Can you OVER-skim?

kwirky · #1 03-13-2007, 05:57 PM

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 · #2 03-13-2007, 06:03 PM

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 · #3 03-13-2007, 11:45 PM

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 · #4 03-13-2007, 11:59 PM

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 · #5 03-14-2007, 03:55 AM

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.

kwirky · #6 03-14-2007, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

and then there's zeovit; who's running that and has seen a noticable difference? I know, kinda off topic, and zeovit REQUIRES a skimmer, but I'm curious, since we're already on a debatable subject.

Reefer Rob · #7 03-14-2007, 04:10 AM

Carbon dosing (sugar etc) and aggressive skimming

are most often used on sps tanks to achieve the low nutrient levels required by these corals. It is the basis for Zeovit, Prodibio etc. Water changes are to balance the elements in your water that may get depleted with time. Doing water changes to reduce nitrates is expensive, time consuming, and a loosing battle IMO. Better to buy a bigger skimmer!

Kronk · #8 03-14-2007, 04:50 AM

Dale · #9 03-14-2007, 05:10 AM

To play the devils advocate

Again, some of the discussion is based on peoples personal preferences and not with the livestock selection in the tank. There should really be the caveat "if you keep this, you should do this" in order to be accurate.

Will one be successful with SPS species if one strips the water column of nutrients?

Will one be successful with filter feeders like feather dusters, clams, certain softies, sponges etc... if one strips the water column of nutrients?

Dosing and stripping is fine for a smaller aquarium but what if you have a 200 - 300 gallon system?
I say this from my own experience in creating a coldwater set up. I naturally built a very efficient skimmer (keep er clean) and then began stocking native species, primarily filter feeding flora and fauna... Oops! This (ought to have been obvious) revelation caused me to take a step back and rethink the whole filtration regime.
I'm not saying I have all the answers - just that I know there are a couple o more questions I need to answer first.

Ok, the devils had enough of my time already