55 gal fish only w/o skimmer

Shaker nemo · 12/01/2013, 07:09 AM

i have a standard 55 gal with a inbuilt half feet sump in one side. I was wondering i f could turn it into a Fish Only tank without a skimmer? i have a 15 gallon that will be a refuge for the tank. I plan to start as FO then convert to FOWLR after a little while. Will 2 NO t8 bulbs, one white one blue, be enough to support coraline? i will light the refuge with 2 10w multichips. DONT THNK IM CRAZY

So is it possible? I know the skimmer would be very beneficial, but i am going to use NSW and will do bi weekly 10 % water changes

THX IN ADVANCE

robotman · 12/01/2013, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaker nemo

i have a standard 55 gal with a inbuilt half feet sump in one side. I was wondering i f could turn it into a Fish Only tank without a skimmer? i have a 15 gallon that will be a refuge for the tank. I plan to start as FO then convert to FOWLR after a little while. Will 2 NO t8 bulbs, one white one blue, be enough to support coraline? i will light the refuge with 2 10w multichips. DONT THNK IM CRAZY

So is it possible? I know the skimmer would be very beneficial, but i am going to use NSW and will do bi weekly 10 % water changes

THX IN ADVANCE

it would be much better with the skimmer but you could, i ran my tank skimmerless for 6 months, no fish deaths, 2 week water changes at 10%, the lights would grow coraline much faster using t5s

Shaker nemo · 12/02/2013, 07:27 AM

im planning on a low fish load... max 4 fish. Do you think i could grow some mushroom corals with these if i kept em right at the top?

scubaprashant · 12/02/2013, 07:34 AM

Your mushrooms will grow with a cellphone flashlight

Put em' up top or the middle and you'll be just fine. You'll notice them "reaching" for the light but they'll do just fine.

You'll be fine with that setup for the top but 20 watts of LED over your fuge is going to be overkill. I'd look at a 10 watt red LED if anything.

Also, get a skimmer bud. I know you want to avoid anything excessive. Been there, done that. But the problem is that you've got no "life support" if you have any sudden deaths or spikes in the tank. You can get a cheap one and it'll still be better than nothing at all.

Shaker nemo · 12/02/2013, 07:35 AM

i didnt mention i have no space for a sump

Shaker nemo · 12/02/2013, 07:43 AM

ah kk. The main prob is i live in Sri Lanka and reefing is pretty much nil here. Those who have tanks here have giant systems and top quality stuff but it is really really really expensive here

Im planning a low cost system. Since im only 14, i don't really have a big budget. but i think i will at least get a cheap one from fish street

Merman1983 · 12/02/2013, 08:13 AM

I know a guy who has kept a fish alive for 10 years without a skimmer, but he has a high turn over rate. I went without a skimmer for a long time, but could only keep certain types of hardier fish species.
They sell those little hang on the tank skimmers pretty cheap on eBay.
Or you could even try to make one if you have some patience and the right parts.

Shaker nemo · 12/02/2013, 09:05 AM

some more info on my tank- its a standard 55 g with inbuilt sump of length half feet. so volume is around 7 g. i Will get a 15 gal as a refuge- no baffles, just refuge and return pump. I will be using a pvc overflow for taking water from the tank to the refuge. If i get a skimmer. i will probably use half the refuge for it as i dont think my current in built sump can handle it. After some more reasearching, i figured i should be able to keep some low light corals, softies, if i keep em at the top.

Merman1983 · 12/02/2013, 10:27 AM

Sounds like you're on your way, good luck!

Shaker nemo · 12/02/2013, 09:04 PM

Thank You!

Shaker nemo · 12/02/2013, 10:54 PM

i wz looking at some el cheapo protein skimmers on ebay
here're some links
http://www.ebay.com/itm/150-Lite-Ree...item256a33bbb4
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BOYU-150L-H-...item3f2cad2d08
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VS2-RS4003-F...item3a8816e0a5
i know u get what you pay for, but somethin is better than nothin right?

Chevrefils · 12/02/2013, 11:19 PM

You can grow most softie corals without a skimmer and sump. There was a great thread on here someone's 40g breeder. It was amazing. Just run a hob filter and clean out your filter media regularly. You could also mod it so it only pulls from the surface or build an overflow which your filter can pull out of. Just do regular water changes. Get some T5 lights though.

Shaker nemo · 12/03/2013, 07:29 AM

How about a diy skimmer?
im usin thisa site its VERY helpful http://www.hawkfish.org/snailman/skimmer101.htm

Merman1983 · 12/03/2013, 09:06 AM

Those eBay skimmers are cheap but mostly junk. I had one and it leaked, needed constant adjusting, etc... Finally, I broke down and found one out in the shed that needed a pump.
The DIY you mention is a good way to go.

Shaker nemo · 12/05/2013, 09:17 AM

i decided i will go with a counter current skimmer fed by the overflow from the tank. Anyone tried this before?

dppitone · 12/05/2013, 11:03 AM

Yes you can run without a skimmer, but you'll need to make routine good water changes to keep the nitrates down or it will become over-run with algae.

