Any one not use a protein skimmer?

[Jacob Abshire]

I would like to hear from people that have a sussful reef tank and don't use a skimmer. Mine is not working right and has not for about a month. Since it quit working all of my corals are looking better. Any info on this topic would be helpful. Jacob.

[OrionGirl]

Short term, running without a skimmer isn't a big deal. It's the long term accumulation of the gunk that causes a problem. Were you dosing the tank to replenish the good stuff that the skimmer pulled out (iodine, for example)?

We had the same problem--skimmer busted. No noticable difference to our corals, but we compensated with larger water changes. On a 180, it takes a pretty drastic change to cause serious problems, though.

[a_free_bird73]

I have been running an experiment with my 50G tank without a skimmer or a filter for 6 months now and have not had any problems. The only thing I do is change 5% of the water weekly... Having said that, I have a very low fish loading in the tank and feeding is very calculated. Frozen food only once a week, and the rest of the time they get pellets that are counted per fish... I am adding fish very slowly at the rate of 1 per month and doing comperhensive water tests monthly to determine the water quality....

[Jacob Abshire]

I also have a very low fish load. Two false percs and spotted hawk fish. I also have two hermit crabs, two turbo snails, a CBS and a camel shrimp. All in a 46 gal tank with about 60lbs of rock. I am going to try running it with out a skimmer untill I notice a diffrence in my corals. I do 5 gal water change weekly (almost, some weeks I don't make it) I also had my chemicals once per week. I may cut back since I am not useing the skimmer. Any other feed back would still be great! I will let you guys know when/if I run into problems. Thanks, Jacob.

[Microsofttech]

I have had a reef tank now for three years and have NOT used a protein skimmer at all. My fish seem to be doing well. Never had any problems or diseases. Now a friend of mine has one on his tank and I see all the garbage that he pulls out of his water and I think to myself "Do I have all that stuff". But It's been three years and I guess I'm doing something right. I have a 55 gallon reef. Naso tang, Yellow headed gobi, scooter, chocolite chip star, pink tip anenome and two snails. Sand bottom with about 30 pounds of live rock. Also I'm running a canister filter that filters 300 gallons per hour.:)

[cuttingras]

ok update. my starfish and cuke. worm have died, I've lost a blue damsel and a black and white striped one. I am tired of losing fish. I bought a protien skimmer and when I use it my Tang gets worse on the ICK problem. I am, on a good note growing that pink algea. My ammonia is still 1.0 and my nitrates are one above 0, nitrites are 0, ph 8.2-4(varies) and the salinity is 1.24. Did I waste my $$ on the protien skimmer? It is supposed to have a uv light incased in it and I was told that would kill parasites and bacteria. It surely isn't killing the ICK. I've gone thru almost 2 full bottles of KickIck and it's still comes back. I have done 2 different water changes in the past month one was 22gal out of a 55 gal tank and the other was 15 gal. What is up with my tank? anyone live in or near Kissimmee/Poinciana, FL that can come over and give me instruction on how to get this thing better?(no psycho's please):confused:

[OrionGirl]

Sorry, I'm too far for a house call...But I suspect that the midication is killing off your beneficial bacteria, which is causing the tank to spike. Ammonia should always be undetectable--to have it otherwise indicates either a new tank, or serious problems.

You need to do some large water changes to get the ammonia down, and keep them up to keep it low. Turn off the skimmer--it's not beneficial while your tank is cycling. Run carbon for a day or three to eliminate any lingering medication. Pick up some new live rock, to seed your existing system with the right bacteria.

To treat the tang, two options. If possible, remove him to a hospital tank. Keep the salinity in this tank low--1.018-1.020. This will kill the parasites as they emerge from the tangs flesh. If you can't do this, try freshwater dips, daily. Use pure FW, leave the tang in there for 1-3 minutes, then return him to the main tank. This will take longer, since the internal parasites won't be affected, and the spores will continue hatching and re-infecting.

[JAYDEE]

..i have 125 reef that i never use a skimmer on.
I have a baffle system set up with 30lbs of miracle mud.
I am growing 3 types of caulerpa mixed with mangrove sprouts.
On occasion i notice a build up of bubbles in the sump area that builds up from the baffle system. I just scoop out the build up when its gets to be to much. Thats all the skimming I ever do...
and everything is thriving!

[VoodooChild]

My damned SeaClone leaked for the second time and so that baby's out of here! I'm debating on whether or not to go all out for the Remora or to get the Prizm.

[Ray Pollett]

If you are going to get a skimmer; get the remora not the prizim; unless heat is an issue.

More and more people run tanks with out skimmers. Especailly if they keep anemones and soft corals. I have a number of clients without skimmers. Oldiest tank without one is over 2 years old. Best BTA tank I've ever seen. One 3 inch BTA is now 3 BTAs; the largest is over 15 inches across. Fish are all healthy.

Ray

[revant01]

I dont use a skimmer on my 20 gal reef, tho it has a 40 gal sump and a light fish load. I have mainly LPS and softies and they are all doing really well, even the bleached dead goni that i posted here in feb has grown back and is looking great. My new 5x2x2 does not have a skimmer eithor and the BTA that i added is growing soo fast, but i think it is more to do with the 400w MH than the lack of a skimmer. This tank has a massive lunar wrasse in there temporarily and even with the large amount of food i feed him i havent neede a skimmer.