skimmer issues

Broderick · 03/01/2012, 06:16 PM

my skimmer is acting but i wanted to know how long i can go with out a skimmer running on my tank?

nlgill13 · 03/01/2012, 06:16 PM

some people don't even use a skimmer...You should be good until you can fix it

jjcancel · 03/01/2012, 07:18 PM

I dont use one and my tanks is good is a fish only tank

gonebad395 · 03/01/2012, 07:36 PM

Can you do corals without a skimmer?

Triton_Z · 03/01/2012, 08:12 PM

You can run with out a skimmer, but you need some method of waste / DOC export. Water changes, Algae Turf Scrubber, Strong chemical/mechanical filtration are other methods to accomplish the same end.

A skimmer is a very powerful tool to accomplish the above, but I don't run a skimmer on my 29 gallon reef. Small algae turf scrubber and more water changes are how I export.

gonebad395 · 03/01/2012, 10:15 PM

What's a small algae turf scrubber?

BurntOutReefer · 03/01/2012, 10:44 PM

you can do without the skimmer....just do 10% water changes once a week, till your skimmer is fixed....

jdm01 · 03/02/2012, 05:50 AM

If you want to keep coral it would be hard to live without a skimmer. I run 20 micron felt filter socks on my drains and it is amazing what junk they take out of the water column before it gets to the skimmer. Even at that I have to clean the skimmer cup about 1 x/week.

03/01/2012, 06:16 PM	#1
Broderick Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Brandon,Fl Posts: 186	skimmer issues my skimmer is acting but i wanted to know how long i can go with out a skimmer running on my tank?

03/01/2012, 08:12 PM	#5
Triton_Z Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 376	You can run with out a skimmer, but you need some method of waste / DOC export. Water changes, Algae Turf Scrubber, Strong chemical/mechanical filtration are other methods to accomplish the same end. A skimmer is a very powerful tool to accomplish the above, but I don't run a skimmer on my 29 gallon reef. Small algae turf scrubber and more water changes are how I export. __________________ Dan

03/02/2012, 05:50 AM	#8
jdm01 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Greenfield Posts: 904	If you want to keep coral it would be hard to live without a skimmer. I run 20 micron felt filter socks on my drains and it is amazing what junk they take out of the water column before it gets to the skimmer. Even at that I have to clean the skimmer cup about 1 x/week. __________________ John Martin Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon BioCube

03/01/2012, 06:16 PM	#2
nlgill13 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Boulder,CO Posts: 1,291	some people don't even use a skimmer...You should be good until you can fix it

03/01/2012, 07:18 PM	#3
jjcancel Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL Posts: 37	I dont use one and my tanks is good is a fish only tank

03/01/2012, 07:36 PM	#4
gonebad395 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: highland IN Posts: 87	Can you do corals without a skimmer?

03/01/2012, 10:15 PM	#6
gonebad395 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: highland IN Posts: 87	What's a small algae turf scrubber?

03/01/2012, 10:44 PM	#7
BurntOutReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 4,376	you can do without the skimmer....just do 10% water changes once a week, till your skimmer is fixed....