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xlr8r 
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 Topic: Skilters???
Posted: April 28 2009 at 2:42pm |
Any opinions or experiance with a skilter. Are they effective on smaller tanks , low bioload? My other question is: are skimmers absolutly necessary or do regular water changes do the trick? Just a noob doing research  . Thanks!!
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Andreason
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Posted: April 28 2009 at 3:07pm |
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I haven't heard of skilters. Do you have a link for information? What size tank is it for and what is in it?
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Andreason's
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dduts
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Posted: April 28 2009 at 3:07pm |
My opinion........save your money and invest in something nicer, later. Skimmers aren't absolutely necessary, but a good skimmer can be very beneficial in removing waste. If you don't run a skimmer, make sure you have macroalgae and fresh carbon to remove nutrients. Weekly water changes are the easiest way to keep your water quality in line.
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90g mixed reef
GOT CRABS?
Sometimes I wonder "why is that frisbee getting bigger?"....and then it hits me
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zionsreef
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Posted: April 28 2009 at 3:23pm |
 xlr8r wrote:
Any opinions or experiance with a skilter. Are they effective on smaller tanks , low bioload? My other question is: are skimmers absolutly necessary or do regular water changes do the trick? Just a noob doing research. Thanks!! |
I would NOT buy a Skilter Filter.
What's a low bioload? This will mean different things to different people and will depend on what you want growing in your tank. FOWLR, SPS, LPS?
Are skimmers absolutely necessary - noooo! But, you will get passionate arguments for and against.  Regular water changes will (at least temporarily) fix most problems and are a good idea whether you have a skimmer or not. IMHO, budget for a good skimmer (at least down the road). These cheapie units are not worth wasting your time and money.
Good luck
Edited by zionsreef - April 28 2009 at 3:26pm
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MISTAKES:
It Could Be That The Purpose Of Your Life Is
Only To Serve As A Warning To Others!
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Jake Pehrson
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Posted: April 28 2009 at 3:30pm |
I would not use a skilter (I have one for sale if you want to buy one). The skimmer does not work well. You can run a system without a skimmer. Growing macro algae and frequent water changes will help a skimmerless system do better.
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superman1981
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Posted: April 28 2009 at 3:30pm |
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How big is your tank? I have run a 29 gal, 10 gal, and 6 gal all without skimmers. I do have a skimmer on my 125, but I actually run my tank with it off more often than I run it with it on. My tank is primarily sofities and then seem to like the water a little bit dirtier...
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Sure you are, you are Crappy Reef Club Member #1 -Chk4tix 6 gal nanocube 65 gal build thread
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xlr8r
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Posted: April 28 2009 at 5:06pm |
Andreason wrote:
I haven't heard of skilters. Do you have a link for information? What size tank is it for and what is in it? |
They are basically a power filter and skimmer combined. I found one on dr foster and smith wedsite under skimmers.
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xlr8r
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Posted: April 28 2009 at 5:08pm |
Thanks everyone for the input. I value the info you all give, it's great  .
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chk4tix
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Posted: April 28 2009 at 5:33pm |
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I think if your running a small tank (40g or less) you dont need a skimmer, unless you are growing SPS. But every tank is different.
On my 24g nano I do not have a skimmer and I havent done water changes since I moved the tank to the new house (Dion, I know your watching...I still need salt...lol) and the tank is doing great. I need to prune back a few zoo's and corals because they are growing like crazy. I dont run any filtration on the tank and only add top off water (from the tap).
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Original Crappy Reef Club Member #2
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xlr8r
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Posted: April 28 2009 at 8:47pm |
Yeah, I'll be running a 30 gal. and no sps(yet  ). I think I'll skip the skimmer, go with a powerfilter and poss. a hob refugium. Thanks everyone.
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Dion Richins
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Posted: April 28 2009 at 11:28pm |
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Good choice.
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Xacttech
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Posted: April 29 2009 at 10:14am |
I have no skimmer, and an HOB refugium on my 28 Gallon Nano HQI.
I do think I'll add a Tunze Nano DOC skimmer though. Mostly because I do have SPS, and I'm trying to do the no water  change system.
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BrandonA
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Posted: April 30 2009 at 8:22pm |
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About once every other month on my 30 gal i end up doing the water change with a cup trying to scoop out all the scum and what not that's floating on top of the water. I guess a skimmer would take care of that, but my cup works just as good.
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bfessler
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Posted: May 07 2009 at 9:05pm |
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I am using the Hiatt system (Right Now Bacteria, Tri Base Carbon, Canister Filter and PH Rock) on my 28G Nano. Started the system with no live rock, live sand or live water, and no Skimmer. Added the fish on day 1 and started adding coral after 1 week. The tank has been up and running for about 8 weeks now with zero readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate from day 1. I have very little if any scum floating on top and only do water changes about every 2 to 3 weeks. The Coral (mostly lps) is growing well, in fact my wall hammer has grown by about 1/3 since adding it to the tank.
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Burt
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