Can you OVER-skim?

[andresont]

Originally Posted by EmilyB

I could be wrong but from what I remember of hearing Borneman in Seattle, he never ran a skimmer....so how would he know anyway??

LMAOL !

[albert_dao]

Originally Posted by EmilyB

I could be wrong but from what I remember of hearing Borneman in Seattle, he never ran a skimmer....so how would he know anyway??

Everyone, especially the SPS guys, get rid of your skimmers ASAP! By decree of Borneman, they are unecessary and, more than likely, harmful for your systems! Heed or be overtaken by low nutrients and colorful corals!

[michika]

lol

[Dale]

I will take the opposing view and say YES you can definately overskim. So there
To answer the question properly you have to consider the livestock being kept.
The question is relative to the proposed inhabitants of the tank. There is no "one size fits all" approach. Most people who subscribe to aggressive skimming keep SPS corals primarily. They rely on high intensity lighting for photosynthesis and want to avoid any free nutrients as a possible food source for algae (which SPS cannot defend against).
However, if you are considering a softie tank, or clams and other filter feeders, overskimming will most definately lead to starvation. Many of these organisms thrive in nutrient rich waters.
Trying to mix SPS, softies and clams/filter feeders can be a difficult and/or expensive proposition. You either have a naturally nutrient rich tank (and battle the occasional algae outbreak on SPS) or you overskim, constantly dose nutrients for the others and then just skim them right back out again.

[andresont]

Originally Posted by Dale

I will take the opposing view and say YES you can definately overskim. So there
To answer the question properly you have to consider the livestock being kept.
The question is relative to the proposed inhabitants of the tank. There is no "one size fits all" approach. Most people who subscribe to aggressive skimming keep SPS corals primarily. They rely on high intensity lighting for photosynthesis and want to avoid any free nutrients as a possible food source for algae (which SPS cannot defend against).
However, if you are considering a softie tank, or clams and other filter feeders, overskimming will most definately lead to starvation. Many of these organisms thrive in nutrient rich waters.
Trying to mix SPS, softies and clams/filter feeders can be a difficult and/or expensive proposition. You either have a naturally nutrient rich tank (and battle the occasional algae outbreak on SPS) or you overskim, constantly dose nutrients for the others and then just skim them right back out again.

I would rather over skim and target feed all my live stock including SPS and filter filders.
Mixing as mentioned above is what we (reefers) are good at
It is sooo much easier to feed than to skimm don't you agree?
Whats cost of food compare to a tank full of algae?
Well... as was wrong before so this is jmo.

[kwirky]

how old's the tank? The guys on the nano-reefer forum don't bother with skimmers on tanks up to 50 gallons. The cost of doing frequent water changes is tiny on a small tank, and is usually just as effective. some of those guys do twice-a-week changes of 15% each and have absolutely stunning sps tanks.

The tank's only 33 gallons, and a remora's for something round 66 gallons. I think it's a waste of money because of the price curve. spending $180 for 33g of water, compared to $300 for 120g of water on a larger system. Except for cycling liverock. would make cycling live rock less smelly and significant others less whiney

[Jaws]

I've read that overskimming can remove some of the beneficial nutrients and elements in your tank so if you are going to overskim then make sure you do regular water changes to help replenish what is removed. You should always do regular water changes anyways so it's kind of redundant. JMO.

[Kronk]

Skim the shiznit out of your tank unless your keeping a propagation tank for softies or sponges... how does anyone say its not necessary just look at a collection cup of skimmate, smell it and then tell me you'd want to breathe in that nastiness... for the health of the fish get a skimmer.

[Quagmire]

Ok so good question,but here's a better one. What does skimming remove?
We can't answer the first without knowing the second.OK so we all know they remove DOC,and free algea.But what else is skimmed out?
I just reconnected my RS135 to my 40g after running skimmerless/sumpless all winter.I guess that would be at least considered heavy skimming.
Skimmerless is good as long as your willing to do large weekly water changes.

[Kronk]

There are about a billion threads or so on different forums about this subject and none of the ones i have read can prove that any elements are removed by skimming. I did read something about calcium but i cant remember... anyways skimming should not be used as a replacement for water changes. But some people have had success using the sugar or vodka method in tanks with softies.