No Protein Skimmer

[paulbeau]

Hi anyone not using a protein skimmer? Can you tell me how successful you have been? I have seen a succesful marine tank using the eco system, i spoke to the owner who stated that a protein skimmer is not needed.

Thanks

 

[Avi]

I always recommend a protein skimmer...and a good one...which almost always means a costly one, at that. But there is a local fish store that I go to that has a display tank using the eco-system with the mud without skimming and the coral in there...only soft and LPS with no SPS...are very very impressive. Their size is outstanding. I myself, am just more comfortable with the skimmer, but I can't deny what it is that I saw with the mud.

 

[mkeller]

I don't use a skimmer, but I only have a 12 gal tank and do 1 - 2 gal water change each week. I am thinking about getting a skimmer so I can cut back on water changes to maybe every other week. I have a red sponge, purple gorgonian, xenia, and a flower pot, all is doing well.

 

[old salty]

I think you will find that most people will recommend a skimmer and those who use Miracle Mud will not. I have used the MM method with success (no skimmer.) I recently added a skimmer and the water clarity was noticable overnight. Whether or not I really need the skimmer, who is to say? You should be alright without one.

 

[Poorcollegereef]

Skimmers make life easier, so I would recommend one. now I do have a small 5g without one but I change the water change every 4 days and I only have one small domino damsel in the tank. What type of tank aslo matters and the more heavily stocked you want the tank to be then skimmer would more important. Also, dont scrimp and buy cheap skimmers, you will end up spending more money because you will prob. end up buying better skimmers in the end. Buy the best you can afford because with the exception of lighting for sps, the skimmer is the most benefitial if not necessary piece of equipment. (Ok, maybe the glass box is the most necessary piece =P)

 

[paulbeau]

Thanks to you all for your advice!! I will still not use protein skimmer for the time being and see how it goes. My tank is only 22g, i think weekly water changes is the key!

 

[robplonker]

i have a 215lt tank, approx 50 gal and i cant have a skimmer due to the hood of the tank, at first i was worried that my parameters would be all out of whack cause everyone was telling me i had to have a skimmer. although i have only had the tank up and running for 4 months, everything is running fine, i keep thing in check with water changes and i dont seem to have any probs with algae.

 

[rdanamorton]

i've got a 30 gal. running about 4 months now. mainly fish and ~ 35 lbs live rock, and a wet/dry filter. just added some clove polyps soft coral. also now have 4 bta anenomes.

my water quality is not where i want it. not bad, but not great. i'm planning to buy a skimmer soon!

most experts do seem to list it as highly recommended, if not a requirement. i suppose it's a requirement maybe to get the best water quality. i have thought about a refugium or a skimmer, really i'd like both to really get the water quality up for the system.

 

[sassyfishy]

I have been running the ecosystem with miracle mud on my 40 gallon tank since October of last year. Don't get me wrong - I love the ecosystem and it's a great place for my macroalgae & pods to thrive!

In February, however, I finally decided to add a Coralife Super Skimmer, and it made a huge difference in my system. It pulls out a ton of gunk continuously (gunk I couldn't imagine being left behind otherwise), and the hair algae problem I had in the beginning is now gone. (Don't know whether it would have gone on it's own, being it was a new system, or not.) I wouldn't go without my skimmer again simply because I've found my nitrates to be much lower since adding it.