Cons to skimmers
- Thread starter nhendrix
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I have been away from the hobby for 25 yrs, the first thing I got when I was lining up my equipment was a skimmer.
I would not run a reef tank without one.
I used bio in a bottle to start my tank and after four days my tank had a milky quality to it from the bio fluid, day 4 I turned on my skimmer and it was cleared in less than a day.
It continues to pull more than enough to justify it being there.
Some folks go skimmerless, I tip my hat to them while I clean out my skimmer.
I would not run a reef tank without one.
I used bio in a bottle to start my tank and after four days my tank had a milky quality to it from the bio fluid, day 4 I turned on my skimmer and it was cleared in less than a day.
It continues to pull more than enough to justify it being there.
Some folks go skimmerless, I tip my hat to them while I clean out my skimmer.
Spare time
10K Club member
Really the only con is that it removes possible bacterioplankton and filter feeder food. They have significant influences on the number of bacteria in the water column. It is hypothesized that this decreases competition for bacterias and algaes that live on surfaces, increasing the risk of cyano or algae breakouts.
I have no need for a skimmer in my tank. I keep a lot of filter feeders and don't want to strip the water of their food so I prefer not having one.
I have no need for a skimmer in my tank. I keep a lot of filter feeders and don't want to strip the water of their food so I prefer not having one.
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HuduVudu
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It is mechanical and can therefore fail. I find that it stripped my tank of pieces of the food chain that the tank needed for biodiversity. Takes up space in the sump or worse it hangs on the back of the tank and is ugly. One more thing to maintain. Extra electricity. Extra complexity.
I am just listing things that I have found to be cons on skimmer use. The one thing that I have used skimmers for is gas exchange, but for me this pro isn't enough to outweigh the cons.
I am just listing things that I have found to be cons on skimmer use. The one thing that I have used skimmers for is gas exchange, but for me this pro isn't enough to outweigh the cons.
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[Cameron]
Active Member
What they mainly do is extract "poop" (nitrates) from the water column. If you don't have any hard coral or high maintenance fish/inverts and control the bio-load in the tank (number of fish, feeding frequency, etc), skimmers are not needed. Some soft coral tanks do better without them. Live rock is actually your best nitrate control system. Adding on macro algae in a refugium and harvesting it periodically really helps as well.
20-30 years ago skimmers were a luxury and a lot of us didn't use them at all but we also didn't keep higher maintenance critters and we didn't pack an aquarium like people do today.
I personally consider skimmers sort of like a forth leg on a table. Sure a table stands up with three legs but it is a lot more stable with four.
20-30 years ago skimmers were a luxury and a lot of us didn't use them at all but we also didn't keep higher maintenance critters and we didn't pack an aquarium like people do today.
I personally consider skimmers sort of like a forth leg on a table. Sure a table stands up with three legs but it is a lot more stable with four.
They stink. My wife reminds me of this constantly. I've taken many steps to keep it from stinking up my basement but it's close to being taken off the tank. I'm about 95% sure my upgrade won't run a skimmer. They are not necessary by any means. Nice? Yes. Have some serious benefits? Yes. But necessary? No.
Spare time
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Personally I like to say try a refugium with a strong light first, and if it isn't enough, then get a skimmer. This way you can save some money and have something that will deal with both nitrates and phosphates
Don't overthink this. There are long term effects of not exporting proteins with a skimmer that most do not realize for a year or more. They also do gas exchange and remove heavy metals that bind to organics. I would bet on the rule here, not the exception unless you have an exception type of tank (super small, etc.) - easier to change to the exception later than try and take the bound phosphates and organics back. The most successful tanks import/feed heavy and export heavy (this is a multi-branch approach which usually involves manual/physical removal, skimming, fuges, water changes and other things). I run at least two skimmers on every tank because I don't want to work hard enough not to... or spend more money.
Put a bit of kalk in your skimmer cup the next time that you change it. It will raise the pH and not allow all of the stinky bacteria to live. It works.
Put a bit of kalk in your skimmer cup the next time that you change it. It will raise the pH and not allow all of the stinky bacteria to live. It works.
OP
OP
nhendrix
Active Member
Ty all just to clear this up my plan is to get a skimmer but was not sure if I was going to start with one I will have a refuge as well ty for all the input helped make my mind up now to buy it I’ll be going with bubble mag curve 7 elite
Pntbll687
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Depending on the system they may or may not be needed. And the only thing that will tell you if it's needed is testing the water.
I currently have a 180g display that has 2 skimmers on it. An eshopps x-220, and x-120. I feed heavy and like to have the extra filtration. I would have went with a bigger skimmer, but space limitations prevented that.
On the flip side. Here's @WWC 1200g lagoon tank, and guess what.... the skimmer isn't even running.
I currently have a 180g display that has 2 skimmers on it. An eshopps x-220, and x-120. I feed heavy and like to have the extra filtration. I would have went with a bigger skimmer, but space limitations prevented that.
On the flip side. Here's @WWC 1200g lagoon tank, and guess what.... the skimmer isn't even running.
blasterman
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No downside really. Bigger tank owners with healthy SPS loads typically feed heavy and export heavy, and the formula seems to work.
Where I don't run them is when low nutrients are a problem. "Just feed more" isn't an answer. I have a 20L growing SPS like wildfire and I had to take my skimmer offline to keep nitrates and phosphates from bottoming out.
DOCs are of course an issue, but I run ozone a few hours a week and that thing does in two hours what my skimmer can't do running 24/7.
I don't agree with oxygenation being significant because the amount of surface area of a tank vs air bubbles is insignificant. This has been beat to death in FW forums. The typical flow rates we run in reef tanks cause orders of magnitude more gas exchange at the surface than a bubbling skimmer.
Where I don't run them is when low nutrients are a problem. "Just feed more" isn't an answer. I have a 20L growing SPS like wildfire and I had to take my skimmer offline to keep nitrates and phosphates from bottoming out.
DOCs are of course an issue, but I run ozone a few hours a week and that thing does in two hours what my skimmer can't do running 24/7.
I don't agree with oxygenation being significant because the amount of surface area of a tank vs air bubbles is insignificant. This has been beat to death in FW forums. The typical flow rates we run in reef tanks cause orders of magnitude more gas exchange at the surface than a bubbling skimmer.
Gtinnel
10K Club member
I don't think I would run a tank without one anymore. I think mine is worth it just to inject more oxygen in the tank and keep the pH higher and more stable. The biggest cons in my opinion are the upfront cost and having to clean the disgusting cup frequently.
Grill
Active Member
I have an oversized skimmer (heavy in heavy out) I don't run it 24hrs but when I do it pulls out lots of gunk. I can't say 100% sure you need one because I have another tank that I don't use a skimmer on and it seems to be fine. Downside for me would be cleaning and smell.
