I'd like to point out that people don't do 10-15% water changes weekly. Even those who say they do. (there are exceptions ofcourse)

I'd say the average reefer does 1 per month. (remember there are people out there that do 1 or 2 per year)

Even when we ran a skimmer, we did weekly maintenance on our reefs. I think it's just a good habit to get into. JMHO, though.

So are you saying Im above average?? or just strange :) BTW a 10-15% water change for me is one 5g bucket for each tank.So not alot of work.

Quagmire,

We're probably just strange :razz: :wink:

I am lazy, so to get a water change done every 1-2 weeks, I automate it as much as possible. My barracuda has a t off it to a flexible line through the roof, across the house, and hooks into the drain line with my washing machines. I just change the ball valves, and bad water goes away. I use a plastic trashcan with a pump in the bottom, put in the same amount of salt every time, then put my attachment onto the pump to pump it into my sump. Dont even have to get my hands wet. I let it sit overnight mixing of course.

I decided to make the poll based on the fact that the vast majority of reefers (IMO) would have chosen skimmers as their first choice. I wanted to know what people felt about other forms of filtration and open a general discussion about them.

Ozonators will have to fall into the "other" category, as most people have a budget that wouldn't allow one.

Great input so far,
Rich.

First would be live rock and sand for me, not a skimmer.

I do want to mention that I am not totally devoid of filtration means. I have for years used Chemipure in a Fluval. I don't know if it does wonders as claimed. However, I have never had a problem with tank crashes etc., therefore I will continue using it even when later in the year I am forced to go FOWLR. And as a note to Brad, I have a few bits of SPS corals. Notably a smallish colony of Blue Tipped Staghorn that does great.:mrgreen:

I am a huge fan of protein skimmers but unfortunately it wasn't possible to have one with my impossibly-clean-no-visible-equipment-cube. All I have for filtration is LR in the main tank and LR and chaeto in the cannister filter.

- Chad

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How does Chaeto grow inside on the cannister without light?