Skimmerless, Update

[danmhippo]

A couple weeks ago, I went skimmerless. This is just an update. Everthing is as well as before (with skimmer), if not better. Water parameter is stable. With 25% monthly water changes, the NO3 and PO4 have remained under control.

The only thing different is the yellow water. I am getting it under control by the use of Whisper-2 with charcoal.

I think I need to get the Aqua-C EV150 cleaned out and sell it to my LFS.........

 

[Anonymous]

I've been running a 35 hex tank with no skimmer since it was set up three months ago because it's in my living room and I don't want it to look like a laboratory. I have a Magnum HOT on it with carbon all the time. It's a FOWLR. The water is always crystal clear, and everything is fine except for an algae problem. I attribute the algae problem to the fact that I've never done a water change.

Interestingly, I took all the rocks out and scrubbed them of the algae recently and it's not growing back. And the stuff that remained is rather pale.

Anyway, unless you're going to "bio-overload" your tank. should be no problem. On the other hand, those who thing carbon should not be used will probably think this post is heresy, haha.

john

 

[SPC]

Dan, if it were me I would hold onto the skimmer for a few months just in case.

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

Why do people thing going skimmerless is like the "Red Badge of Courage"? If your system can handle your bioload without one great. If it can't then either reduce the load or add a skimmer. It is a balance and it can be maintained by many different combinations. I want to see sombody go "waterless". Now that would have some meaning.

 

[danmhippo]

No, just one more thing I can do to pass more planktonic food to the corals. I do noticed more pods in the main tank and the sump neverthless. My whole sumpfull of grape caulerpa has contributed in nutrient uptake greatly. Just want to get the tank stablize the natural way.

cwa46, I do not know your setup, but why don't you try skimmerless for a day, 2 days, 3 or 4 days? You have certainly witnessed the skimmer way, why not try the skimmerless way? Xgiving holiday is coming up, if you are mostly home, try that so you can monitor the tank closely if you smell something fishy. JMO

 

[danmhippo]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by cwa46:
<strong>I want to see sombody go "waterless". Now that would have some meaning.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Oh, sure, go buy a windows XP and setup the new underwater screen saver!

 

[mweber]

I've had my 180 for 3 years now. I've been skimmerless for about 3 months. My corals look better than they ever have