Large Volume, No Skimmer?

[Ritual Aquatics]

All,

I currently run a few 50G set ups as high-end SPS tanks fully stocked with fish, but am looking to upgrade a main display closer to the 200G total volume range. I don't have any skimmers on these set-ups. Does anyone at this larger (150G+) size not run a skimmer? I prefer not to on my current tanks, but just wondering what success folks have had with no skimmer at that volume, as I'd rather not use a skimmer and just rely on heavy biofiltration in the sump.

Welcome to any experiences both positive or negative, just working on budgeting my buildout.

Appreciate it!

 

[Timfish]

Here's a 500 gallon mixed reef @ 4 years without a skimmer:



Here's Feldman, et al, research on skimmers and organic carbon, they don't do much for DOC compared to what the cryptic sponges(1000X faster) in your system are doing and skew the microbe numbers

Total Organic Carbon Pt 1

Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and the Reef Aquarium: an Initial Survey, Part I

Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. Ken and Kelly report on their work on Total Organic Carbon and how it relates to the reef aquarium.

reefs.com

Total Organic Carbon Pt 2

Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and the Reef Aquarium: an Initial Survey, Part II

Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. Ken and Kelly continue to report on their work on Total Organic Carbon and how it relates to the reef aquarium.

reefs.com

Protein Skimmer Performance, Pt 1

The Development of a Method for the Quantitative Evaluation of Protein Skimmer Performance

Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. Protein skimmers have become indispensable for many aquarists who strive to maintain the high water quality necessary to keep stony corals.

reefs.com

Protein Skimmer Performance, Pt 2

Further Studies on Protein Skimmer Performance

Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. Many factors contribute to the 'value' of a skimmer to an aquarist, including quality of construction, size, footprint, noise level, ease of cleaning, energy efficiency of the pump, and of course, the ability...

reefs.com

Elemental Analysis of Skimmate

Elemental Analysis of Skimmate: What Does a Protein Skimmer Actually Remove from Aquarium Water?

Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. The chemical/elemental composition of skimmate generated by an H&S 200-1260 skimmer on a 175-gallon reef tank over the course of several days or a week had some surprises.

reefs.com

Bacterial Counts in Reef Aquarium Water

Bacterial Counts in Reef Aquarium Water: Baseline Values and Modulation by Carbon Dosing, Protein Skimming, and Granular Activated Carbon Filtration

What are the bacteria populations in the water column of reef tanks, and how does that value compare with bacterial counts in authentic reef water? Does carbon dosing indeed increase water column bacteria populations (i.e., is growth carbon limited)? Does mechanical filtration (protein skimming...

reefs.com