The importance of skimming in a zoanthid dominant tank

[Fishindude88]

I am wondering if anyone could deliver some information on this topic? I am in the process of upgrading to a 55 gallon zoa/paly dominant tank and bought a Reef Octopus protein skimmer (oversized) and was wondering if this was a good move? Do people generally use oversized skimmers, undersized skimmers or no skimmers at all?

 

[650-IS350]

I run a deltec MCE600 on my 37gal and another MCE600 on a 20gal QT.

 

[dalston]

I am against using an oversized skimmer, IMO it will always be running below par. There simply may not be enough crud for it to pull out to reach its potential and get any benefit of buying oversized.

 

[650-IS350]

I feed very heavy, which is why I use oversized skimmers for my tanks. Plus sometimes I don't do timely WC's.

 

[Fishindude88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15255863#post15255863 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 650-IS350
I feed very heavy, which is why I use oversized skimmers for my tanks. Plus sometimes I don't do timely WC's.

How often do you do water changes? I used to preform weekly but now I just do them when I feel it necessary. Does anyone not use a skimmer at all? How about the idea that you are just pulling out all the food that you fed the tank with the skimmer? How about zoas are better off with the added nutrients?

 

[flyyyguy]

I would never run a polyp tank or any reef tank without a very efficient skimmer and set up to get water efficiently to and from the skimmer

Without it, or an insane amoutn of water changes in its place, you could never truly have control of the nutrients in the water. I do believe that polyps like lots of nutrients....but not rotted nutrients that result in less than perfect water quality and all fo the issues that accompany it

feed the tank what it needs and get it out before it rots is the name of the game.

 

[prison police]

Can u say....VC ! I swear by it. I have great growth and size by dosing VC. Yes, a skimmer is a must and a good efficient skimmer at that. Thats just my 2 cents worth. Good luck and enjoy what ever zoanthids you get,theres MANY and probably my favorite.

 

[Fishindude88]

Cool, it sounds like I made the right purchase then. Thanks all for the input!

 

[FreakSRT]

I don't think it will matter too much if it is mostly zoanthids. From what I have heard and seen locally, zoanthids seem to do better in higher nutrient water. If you plan to add some other corals to the tank then I would definitely say run a skimmer. But for mostly zoanthids, I would go skimmerless. I have seen some sweet zoanthid tanks around here that run no skimmer and no refugium. I thought they were crazy but I've seen they have insane growth and color.

 

[dalston]

I think many people get mistaken when it comes to nutrition and nitrates. As flyyyguy said, I also believe polyps like a higher NUTRITION but nitrates should still be aiming for 0. Nitrates are essentially waste and should be removed by skimming or water changes. Good nutrition is beneficial but waste/rotton nutrients are not. I do think there is a great need for efficiant skimming in any reef tank however I don't think that a largely oversized skimmer will run as efficiant on a tank that is much smaller than what it's rated for (unless it is stocked to the hilt and there are ample amounts of waste for it to remove)

I think Flyyyguys quote below sums it up perfectly...

feed the tank what it needs and get it out before it rots is the name of the game.

 

[natan]

>Without it, or an insane amoutn of water changes in its place, you could never truly have control of the nutrients in the water.

I am running mine skimerless for the last year, and am happy about it. I do have an algae scrubber instead, water quality is much better than it ever was in the skimmer days. So, why pay the heavy $$ when u can get the same or better from a 1$ scrap of chicken wire (mine is in line with a chiller, so no additional powerheads)?
WCs? 10% twice a month these days. Not nearly insane in my book.

 

[flyyyguy]

Natan.....I should have explained my post better, as the way you took it I can see it isnt entirely true...let me elaborate.

Its all perception and individual goals

I feed my tanks enough to turn most systems into an algea farm quick

I am by no means saying you cant run a tank without a skimmer, many can and do and do it well with different methodologies to accomplish it

None of them feed even a small fraction of what I do though, that I guarantee, UNLESS they were to do an insane amount of water changes or dont mind looking at and dealing with lots of algae

That is just my opinion and reefing philosophy. I would never recommend anyone starting out nor anyone who is experienced to run a tank without a skimmer and just as importantly, a flow scheme and water routing set up around their skimmer. But again........JMO