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bugzme 
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Joined: May 22 2004
Location: West Jordan
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 Posted: September 08 2010 at 6:36pm |
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So how about some pic's of your tank? I would really like to see what you have going on.
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Jeff
125 tank
50 gallon sump
T-5 lighting
Rum drinker, Carbon User
I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!!
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Mark Peterson
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Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
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Posted: September 09 2010 at 10:55am |
Again, a skimmer is not part of the biofiltration. Biofiltration is THE most important part of the reef aquarium. Jeff, if you want to see pics of SPS growing without a Skimmer go to the Tips and How To's section of the thread linked below and see the one about some of my aquariums over the years. Also, while you were out of the hobby for those 4-5 years, I was farming coral of all types for part of my living. It grew very well and never needed a Skimmer. I have more pics I can show you if those are not enough. An open mind is a good thing. 
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Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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MadReefer
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Joined: December 13 2007
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Posted: September 09 2010 at 11:52am |
A skimmer can help, but is not needed. I have a skimmer setup on the tank I'm taking care of, but I've run skimmerless in the past.
Sure, if most people removed their skimmer and continued to do the same things, the tank might go down hill. But it's not too hard to setup a successful reef without a skimmer. Need is a strong word and doesn't apply to a skimmer for a successful reef. Biofiltration, for sure is needed to be successful.
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Ryan Thompson
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Joined: April 11 2006
Location: Lehi
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Posted: September 09 2010 at 3:53pm |
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Mark,
Let's say you go skimmerless and decide a refugium is better for nutrient export. You throw some chaeto into the refugium and let it remove nitrates and phosphates.
Now I set up the same tank and decide to put a skimmer in instead. The biological functions happen and now we need to remove nitrates and phosphates. Throw in some carbon source to feed the bacteria that eats the nutrients. Now the skimmer can remove those nutrients.
In both setups the same thing has happened. Nutrients have been exported. Correct?
Skimmers aren't an end all for tanks. A skimmer doesn't guarantee success but it sure helps. Studies have also revealed that skimmers can only pull out so much TOC. Thus you must have a good bio filter going on. Even the best bio filter can miss nutrients IMO. That is where my skimmer comes in.
Neither way is wrong but both are right. I wouldn't keep a tank if I had to stare at algae and a refugium. Therefore a skimmer makes sense to me.
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bugzme
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Posted: September 09 2010 at 3:58pm |
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Mark I went there and saw very few sps but it doesn't really matter to me! If you did grow sps to make money that's great. I can't grow macro! LOL
Edited by bugzme - September 09 2010 at 3:59pm
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Jeff
125 tank
50 gallon sump
T-5 lighting
Rum drinker, Carbon User
I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!!
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DLindquist
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Joined: June 07 2008
Location: Lehi
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Posted: September 09 2010 at 11:47pm |
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I run a small refugium and a skimmer. Some day I will upgrade both. In the few instances my skimmer has been down, (as I run 24/7) I notice my PH drops also. The benefits of a skimmer far out way any possible down side in my opinion.
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A government strong enough to give you everything you want, is powerful enough to take everything you have.
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