To skim or not skim...

[KhensuRa]

So some may know I have never used a skimmer and been just fine in the past. At my mostly stocked I had six fish total for over a year and no issues, I slowly declined that number when I started thinking I was going to upgrade to a slightly larger tank. Mostly for new fish that I could never of had in the 29. And the whole time my tank flourished with no issues what so ever, mind some nuisance algae here.

So as I finally get the 58 going the voices are ever telling me to add a skimmer. I am still somewhat against it but would like to hear personal experiences running with and with out. Maybe even sway my thinking, but more with cold hard individual experiences and not the other forums say should be done.

Let the skimmer-less Virgil Bashing begin.

 

[303travism]

I run mine maybe once a week never had issues before in my 50 and I never ran one in that. I get great growth from my zoas examples I got a cherry charm with one head from Brent at the meeting and it has 4 heads now.

 

[KhensuRa]

I like how this is going so far!!!!

 

[cdrewferd]

I'm going to follow this. I'm thinking about getting a skimmer for my 29 Biocube.


Drew

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[MartinsReef]

Well I used to be skimmerless until I had acros that would not last in my 180. Once I went with a skimmer my nutrients balanced out and my acros flourished. Since then I've gone with heavy skimming. I have an asm-g3x on my 90 cube. However when skimming heavy or moderate, zoas and other softies with grow much slower.

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[Cherub]

I run mine maybe once a week never had issues before in my 50 and I never ran one in that. I get great growth from my zoas examples I got a cherry charm with one head from Brent at the meeting and it has 4 heads now.

zoas are easy though what about your sps with no skimmer?

 

[303travism]

I only have 3 pieces of sps they all grow fine to me slow but I'm sure that's how they grow for everybody never lost any.

 

[Cake_Boss]

Give this a good read buddy. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2011/3/aafeature

 

[SAZAMA]

you must be able to export what you import or "detritus will happen".

 

[chrislorentz]

SPS is the big question. I run my skimmer for about a week every 6 months or so. I however do not keep SPS I think you will have better luck if you are going to have a lot of tougher SPS. If you mostly have softies and LPS dont waste the electricity... just my .02 hell maybe even just .01

 

[KhensuRa]

I guess I should have added that I have had a mixed reef with several SPS doing well for some time. And not just easy sps, I have several millis and acros along with montis and didgi's. I would say that the growth on some of the sps has been slow but the color and polyp extension is great on everything.

So i guess this is why I am at a crossed road with either going without or with a skimmer at this point.

 

[KhensuRa]

Give this a good read buddy. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2011/3/aafeature

i will take a look at that artilce a little later as it to frigging long to read right now. But thanks...

 

[Zooid]

I've run skimmerless for about five years.....all my SPS did fine until I burned them up with the AI's.
The big thing you have to watch out for when running skimmerless is your phosphates. It's amazing how
fast phospates will build up.

 

[bigsittingrock]

I bought the best skimmer that would fit in a 29 bc and used it for maybe 2 weeks. I was used to an ASM 3 on my 150 and it didn't seem to work as well as the ASM so I ditched it and just do lots of waterchanges now. I don't think there is a decent skimmer for the bc. It did well in adding oxygen is about all.

P.S.
I have a mint condition CRP skimmer for a BC for sale.

 

[Walter White]

I didn't think skimmers really did much in terms of phosphate removal. I mean I suppose some organics might contain phosphates but I always thought this was the reason for running something like GFO in addition to a skimmer.

 

[Bajamike]

I noticed that my 125 always had a haze. Then I got a skimmer and the water cleared almost as soon as I put it on. I like lots of fish (think I have about 40) so I skim 24/7 I think it is dependent on how many fish you have. But thats my thoughts I could be wrong.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I have had several tanks that have been successful and I use the same philosophy on all of them. Good lighting, heavy skimming and change the water bi weekly to monthly. I run my skimmer 24/7 and I always get a skimmer that can handle more than the tank size that it is recommended for. Just my $0.02.

I forgot to add: and really good flow as well.

 

[MartinsReef]

I have had several tanks that have been successful and I use the same philosophy on all of them. Good lighting, heavy skimming and change the water bi weekly to monthly. I run my skimmer 24/7 and I always get a skimmer that can handle more than the tank size that it is recommended for. Just my $0.02.

+1 on the skimmer. Mine is rated for 250 gallons and is on a 90 cube.

 

[djkms]

I noticed that my 125 always had a haze. Then I got a skimmer and the water cleared almost as soon as I put it on. I like lots of fish (think I have about 40) so I skim 24/7 I think it is dependent on how many fish you have. But thats my thoughts I could be wrong.

You have 40 fish in a 125!?!?!! and I thought I was heavily stocked with 17 in my 125....

 

[Bajamike]

You have 40 fish in a 125!?!?!! and I thought I was heavily stocked with 17 in my 125....

No lol in my 300....and I have about 300 in my sumps which have a few fish as well