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
https://reefs.com/magazine/total-organic-carbon-toc-and-the-reef-aquarium-an-initial-survey-part-i/
Total Organic Carbon Pt 2
https://reefs.com/magazine/total-organic-carbon-toc-and-the-reef-aquarium-an-initial-survey-part-ii/
Protein Skimmer Performance, Pt 1
https://reefs.com/magazine/the-deve...ve-evaluation-of-protein-skimmer-performance/
Protein Skimmer Performance, Pt 2
https://reefs.com/magazine/further-studies-on-protein-skimmer-performance/
Elemental Analysis of Skimmate
https://reefs.com/magazine/elementa...-skimmer-actually-remove-from-aquarium-water/
Bacterial Counts in Reef Aquarium Water
https://reefs.com/magazine/bacteria...ing-and-granular-activated-carbon-filtration/