Tank without Skimmer

[Saltysteve]

I'm willing to bet that 80% or more of us are running less than adequate skimmers to begin with

Removing the skimmer from most of our systems due to above would more than likely account for less than 10% difference in what you're seeing now!

[Beverly]

I've run tanks as small as 2.5g and as large as our current BB 120g skimmerless. As long as the fish load is low, you don't over feed, keep non-invasive macroalgae to consume nutrients, and you do weekly maintenance all should be well. Have been running our skimmerless BB 120g for well over a year with no nitrate.

Also, as with any reef, make sure you keep an eye on alkalinity, calcium and magnesium levels to help your corals grow.

[danny zubot]

If you want to keep a bunch of SPS I don't think going skimmerless is a good idea. Softies and LPS won't mind though. I just picked up a bunch of corals from my friends virtually skimmerless system, and his softies were amazing, even though the rest of the tank was covered with bubble algae.

[Beverly]

Originally Posted by danny zubot

If you want to keep a bunch of SPS I don't think going skimmerless is a good idea.

I have sps in my skimmerless BB 120g and they are growing well.

[Parker]

I run my 30 skimmerless 75% of the time. ( Not because I want to, my CSS throws a ton of microbubble into the tank) and have had zero problems so far (knocks on wood)

[danny zubot]

Originally Posted by Beverly

I have sps in my skimmerless BB 120g and they are growing well.

Is it a good idea though? To me it's not because I don't have enough time to do weekly water changes.

[Mr. Scratch]

From personal experience, and a little reading between the lines, and seeing the myriad of people who have beautiful tanks with little to no technology, i would surmise that the majority of the technology we use in our tanks, while no doubt helps, is not required. Simple maintenace and I hate to say it some luck i think goes a long way to the quality of our tanks. I know i guy who has an incredible tank, over populated with fish, sps, clams etc, softies, etc.. no skimmer, no dosing other than a alk/calc combo (kent i believe) no sump, no sulphur denitrator, no ozone, 4 powerheads, 2 xp4's (now, they were eheims i believe) he has expensive lighting etc, and does water changes every 2 months...proof you don't need a room full of equipment. I think technology is more for convienence then anything. that being said i do have a skimmer on mine 2 in fact, they were bought for me and I believe should i desire for whatever reason to do less .frequent water changes they would enable me to do so without as much concern. I to though enjoy gadgets and like most other feel "I" "NEED" to be doing something in order for the tank to be healthy, rather than let it do its thing (to some degree at least, this is changing the more i learn, water changes are the one thing that will never change, wether they are biweekly, monthly etc... I think they do help for sure)

[Salinity Now]

Here is thread by Eric Borneman about some of the research he's doing on skimmers and what they remove.

http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic52254-9-1.aspx