Water Purification

[Quagmire]

Fuge and 10-15% weekly water changes on the tank without the skimmer....wait a minute ... same routine for the tank with the skimmer.

[TheReefGeek]

Bob, I cannot possibly "remember" that you have been keeping SW tanks since the 70's, I wasn't even born!

What size tank(s) are you currently running skimmerless? Any more details on your tanks? Cleaning regiment, fuge, etc?

[Aquattro]

One thing to keep in mind is what "reef" means to you. I keep primarily SPS, and feel that a skimmer is essential. If I instead kept a tank with zoos and/or softies only, I would have to seriously consider not using a skimmer. I have seen tanks of this type that appear to do better with higher nutrient levels.
We certainly can't argue with Bob about skimmers, he's been not using one for ever and his tanks all do just fine. I use a skimmer and my tank does just fine. So who's right? Both of us. Or neither, depending on how you look at it.

To address the topic, if skimmers didn't exist, I'd use ozone, GAC and water changes. And I'd invent skimmers and get rich!!

[Psyire]

The problem with ozone is that the best way to run it is with a skimmer. From what I've read those ozone reactors aren't all that great.

[titus]

Hello,

I used to run a PM-Bullet 2 on a 40g (incl sump) and can leave it for 2 months if not more without doing any water changes. Now I'm running a 10g without a skimmer and 30% water change weekly and the tank is still not even close to as clean as the one with the skimmer.

The loading on the 10g is less per gallon than the 20g system.

Running a skimmer as other advantages. These include gas exchange, which also compensate for the daily pH swing somewhat, and cooling.

My opinion is that it is perfectly alright to run a skimmerless system, and having a skimmer does not degrade and can only contribute.

Titus

[Psyire]

Originally Posted by Quagmire

Fuge and 10-15% weekly water changes on the tank without the skimmer....wait a minute ... same routine for the tank with the skimmer.

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)

[Beverly]

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.

[Quagmire]

Originally Posted by Psyire

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)

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.

[Beverly]

Quagmire,

We're probably just strange

[TheReefGeek]

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.