Skimmer really necessary?

[Azrile]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I don't want to come off as 'cheap'. But are skimmers really necessary? I had a 55 with 20 gal fuge for 3 years, and never used a skimmer and never had a problem#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#BR#ed_cl#Right now I have a 55 with a 55 fuge. between the two I probably have 150+ lbs of LR and the mandatory macroalgae in the fuge and DSB in both. I do a ton of algae export to get bad stuff out of the system.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#My goal was/is, to make my tanks as unmechanical and maintence free as possible. The only things I have are two powerheads that draw the water up from the fuge into the display tank, and an overflow box to drop the water back into the fuge. I do have a foam filter in the overflow box that gets rinsed out every week..#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Besides feeding my yellow tang some spinach now and then, I don't feed the tank. I don't do water changes, justtop-offs.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#BR#ed_cl#I was reading a thread in this board from someone with a $500 limit to start a system, everyone recommended a skimmer as high importance. I just don't see it unless you have a fish only tank with lots of heavy carnivores. In my opinion I'd recommend someone spending the money on quality LR before spending it on a skimmer.. unless (and this is what scares me), I am completely missing something.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#And as a followup.. I'm about to begin the foray into corals... I only have 200watts so will just stick to some easy, low light ones.. but is this something where the lack of skimmer will show itself? Once I start the corals, I'll probably do water changes and of course pay attention to some tests besides the nitrogen cycle.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Please educate me.. I feel like I'm missing something.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Whoyah]

At this point you probably don't need a skimmer since you are not feeding the tank very much. Your large fuge and heavy macro algae pruning is probably replacing the skimmer. Now if you started feeding on regular basis then you probably could benefit from a skimmer. I think it comes to down to the fact that a skimmer allows you a larger margin of error since it will fix a nutrient overdose stopping problems like a algae bloom. Some people actually do away with there skimmer after a while since it produces so little. I think for the average reefer, a protein skimmer is must but if you are getting the results you want right now then keep on truckin good buddy. :D

[tigersax7]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I agree with your thougths about a skimmer with your refuge handeling the nutren export there isent much need for one, even if you start feeding on a reqular bassis. I personaly use a skimmer but mainly to remove unwanted toxins produced by my corals, I run it for 12-24 hours about three times a week. Truthfully I feed the snot out of my tank and havent had much of an algea problem at all.It helps thatI have a very gready clean up. Also I find that smaller more frequent water changes help a lot, you'ed be suprised how efective a2 gallon change on a larger tank every week can be.As a side thought you can also use xenia as an export....anyhow sounds like your doing good so keep with it.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#tigersax7#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Reptoreef]

A skimmer's main function is to remove excess protiens and aid in generating oxygen into the water. As far as I'm concerned, you've accomplished that with your fuge. I do, however, promote the use of a skimmer as a sort of "crash guard" or how about this... the shocks on an auto... so long as everything is good coasting and riding smooth, it's all good, but just on pot hole could put a car with no suspension in some bad shape. With shocks, the trauma is distributed more evenly and far reduced, giving the car a better chance to recover from the problem. With corals, you should continue to be fine as long as you do some research to find their toxicity and tolerance of one another as well as maybe adding carbon.