To Skim or Not to Skim....

dib · Nov 21, 2014

Hi all,

So an adjustment part for my skimmer went bad. (no replacement part available) I bought it used, had it running for about 6 months. Yes it pulled junk out of the system, but now that its not been running I really don't see any difference. I still have the sides of the tank turning green within a couple days. Fish and corals seem fine.

What I'm really wondering is if I need a new skimmer or just do without one.

I know people have ran tanks both ways, so I'd like some info from those who don't run a skimmer on a lightly stocked reef, fish, live rock tank.

Thanks

veselym · Nov 21, 2014

what kind of system is it? mixed, LPS FOWLR?

dib · Nov 21, 2014

Mixed reef. 8 different ones so far. 20g DT, 20g sump, live rock in both.

Reefing Madness · Nov 21, 2014

20g? Na, you don't need to skim. Just watch the water parameters and do water changes as needed. System isn't big enough to warrant a skimmer.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 21, 2014

I've used a skimmer on my system for 19 years, except when I stopped for a few months as an experiment.

The main issue that I detected fairly rapidly was that the system was not being aerated adequately without it, and the pH rose higher than I wanted it to due to my use of limewater.

But pH and limewater aside, that change may also reflect inadequate equilibration of O2 as well.

So in my case, one of the main reasons I use my skimmer is for better aeration.