For those of you with a canister filter or hang on back filtration. Use a hang on skimmer to help skim you fish deposits.
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Run 3 of my nanos without skimmer for more than a year and all LPS doing better but SPS struggled. Anemone and NPS loves a bit of NitrateToday let's talk about the benefits, if you believe there are some, to turning your skimmer off for a certain period of time. I have always been pro-skimmer and I still am but I have to be honest with you. I took my skimmer off my 400g over 6 months ago or so and my reef has not missed a beat. It's actually doing better algae wise. Oh and I've not changed the water either but that's for another discussion. So let me here from you!
1. Do you think there are benefits to turning your skimmer off for periods of time? What?
2. What's the longest you've ever been without a skimmer on a reef tank?
No skimmer reef image via @CoralAddict645
That tank is gorgeousToday let's talk about the benefits, if you believe there are some, to turning your skimmer off for a certain period of time. I have always been pro-skimmer and I still am but I have to be honest with you. I took my skimmer off my 400g over 6 months ago or so and my reef has not missed a beat. It's actually doing better algae wise. Oh and I've not changed the water either but that's for another discussion. So let me here from you!
1. Do you think there are benefits to turning your skimmer off for periods of time? What?
2. What's the longest you've ever been without a skimmer on a reef tank?
No skimmer reef image via @CoralAddict645
No sump, no fuge, no scrubber, no skimmer,or cannister. Somebody asked about bioload which is a fair question. 90 gallon, 75 lbs live rock, Tellow Tang, 2 pygmy angels, Damsel, clown...large and varied CUC of inverts. Long Tent Nem, A few SPS, and LPS, quite a few softies.That is fine for those of you that use a sump or refugium but what about those of us that do not have either. can you still run without a skimmer. All I have on my tank (125 gallon) is a skimmer
I agree. Though I am not running a Skimmer at this time I have one to use of needed. I wouldn't feel comfortable without one on hand.Skimmer is part of a redundancy of filtration process. Use it if you don't have a fug or filter socks to help with nutrients levels. Its an added benefit in my opinion also as I am using a co2 scrubber for pH management. Skimmer is not a must have but a good to have.
I carbon dose (Tropic Marin: NP-Bacto-Balance) my 20 gallon QT coral tank without a skimmer, but also grow algae, and have essentially no nitrates or phosphates. Not sure a skimmer is necessary (the product works for me without one), I just use a hang-on-back filter for surface skimming and mechanical filtration.. Corals should be able to uptake the carbon-bacteria process byproducts.I appreciate your data! You and I could have some interesting discussions!
The one thing I miss about skimmers is the ability to carbon dose. I used biopellets instead of vodka, but a hefty skimmer is an absolute must-have for carbon dosing. Nothing else worked for me while carbon dosing.
I've seen that one as well... and spoken to Dr. Tim on several occasions. Nice guy, by the way... I recently had excellent results using his Re-Fresh and Waste-A-Way products to wipe out a cyano bloom.
Hi,I've seen that one as well... and spoken to Dr. Tim on several occasions. Nice guy, by the way... I recently had excellent results using his Re-Fresh and Waste-A-Way products to wipe out a cyano bloom.