Skimmerless???

[bangoo]

Hi guys, I need few advise quick. After doing a water change, somehow my impeller on my solana 34 skimmer (sapphire aquatics brand) failed to start and I've been without a skimmer for 2 days now. My stock skimmer busted when I dropped it so I don't have any back up, and I don't intend to buy another stock skimmer because of the noise issues I had in the past. I only have 1 frogfish, few ricordeas, and 1 frogspawn. I only feed my frogfish 1 time per week. I know its not recommended, but anybody have corals without a skimmer?? I was thinking of going without a skimmer and doing a water change weekly. Sapphire aquatics skimmers are no longer avaliable, and I don't know which other skimmers are good for solana 34. Thanks

 

[Captain Nemo]

I have heard of people using no skimmer, but I dont know how well their systems do. Personally I use one, and all the reefers I know do also. I would say as long as you had good flow, you would prob be fine as you have a light load. Good luck!:matrix:

 

[phi delt reefer]

keep up with 10%-15% water changes weekly - dont miss one EVER and make sure you have enough flow to keep all the crap and food from settling on the sand bed and you will be fine. Do you have a hob filter like an aquaclear? If so stuff it with filter pads and change weekly. Many people run skimmer less - you just have to be more prudent with your maintenance.

 

[beaslbob]

Plenty of people have no skimmer and don't do water changes.

The key IMHO is to get the tank system balanced out to where the tank itself maintains the environment.

The first step in the process IMHO is sufficient plant life (macro and other algaes) so that ammonia/nitrates/phosphates/carbon dioxide are being consumed by the plant life and therefore recycled into fish food.

my .02

 

[drainbamage]

I ran my 34 gallon skimmerless for about a year, no refugium or ATS or any form of nutrient export. Did water changes every few months. Long term I noticed some effects where the higher nutrients were evidenced, but could have been kept up with by doing a few more water changes. Considering your small fish load, really shouldn't be a problem, just try and keep up a weekly or bi-weekly water change.

Especially as you're not keeping any SPS's and many stonies in general, I think you should be ok.

 

[Seasonedreefer]

Do you ever plan on putting a skimmer back on? Your tank will run fine without it as long as routine maintenance is being carried out. If all you are trying to do is keep the water clear and get rid of dis coloration, I would recommend running AC (activated carbon).

 

[bangoo]

Do you ever plan on putting a skimmer back on? Your tank will run fine without it as long as routine maintenance is being carried out. If all you are trying to do is keep the water clear and get rid of dis coloration, I would recommend running AC (activated carbon).

Thanks for all your replies, I'll add eventually once I figure out which skimmer is good for solana 34. I can't use the hang on filter because of lack of the space in the back, so it has to sit in the chamber. If this works I'll just go skimmerless.

 

[phi delt reefer]

tunze 9002 is the "go to" skimmer for the nano systems. Hydor has a new one out but I haven't seen it on anyones tank yet. There's a new Turbofloater (aqua-medic?) thats gotten good reviews too.

You should be fine skimmerless though. keep your bio load low and keep up with maintenance.

 

[seafansar]

My 28 gallons have no skimmers and my corals (zoas, yumas, chalices, SPS) seem fine. I just do weekly water changes.

 

[bangoo]

My 28 gallons have no skimmers and my corals (zoas, yumas, chalices, SPS) seem fine. I just do weekly water changes.

How much water do you change per week?? I was thinking of doing maybe 6-10 % per week?

 

[TonyT]

Do you ever plan on putting a skimmer back on? Your tank will run fine without it as long as routine maintenance is being carried out. If all you are trying to do is keep the water clear and get rid of dis coloration, I would recommend running AC (activated carbon).

+1 on the AC. This would be a must if your not gonna run a skimmer.

 

[Harry_Y]

I just went skimmer less

I built an algae scrubber

 

[ScottyMcReefer]

I got this bad boy in my biocube 29 Aquarium Protein Skimmer: AquaticLife Internal Mini Skimmer 115

No problems, and ive noticed it has cut down my algae growth and has also made my water quality up to par. Just some input if youre looking for something cheap, read the reviews....most say it's right on the booty of the tunzee nano skimmer ; ) But half the price.