my skimmer is down, SPS okay?

[james1990]

Im waiting for a new motor for my skimmer, but im worried that my new SPS will take a hit. Can my system run without a skimmer with no harm to SPS?

Or should I try to find a loaner for the next few days?

Am I being paranoid or are SPS that easily damaged?

 

[JonnyJ]

Your being paranoid. As much as you are reading their is only a certain amount that one can actually intake and understand.

Do you know what a skimmer does? Besides helping aerate the water it helps remove protein based organics aka waste before it can convert to nitrate.

I have been running my tank for a year and a half without a skimmer. I have 2 fish and my feedings are kept to a minimum.

The simple answer is NO a tank does not need a skimmer if you know how to nutrient control and run a tank.

 

[james1990]

Cool. Never hurts to ask, I'm sure there's someone else out there wondering the same thing.. Should have posted in the beginners section on this one.

 

[andylee]

I will differ on at least one thing that Johnny says. I think it's a good question that has no implications on whether someone knows what a skimmer does.

I would say that it probably doesn't make a difference if it's just for a few days. You can compensate with an extra water change while you wait for your new pump. Running long term with no skimmer is not common, especially for reef setups. I did it for a small seahorse tank years ago, but I did large water changes every week.

 

[james1990]

ill switch from Rods food to rinsed out mysis for the next few days. That Rods food is great but very dense. the CUC loves it

 

[JonnyJ]

I will differ on at least one thing that Johnny says. I think it's a good question that has no implications on whether someone knows what a skimmer does.

I would say that it probably doesn't make a difference if it's just for a few days. You can compensate with an extra water change while you wait for your new pump. Running long term with no skimmer is not common, especially for reef setups. I did it for a small seahorse tank years ago, but I did large water changes every week.

Please explain, if you clearly understand what a skimmer does then you would understand they aren't needed.

I'm running for years without one. It's been over 2 years without one an I'm a full blown Sps dominated 25 gallon nano with over 70 different species including 4 gorgonias that are spot fed everyday. I have no nitrates and no phosphates (nitrate, checked with salifert , and phosphate with Hannah checker) I dose to maintain levels and do a 5 gallon water change every two weeks.

Yes, in some situations when a tank is skimmer dependent from over feedings, over stocking then yes you can see negative effects when a protein skimming dependent tanks skimmer is taken offline.

Given HIS situation, a new tank and not dependent on a skimmer it will be fine forever & ever if he chose to go skimmerless.

Trust me I believe skimmers are good for people and people that overstock. But truthfully 90% of the new people skimming have no idea what they even do, just believe they need them, and that's why I posted what they do. Half of the skimmers out there are junk, And it's even funnier when half these people are running skimmers incorrectly.

Half of the people are wet skimming and half of them have no clue how to dial them in causing tremendous salinity changes while pulling out a ton of good nutrients.

Imo, Everything takes time to understand mainly from
First hand experience. I don't know everything but I can definitely vouch that a skimmer is not needed on a reef. I can show you a ton of skimmerless beautiful tanks.

If this was someone with an established heavily stocked tank I would have had a different reply.