Contemplating a Skimmerless Tank

[Delphinus]

I'm with Albert on this one.

If a system works for you then it works for you. That's good, but to then point at a system that might be having an issue and start blaming the "high tech equipment" is a bit of a flaw in logic. You don't know what the problem is in that case. Removing the skimmer from a tank like that isn't going to solve anything.

The bottom line, a good skimmer does add value to a system. I, for one, could not keep some of the fish that I have, and also have a tank with a balanced nutrient load, without the skimmer that I do have. It works for me. I'm not saying run out and buy a skimmer because everyone else has one, because that's the wrong reasoning. The reasoning should be about understanding the purpose of a piece of equipment, and running it to acheive a specific goal. If your goal is being acheived without it, then by all means you don't need it. But that may not work for everyone. So the risk is that people may drawn incomplete or incorrect conclusions.

[Carrera75]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

I'm with Albert on this one.

If a system works for you then it works for you. That's good, but to then point at a system that might be having an issue and start blaming the "high tech equipment" is a bit of a flaw in logic. You don't know what the problem is in that case. Removing the skimmer from a tank like that isn't going to solve anything.

The bottom line, a good skimmer does add value to a system. I, for one, could not keep some of the fish that I have, and also have a tank with a balanced nutrient load, without the skimmer that I do have. It works for me. I'm not saying run out and buy a skimmer because everyone else has one, because that's the wrong reasoning. The reasoning should be about understanding the purpose of a piece of equipment, and running it to acheive a specific goal. If your goal is being acheived without it, then by all means you don't need it. But that may not work for everyone. So the risk is that people may drawn incomplete or incorrect conclusions.

Never said that the skimmer or hich-tech equipment was to blame for the algae, and have never said that their problems would go away as soon as they got rid of their skimmer or high-tech equipment. What I meant is that nobody should say that a skimmer is a must because my tank and other tanks are the proof that it can be done without a skimmer. Even when a reefer has all the expensive high-tech toys there is no guarantee that his tank will be amazing and beautiful.

If you read my posts well again, I also said that a skimmerless tank has been working for me so far but I also said that it does not mean that it will work for everyone. Different things work for different people.......I have never denied that a skimmer can be very handy to have but I also believe that if one stocks lightly, feed little and religiously does water changes among other things then a skimerless tank is possible.

You are right that for some set ups a skimmer is a must but not for mine and that's why I stated that IT WORKS FOR ME BUT IT MIGHT NOT WORK FOR SOMEBODY ELSE. It all depends on your set up and needs. I remember Seahorsefanatic mentioned a while ago on this site that he ran a skimerless tank for a long time and that most people thought that this skimerless tank is the most beautiful set up he has ever had.

Again, am not trying to mislead people and I apologize if I have done that. But I will firmly support that a skimerless tank can be done with success.
Cheers
Daniel