Contemplating a Skimmerless Tank
 

Check this out. Tell me what you think. Discuss...why would this work and why wouldn't it?

It is hard to say it wouldnt work when u see that tank!! I think it would only be feasbile with a great deal of time and planning. Once it was up and running it would have to be a well monitored tank. I have never thought of it but it would be a good challenge

Kris

He has a lot of caulerpa type algaes growing in that refugium, which is, I suspect, a large part of the reason he's having success, because they're sucking up the nutrients that might otherwise accumulate. Honestly that is a nice tank. I wouldn't say that a skimmer is unnecessary though, but obviously whatever works for someone, works. I like having skimmers, I think they are beneficial, although I agree that as long as nutrient buildup is not a concern then the actual quantification of "necessity" is probably less.

Basically I judge my need for a skimmer by looking at what it pulls out. That brown gunk would be in my tank water if I didn't have a skimmer.. it must be doing SOMEthing good, even if I can't say exactly how much good it's doing.

I think its feasible. Like Delphinus said, he does probably have a lot of macro algaes to export some of the nutrients. I also think the 120L weekly water changes help as well. I think the combination of the macro algae, water changes, and the carbon he is running, that helps keep his tank so lovely.

I wonder if he siphons the sand, and what kind of other maintenance is carried out monthly on the system. I bet that information would fill in a few more blanks.

Didn't Beverly run her tanks skimmerless?

He also says he uses Zeovit which is a biological filtration that helps creates very low nutrient levels in water.

Actually .. now maybe I read it wrong, but I got the impression that he "tried" Zeovit but that this current setup is not using Zeo.

Here is another example of a successful skimmerless tank.
Second row 1st video on left. (Andre's Tank I beleive)
http://www.reefvideos.com/

I removed my skimmer last week.
It was only putting out about a cup of skimmate a week anyway and now I have a thriving refugium I decided it's time :biggrin:

29g oceanic. No skimmer 1 1/2" live sand 30-40 lbs live rock & rubble. Replaced bioballs with rubble, use that cheap fiber on top of the rubble & replace it 1 or 2 times a week. LARGE (really big) RBTA, gold striped maroon clown, cherub angel, dartfish, green clown goby, yellow watchman goby, 2 cleaner shrimp, assorted snails. Cheato stuffed in behind rock work. Stays clear & readings are good. Plenty of pods, worms etc. zoos, mushrooms, xenia
open brain & colt corals. Water changes every 2 weeks. Its working for now.

This was my old 35g skimmerless hex tank. Everybody seemed to think it was my best tank.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ic/Hextank.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...c/DSCN8666.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...c/Pipefish.jpg

Anthony