Running a Skimmerless tank

[Reef Pilot]

Have you tried MB7? It competes with cyano, and is very effective with preventing it when using bio-pellets. But can't see why it wouldn't work at anytime in your tank.

My QT/frag tank does not have a skimmer. But I make large water changes using my DT water when I change it. My DT has a skimmer, of course, and N03 and P04 are both zero now, so that water is still pretty clean when it goes into my QT.

[kien]

There are a crap load of opinions on the use of the skimmer, and here's yet another one :-)

I don't think that a skimmer is absolutely necessary for your size of tank but it definitely would be beneficial. Skimmers were invented for a reason, they do what mother nature does with sea foam and that is remove dissolved organics. In the absence of this contraption that removes dissolved organics from the water you have to decide for yourself if you and your tank are OK with what's in your tank water in terms of nutrients. Some tanks will run fine with higher nutrients some don't. If you're not OK with the higher nutrients then you have to figure out a way to export them, either by way of more frequent or larger water changes or add a skimmer. A canister filter does not do the job of a skimmer. It will mechanically remove larger particles from your display tank but will not skim out the dissolved organics like a skimmer will.

As for the cyano issue, I had a cyano outbreak in my tank last week. In tracking down the problem I noticed that one of my powerheads was acting funny and would periodically stop working. I also noticed a lot of build up on the intake grills of my powerheads. Over the year I just got used to the flow so never really noticed that it got reduced considerably over time. I planned to clean up the powerheads as I normally do once a year but instead just bought new ones. Immediately I could tell that the flow from the older powerheads was indeed drastically reduced compared to the brand new powerheads. A week with the new powerheads and the cyano has mostly gone now. For me cyano ALWAYS creeps up in areas of lowest flow.

If that did not work I had a Plan B which also has worked for me in the past and that is to use Coral Snow. I recall reading somewhere that someone used it and it got rid of their cyano. I tried it myself last year and sure enough, it worked. Your mileage may vary of course.

[Palmer]

In my personal experience Cyano if introduced to the tank on a coral or piece of rock can thrive in a well balanced and mature reef tank. Yes yes I know algae needs light and nutrients but I have seen several cases where the stuff needs to be eradicated in order to get rid of it and then said tanks are fine afterwards. So I have used Chemi clean and find it works very well. If your nitrates are low/undetectable and you have good flow new bulbs and are not overfeeding I would recommend it and given the above it should not come back. Be careful to follow the directions though I always add an air pump line for oxygenation turn the skimmer off (if you decide to turn it on!) and follow the directions on the water change.

On the skimmer note I must admit I dont have a lot of faith in skimming. I dont disagree that it has a purpose and becuase it is used in industrial applications that to me gives more creedence to it. But the articles I have read on the amount of organics removed by typical aquarium skimmers makes me doubt their overall utility as a must have. With that said I have a couple and use them just like everyone else I think they are a component to a healthy reef tank but not the be all end all in my opinion (thats why I will never own a Bubble King lol....)

[gregzz4]

IMO, running a skimmer-less tank is asking your fish to continue to swim in their own pee Ewww

BTW, cyano is not an algae, not that there's anything wrong with that ...

[Palmer]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

IMO, running a skimmer-less tank is asking your fish to continue to swim in their own pee Ewww

BTW, cyano is not an algae, not that there's anything wrong with that ...

Yes your right its not lol I slipped on that one but I think we subject them to pee baths either way lol That's why I believe in water changes

[gregzz4]

I wasn't 'finger pointin'
I see cyano called algae a lot, and more than once in this post

I still like using my skimmer
I get about 250ml per week of very skanky stuff, so I think it's beneficial to run one

On the other hand, I've seen some pretty nice tanks this last year that are skimmer-less so, in the hands of learned reefers, I guess either way is OK

The only other thing that comes to mind is whether or not running skimmer-less gives your home a fishy smell

[Madreefer]

[quote=gregzz4;775502

The only other thing that comes to mind is whether or not running skimmer-less gives your home a fishy smell[/QUOTE]

Well when I dont empty my skimmer cup for 4-5 days my basement where my sump is smells like an effluent plant, but my skimmer cup is about the size of a pail of ice cream. And Palmer you would have a change of opinion on the Bubble King skimmrs after running one on your tank for a while. I've tried alot of different skimmers and you cant beat them IMO.

[Coralgurl]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

I wasn't 'finger pointin'
I see cyano called algae a lot, and more than once in this post

I still like using my skimmer
I get about 250ml per week of very skanky stuff, so I think it's beneficial to run one

On the other hand, I've seen some pretty nice tanks this last year that are skimmer-less so, in the hands of learned reefers, I guess either way is OK

The only other thing that comes to mind is whether or not running skimmer-less gives your home a fishy smell

I think for now I'll increase the canister cleaning to weekly, cut the lights a few hours a day (currently running from 1:30 pm - 9:30 pm). I've been over feeding since adding a couple of fish, but they are eating fine so not as much of a concern, will cut back on feedings. as we are going away in a few weeks, if I treat with chemi clean, it's either now or February to do so.

I'd like to keep it skimmer less as it really has been doing well. I find my 180 has more of a fishy smell than this one.

I'll test nitrates and phosphates tonight too and post later.

[Palmer]

Yes that will teach me to stop using abreviations (i.e. cyano) to help me remember.

Not that this proves me correct but I posted this article here awhile back. After reading it I was quite suprised at the conclusions. With that said I like plastic candy as much as anyone else and having come from freshwater aquariums first I thought skimmers were the cats pajamas when starting my first SW tank and given enough evidence I could be convinced to hook a lava lamp to my sump and would love it.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/1/aafeature

Another interesting thing is most say that skimmers are only good for SW due to the surface tension but they use skimmers in commercial freshwater fish farming. I dont exactly know how/why but I always assumed the high nutrient levels in fish farming tanks could increase the salt or dissolved organics enough to create a significant enough surface tension to create bubbles...