To grow coralline, nitrates and phosphate will need to be very low to close to zero, which is hard to do in a FOWLR without a skimmer. If you do want to pursue coralline, a skimmer and a phosphate media reactor is highly recommended. You can get both used for a little over a $100 total for that sized system. Something like a CPR skimmer and Little Fishies 150 media reactor.

Bpb · 12/05/2013, 02:30 PM

Lol only way I can get mushrooms to grow in my tank is to literally put them in shaded spots. In the open on the sandbed is still too bright. They literally have to be in shaded dark spots.

Shaker nemo · 12/07/2013, 06:07 AM

i live is sri lanka where reefing is in stone age.... okay then i will have to forget the corraline then. I will have to then use dry rock and then seed it...

Shaker nemo · 12/11/2013, 07:00 AM

Will 2 t8 support mushroom corals and other softies kept at the top?

Bpb · 12/11/2013, 07:58 AM

Yeah some softies can thrive in that low of light. Stuff like mushrooms, Xenia, Kenya tree, will all do fine in very low light and less than perfect water. They seem to prefer it

Shaker nemo · 12/11/2013, 09:10 AM

Thx! They should help filter the water right?

Bpb · 12/11/2013, 10:41 AM

While corals do take in some nitrogenous compounds to feed their symbiotic zoaxanthellae, it won't be enough to consider them "filtering" the water. Water changes and waste removal will still be your best method of filtration

Shaker nemo · 12/12/2013, 04:49 AM

Okay.. But I wz reading a thread abt a 50 w/o skimmer or sump. Only has 2 t5 ho over his tank. But he has only 2 fish and plenty of lps. He does 10% weekly wc.

fscmocsaj · 12/12/2013, 09:03 AM

Like previously posted by others. There has been lots of success rates for tanks without skimmers however you have to really keep up on the WC if you have a high bio load. Your best bet is to get a skimmer it's only beneficial to your fish and the eco system in your tank. It will also save you time and maintenance costs in the long run.

Shaker nemo · 12/12/2013, 09:46 AM

I plan on a low fish load - max I plan on keeping four fish. Water changers are not a big problem cuz I will be using nsw from a nearby reef.the same water is used at my lfs to keep emperors. I will be doing 10% weekly w/c.

THX

12/01/2013, 07:09 AM	#1
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	55 gal fish only w/o skimmer i have a standard 55 gal with a inbuilt half feet sump in one side. I was wondering i f could turn it into a Fish Only tank without a skimmer? i have a 15 gallon that will be a refuge for the tank. I plan to start as FO then convert to FOWLR after a little while. Will 2 NO t8 bulbs, one white one blue, be enough to support coraline? i will light the refuge with 2 10w multichips. DONT THNK IM CRAZY So is it possible? I know the skimmer would be very beneficial, but i am going to use NSW and will do bi weekly 10 % water changes THX IN ADVANCE __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D

12/02/2013, 07:27 AM	#3
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	im planning on a low fish load... max 4 fish. Do you think i could grow some mushroom corals with these if i kept em right at the top? __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D

12/02/2013, 07:35 AM	#5
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	i didnt mention i have no space for a sump __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D

12/02/2013, 07:43 AM	#6
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	ah kk. The main prob is i live in Sri Lanka and reefing is pretty much nil here. Those who have tanks here have giant systems and top quality stuff but it is really really really expensive here Im planning a low cost system. Since im only 14, i don't really have a big budget. but i think i will at least get a cheap one from fish street __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D

12/02/2013, 08:13 AM	#7
Merman1983 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Tampa, Florida, USA Posts: 72	I know a guy who has kept a fish alive for 10 years without a skimmer, but he has a high turn over rate. I went without a skimmer for a long time, but could only keep certain types of hardier fish species. They sell those little hang on the tank skimmers pretty cheap on eBay. Or you could even try to make one if you have some patience and the right parts. __________________ In the year 1983 a merman I should turn to be. ~ Jimi Hendrix Current Tank Info: 225 gallon in wall mixed reef, 60 gallon, 30 gallon, 20 gallon.

12/02/2013, 07:34 AM	#4
scubaprashant Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 211	Your mushrooms will grow with a cellphone flashlight Put em' up top or the middle and you'll be just fine. You'll notice them "reaching" for the light but they'll do just fine. You'll be fine with that setup for the top but 20 watts of LED over your fuge is going to be overkill. I'd look at a 10 watt red LED if anything. Also, get a skimmer bud. I know you want to avoid anything excessive. Been there, done that. But the problem is that you've got no "life support" if you have any sudden deaths or spikes in the tank. You can get a cheap one and it'll still be better than nothing at all.

