroalgae growth the gets removed maybe once a month, but not very much of it. Do about 15% water changes every 3-4 weeks. Use RO water. I think water going through the overflow and the surface disruption caused by the sea swirl is plenty for oxygenation. For me, at least, removing my skimmer didn't have much effect, and it's been that way for a year now.

Chris

 

[Chris2500dk]

I pulled out my Tunze 9002 today, it wasn't really skimming much so I figured I might as well take it out and see how it does skimmerless. If I start getting increased algal growth it's going right back on

 

[blackcloudmedia]

what the hell is overskimming?

 

[Capslock]

Oh, just to add, since I am going skimmerless, I will be doing water changes now. I am looking to make about 15% monthly.

You didn't need to do water changes when you had a skimmer? Being new to this hobby news like this is puzzling.

My skimmer is setup for aeration only “as my tanks are covered”. I have done this by setting the unit to skim but adjusted it so no skimmit would reach the top and overflow.

So I could in theory cover the top of my tank with glass and the aeration wouldn't be lost because I have a sump and a skimmer?

I ask the latter question because I have a kitty and I don't want the little turd jumping into my tank; thick glass (enough to support kitty just in case) on the top of the tank would be excellent

note: I will be starting the tank off reef-only and from what I understand I will be setting it up as an 'LPS'? first. if that is not the correct acronym then I know it is definitely not an SPS.

 

[Kittikity]

I started my tank about 4 months ago and I've never had a skimmer on it yet.. I had planned on getting one but I think I'll put that money into my own RO/DI system so I don't have to go to the fish store for water changes.. It is a 20 gal with a 7 gal refugium.. The 20 gal has lots of live rock and about a 1-2 inch sand bed.. The 7 gal has about a 1 inch sand bad and chaeto.. Both are uncovered.. I do a weekly 3 gal water change.. Add RO for top off.. I have the lights for the 20 gal on during the day and the 7 gal at night..

For aeration, I have the water going from the 20 gal and into an old power filter hanging on the back of the 7 gal.. The water then trickles into the 7 gal and goes back to the 20 gal by siphon.. This works because they're sitting next to each other..

As for corals and livestock, I have several varieties of zoas, gsp, pompom xenia,a ricordea, blue legged hermit crabs, and a couple various snails.. I had a small cyano outbreak as the tank was cycling (it may be still cycling) but when I got the hermit crabs the cyano disappeared.. I haven't had any other algae problems at all.. All my corals are doing excellent and growing.. I don't have any fish yet but plan to keep it low with maybe 3 small gobies..

I need to go do a water change today and check my parameters.. I check them before I do it and the day after.. There are slightly noticeable readings but I figure that's because I've added a large portion of live rock recently.. Once the chaeto fills my refugium and bacteria catches up with the rock then everything should read 0's..

I don't know about trying this with an sps system unless you have all your live rock and everything else in the tank and your readings are 0.. Then I'd attempt some of the easier pieces and see how they do.. A lot of this hobby is moderation and taking your time..

 

[SnowManSnow]

If you already HAVE a skimmer and want to stop skimming you could just de-tune the skimmer so no skimmate collects in the cup, but it still oxygenates the water.

Funny after all these years it might turn out the Seaclone and Skilter were actually the best solution...

haha ya.. we will see

 

[bleedingthought]

Skimmerless..........6 years old-WOW!

 

[pcardone]

have we heard from damnhippo?