Protein Skimming

[Moti Mo]

Is a protein Skimmer an absolute neccessity?
what are the major benfefits or downfalls? I've done some research, I just wanted to hear some opinions. If there are reefers out there that run with no skimmer, I'd like to hear about it.

 

[johnreb]

If it wasn't for my Remora Pro I'd have an algae farm.

 

[HARRISON]

I think it just takes out junk that you couldn't get out any other way. You might use mechanical but then you have the nitrate buildup prob...The way I like to think about it is: Fish are living in their own toilet because the system is closed. It is there till you the reefer do a water change or filter what you can out. I like the skimmer cause it removes a lot of junk I don't want my fish living in.

Not sure if that helps but I can't sleep so your stuck with it...

cheers

 

[esmithiii]

Skimmers also help for gas exchange. Due to the millions of bubbles produced, it is as if the surface of your tank were much bigger. This keeps the oxygen level in the tank high, and your fish/inverts happy.

 

[Anonymous]

Plenty of reefers go with no skimmers if you search here you should find plenty of threads on the subject.

In a nutshell, if you keep your bioload low and have plenty of rock and sand it frequently works out fine.

 

[Gatortailale1]

Tank size and bio load are the rule of thumb.
I have two tanks a 125 and a 15. on the 125 I have a skimmer in large part due to the large bioload and don't want a algae farm. On the 15 no skimmer, just eclipse top with filter cartridge removed. All is well because low bio load, lots of sand (5 inch) and 30+ lbs of rock. Might add more rock to 15 if I find few more nice chunks I like looks of.

Craig

 

[Moti Mo]

Thanks Guys. If anyone knows a good site or something of a skimmerless system I'd be interested in checking it out.