Do you guys use skimmer

[Elite]

I'm thinking about setup a macroalgae tank. Just wondering if I need the skimmer for it..
TIA

 

[graveyardworm]

I would think you could go skimmerless, but it may depend on what other critters, fish, or corals you may want to keep in this tank. I am grateful for my skimmer because I have some fish and a suncoral which requires alot of food as wellas some other inverts, and the skimmer helps to stabilize my water parameters.

 

[Elite]

I might keep some Seahorse in the tank also.. If you guys don't use skimmer, do you use any other filter system??

 

[graveyardworm]

If you're going to keep seahorses then a skimmer would make your life alot easier, and your horses would thank you for it.

 

[Samala]

It is possible to go without a skimmer, in a well run, balanced and medium to highly planted marine tank very little skimmate is produced. However, they are a nice backup in case you have a failure in the tank while you're on vacation, or if one of the macro's decide to sporulate (go sexual) on you, or if you happen to have an algae bloom due to unbalanced nutrients.

There are some special considerations for housing seahorses with skimmers, I'd encourage you to read a couple articles on seahorses here on Reefkeeping magazine and at seahorse.org to get an idea of what the issue is. Skimmer use has been anecdoctally linked to increased incidence of gas bubble disease (GBD) in some captive SH, so its worth knowing what the odds are and what the (apparent) evidence is before proceeding. There are a couple seahorse keepers who do not use skimmers because of this proposed link.

>Sarah

 

[Elite]

I think I won't use the skimmer then. thanks all