Skimmerless for a while?

[Buzz]

Looking to transplant an established (3-4yr old) 20 gallon tank to it's new home - a 30 gallon tank.

I’m currently using a CPR Bakpak 1 on the 20 gallon and will be transferring it to the 30 gallon since it’ll probably be able to handle the 30 gallon just fine. The bakpak has been on the 20G for at least 3 years now and has consistently pulled out a decent amount of green water + gunk which needs to be dumped every week or so. I have upgraded to the MJ1200 about a month and a half ago and did not notice much of a change in it’s output.

So, the question is … while I’m cycling the 30G for about a month or 2, will it be okay to leave the 20G skimmerless? If necessary, I may switch the skimmer back and forth between the 2 tanks – perhaps 4 days on the 30G while it’s cycling and 3 days on the 20G? Any tips on weaning the 20G off the skimmer before I start setting up the 30G or do you think it'll be fine to go completely skimmerless?

Nitrates never show up on the scale, there is no hair algae and plenty of corraline. Inhabitants are 3 small clowns, 1 BTA, some soft corals and shrooms.

 

[Enkidu]

You might be able to pull that off, but I'd alternate more often; maybe 2 days on the 30 and 2 days on the 20. Are you adding new rock or anything? If you're not adding rock you could just move all the stuff over at once without too much problem I would imagine. If you're adding rock you might be able to let it cycle in the 20 if it wasn't too much (like 10lbs).

 

[Buzz]

You might be able to pull that off, but I'd alternate more often; maybe 2 days on the 30 and 2 days on the 20. Are you adding new rock or anything? If you're not adding rock you could just move all the stuff over at once without too much problem I would imagine. If you're adding rock you might be able to let it cycle in the 20 if it wasn't too much (like 10lbs).

I'll probably be adding 10lbs or so of live rock and quite a bit of live sand. I figure I'd be better off cycling and seeding the 30G with the LR and LS and maybe put a couple of pieces from the 20G into the 30G to help speed things up. Either way, I'll let the 30G cycle for at least a month before moving everything over.

Thanks for the tips.. I will probably try the 2 day switch-around. Hopefully that'll be enough time for the skimmer to get "used" to the tank and start skimming a decent amount of gunk.

 

[Anonymous]

Why not go skimmerless? I do and so do many others.

 

[Buzz]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

since it sounds like you're into small tanks, check out this board for nano-reefers: www.nano-reef.com

Yep. Already checked them out back in 98 or 99. Seems like not much has changed since back then and I've been too lazy to change the water that often. Corals seem healthy so I just dosed trace elements and kept the skimmer on.

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

I definitely think leaving a skimmer off a 20 for a few months while the 30 cycles won't be a problem, keeping in mind the more frequent water changes.

That is exactly what I was planning on doing but just wanted some more thoughts on it. I will probably do a 10% every week and test for any spikes while I switch the skimmer to the 30.

Thanks everyone for all the replies.

 

[djlanius]

since it sounds like you're into small tanks, check out this board for nano-reefers: www.nano-reef.com . Current view among nano-reefers seems to be that skimmers are actually bad because they pull too many trace elements out. (I may be oversimplifying...) You do more frequent water changes instead.
I definitely think leaving a skimmer off a 20 for a few months while the 30 cycles won't be a problem, keeping in mind the more frequent water changes. And I'd test the water a little more frequently to make sure nothing's getting out of control.
Good luck!