12/02/2013, 09:05 AM	#8
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	some more info on my tank- its a standard 55 g with inbuilt sump of length half feet. so volume is around 7 g. i Will get a 15 gal as a refuge- no baffles, just refuge and return pump. I will be using a pvc overflow for taking water from the tank to the refuge. If i get a skimmer. i will probably use half the refuge for it as i dont think my current in built sump can handle it. After some more reasearching, i figured i should be able to keep some low light corals, softies, if i keep em at the top. __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D

12/02/2013, 10:27 AM	#9
Merman1983 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Tampa, Florida, USA Posts: 72	Sounds like you're on your way, good luck! __________________ In the year 1983 a merman I should turn to be. ~ Jimi Hendrix Current Tank Info: 225 gallon in wall mixed reef, 60 gallon, 30 gallon, 20 gallon.

12/02/2013, 09:04 PM	#10
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	Thank You! __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D

12/02/2013, 10:54 PM	#11
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	i wz looking at some el cheapo protein skimmers on ebay here're some links http://www.ebay.com/itm/150-Lite-Ree...item256a33bbb4 http://www.ebay.com/itm/BOYU-150L-H-...item3f2cad2d08 http://www.ebay.com/itm/VS2-RS4003-F...item3a8816e0a5 i know u get what you pay for, but somethin is better than nothin right? __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D Last edited by Shaker nemo; 12/02/2013 at 11:25 PM.

12/02/2013, 11:19 PM	#12
Chevrefils Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 242	You can grow most softie corals without a skimmer and sump. There was a great thread on here someone's 40g breeder. It was amazing. Just run a hob filter and clean out your filter media regularly. You could also mod it so it only pulls from the surface or build an overflow which your filter can pull out of. Just do regular water changes. Get some T5 lights though.

12/03/2013, 07:29 AM	#13
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	How about a diy skimmer? im usin thisa site its VERY helpful http://www.hawkfish.org/snailman/skimmer101.htm __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D Last edited by Shaker nemo; 12/03/2013 at 07:59 AM.

12/03/2013, 09:06 AM	#14
Merman1983 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Tampa, Florida, USA Posts: 72	Those eBay skimmers are cheap but mostly junk. I had one and it leaked, needed constant adjusting, etc... Finally, I broke down and found one out in the shed that needed a pump. The DIY you mention is a good way to go. __________________ In the year 1983 a merman I should turn to be. ~ Jimi Hendrix Current Tank Info: 225 gallon in wall mixed reef, 60 gallon, 30 gallon, 20 gallon.

12/05/2013, 09:17 AM	#15
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	i decided i will go with a counter current skimmer fed by the overflow from the tank. Anyone tried this before? __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D

12/05/2013, 11:03 AM	#16
dppitone Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Queen Village, Phila. Posts: 1,697	Yes you can run without a skimmer, but you'll need to make routine good water changes to keep the nitrates down or it will become over-run with algae. To grow coralline, nitrates and phosphate will need to be very low to close to zero, which is hard to do in a FOWLR without a skimmer. If you do want to pursue coralline, a skimmer and a phosphate media reactor is highly recommended. You can get both used for a little over a $100 total for that sized system. Something like a CPR skimmer and Little Fishies 150 media reactor.

12/05/2013, 02:30 PM	#17
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	Lol only way I can get mushrooms to grow in my tank is to literally put them in shaded spots. In the open on the sandbed is still too bright. They literally have to be in shaded dark spots.

12/07/2013, 06:07 AM	#18
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	i live is sri lanka where reefing is in stone age.... okay then i will have to forget the corraline then. I will have to then use dry rock and then seed it... __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D

12/11/2013, 07:00 AM	#19
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	Will 2 t8 support mushroom corals and other softies kept at the top? __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D

12/11/2013, 07:58 AM	#20
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	Yeah some softies can thrive in that low of light. Stuff like mushrooms, Xenia, Kenya tree, will all do fine in very low light and less than perfect water. They seem to prefer it

12/11/2013, 09:10 AM	#21
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	Thx! They should help filter the water right? __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D

12/11/2013, 10:41 AM	#22
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	While corals do take in some nitrogenous compounds to feed their symbiotic zoaxanthellae, it won't be enough to consider them "filtering" the water. Water changes and waste removal will still be your best method of filtration

12/12/2013, 04:49 AM	#23
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	Okay.. But I wz reading a thread abt a 50 w/o skimmer or sump. Only has 2 t5 ho over his tank. But he has only 2 fish and plenty of lps. He does 10% weekly wc. __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D

12/12/2013, 09:03 AM	#24
fscmocsaj Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 752	Like previously posted by others. There has been lots of success rates for tanks without skimmers however you have to really keep up on the WC if you have a high bio load. Your best bet is to get a skimmer it's only beneficial to your fish and the eco system in your tank. It will also save you time and maintenance costs in the long run. __________________ Red Sea 170- Acro dominant Current Tank Info: Red Sea 170

12/12/2013, 09:46 AM	#25
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	I plan on a low fish load - max I plan on keeping four fish. Water changers are not a big problem cuz I will be using nsw from a nearby reef.the same water is used at my lfs to keep emperors. I will be doing 10% weekly w/c. THX __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D