Contemplating a Skimmerless Tank

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Very nice, Anthony! What did you do to maintain it? And Marie, how is yours doing?

So I've been skimmerless for a few weeks now. My observations so far: the film on the glass seems to accumulate more quickly, but is not out of control. No reoccurences of nuisance algae otherwise.

The polyp extension is insane. All of my corals are fuller and bigger than I've ever seen them. In particular, the bubble coral, short-tentacle plate, frogspawn and mushrooms.

[marie]

I discovered I am emotionaly attached to my skimmer and started it back up again .
I did a water change the other night after changing the filters on my RO unit and immediately after the water change all the polyps on the corals withdrew, so in a panic I replaced the carbon and turned the skimmer back on. Everything is fine, it appears to be just a minor blip but I feel better leaving the skimmer where it is.
For the 2 weeks it was turned off I didn't notice any big changes

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Over 2 months skimmerless now and haven't noticed any adverse affects! Corals are still showing amazing polyp extension and fish are happy! Same amount of green film on the glass as before.

Of course, I don't have any SPS (except for a green monti cap which is growing and doing alright as well).

[albert_dao]

I would only consider this only for mature systems with lots of biological transport methods.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

What do you consider a mature system?

[albert_dao]

In the most literal sense? Hmm, I'd say one that can keep a Powder Blue Tang, or something of equivalent difficulty (Regal Angel, Anthias, SPS, Clams, that kinda stuff) alive without a huge amount of user intervention, all matters taken into account (size of tank, style of tank, etc).

Also, a tank that can hold its own against problem algaes gets a vote in my book.

[Carrera75]

I have been running my tank without a skimmer for almost 9 months. There was some Red Turf algae growing but that algae came on a piece of liverock that I bought. The algae went away after I used Chemiclean and never came back. All I have is a heater, powerhead in the tank.

I do weekly water changes and feed the fish very little. All my fish and corals have been doing very well.

[michika]

Originally Posted by yvr75

I have been running my tank without a skimmer for almost 9 months. There was some Red Turf algae growing but that algae came on a piece of liverock that I bought. The algae went away after I used Chemiclean and never came back. All I have is a heater, powerhead in the tank.

I do weekly water changes and feed the fish very little. All my fish and corals have been doing very well.

I think your system looks really good!
How old is your system? Do you use any additives?
Did you run a skimmer before, or have you always run skimmerless? Any differences that you saw in the beginning, or later on, assuming you ran a skimmer at one point?
What kind of growth do you see in your system?

[Carrera75]

Originally Posted by michika

I think your system looks really good!
How old is your system? Do you use any additives?
Did you run a skimmer before, or have you always run skimmerless? Any differences that you saw in the beginning, or later on, assuming you ran a skimmer at one point?
What kind of growth do you see in your system?

Thanks for your positive comments.
I have never used a skimmer. The first tank I set up was a 29 gallon in December 2006. Then I decided that I wanted a bigger tank and upgraded to a 50 gallon.

Both tanks have been running without a skimmer since day 1. The tank get some Diatoms but I believe this is the result of using tap water. Yes, you are reading well. I have used tap water since day one and so far no problems. I use IO salt and don't add any additives, just do weekly water changes. I have been thinking about buying a Deltec 600 (skimmer) just in case it is needed.

Here the tank specs:

50 gallon tank
2X150 HQI + 2X39 T5
1 Hydor Koralia #2
100 watt heater

That's all the equipment that I have been using since I set up this tank.
Let me know if you have any more questions.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

yvr...nice! I see it's full of LPS and Soft corals, as is mine. My system is 13 months old and I've been skimmerless for two, like I said before. My corals have looked much better since I took the skimmer out.

The only thing I add is Kent Turbo Calcium and Kent Superbuffer dKH. I feed nightly and use RO store bought water.

I'll try to get a pic sometime soon, too