AlgaeNator
09-23-2009, 10:01 PM
I am thinking about going skimmer-less with my Reef Tank and going scrubber ONLY.
I have a question for the general forum about it.. Has anyone else tried it for a period of time? What was/is your experience?
I know Borneman? recommends it, but I am curious about anyone else doing it.
My main thing about running a skimmer is not just about removing waste but Oxgenation of the water volume through the MB the skimmer produces and also if there is DISCOLORATION of the water yellow/green (tinge) from going scrubber only. I also build and sell my skimmers and standpipes to the public... if there is something that will work AS good if not better than my skimmers, and costs about 1/10th to run and maintain, then I am all for it for my customers.
My fish are very active and I think its due to good gas exchange and dissolved 02 from the skimmer. However upon throttling up my overflows and increasing the hole size in my standpipes, I found that my OVERFLOW flow itself from each of my pipes has even MORE air to it now that the airline has been increased. Which makes me feel even BETTER about going Skimmerless, as the overflow stanpipes and drain lines are mixing quite a bit of O2 in the water as they circulate the flow, so not having a skimmer which is adding 02 is probably OK.
My questions about oxogenation and pollutant removal have been pretty much answered by SMM through PM, makes sense that the Algae will also aerate the water (Salt water doesnt carry 02 very well, esp as temps rise) as it respires and photosynthesizes on the screen. Seems like the scrubber will do EVERYthing that a skimmer will do an more (ammonia removal?) so that is a good thing.
Also a fun fact about the earth and the ocean that MOST people probably dont know is that 75-80% of the 02 we breathe does NOT come from the Rainforests, (doesnt mean I am a fan of cutting them down) but rather from Algae in the oceans, (earth is covered with 3/4 water) which come to think about it, makes me feel even better about going skimmerliss as the algae will add even more o2 to the water as it respires.
My concern was in CLARITY of the water.. to those of you who have tried no skimmer
has the water seemed more cloudy/colored since removing the skimmer?
(color and snow is probably not a bad thing for critters stuff floating around, not so good for viewing tho. but I gather as skimmer "strips" most of the good stuff out of water along with the bad, making the water clean but "void")
Plus not having another PUMP and expense of skimmer (for newbies) is REALLY a plus IMHO as I see it if the scrubber can do the trick. Not to mention less heat, and also Way less cost going scrubber only $300.00 for skimer/pump vs $25.00 for scrubber? lol
Nother thing I was thinking about is less VIBRATION in my sump to tranfer into tank (less hum for fish to live with too) The electrical savings prolly equal out adding the lights in place of the skimmer pump so thats probably a wash there.
Main question I have is did water remain clear going scrubber only? Or was there always a "tinge" to it?
I have a question for the general forum about it.. Has anyone else tried it for a period of time? What was/is your experience?
I know Borneman? recommends it, but I am curious about anyone else doing it.
My main thing about running a skimmer is not just about removing waste but Oxgenation of the water volume through the MB the skimmer produces and also if there is DISCOLORATION of the water yellow/green (tinge) from going scrubber only. I also build and sell my skimmers and standpipes to the public... if there is something that will work AS good if not better than my skimmers, and costs about 1/10th to run and maintain, then I am all for it for my customers.
My fish are very active and I think its due to good gas exchange and dissolved 02 from the skimmer. However upon throttling up my overflows and increasing the hole size in my standpipes, I found that my OVERFLOW flow itself from each of my pipes has even MORE air to it now that the airline has been increased. Which makes me feel even BETTER about going Skimmerless, as the overflow stanpipes and drain lines are mixing quite a bit of O2 in the water as they circulate the flow, so not having a skimmer which is adding 02 is probably OK.
My questions about oxogenation and pollutant removal have been pretty much answered by SMM through PM, makes sense that the Algae will also aerate the water (Salt water doesnt carry 02 very well, esp as temps rise) as it respires and photosynthesizes on the screen. Seems like the scrubber will do EVERYthing that a skimmer will do an more (ammonia removal?) so that is a good thing.
Also a fun fact about the earth and the ocean that MOST people probably dont know is that 75-80% of the 02 we breathe does NOT come from the Rainforests, (doesnt mean I am a fan of cutting them down) but rather from Algae in the oceans, (earth is covered with 3/4 water) which come to think about it, makes me feel even better about going skimmerliss as the algae will add even more o2 to the water as it respires.
My concern was in CLARITY of the water.. to those of you who have tried no skimmer
has the water seemed more cloudy/colored since removing the skimmer?
(color and snow is probably not a bad thing for critters stuff floating around, not so good for viewing tho. but I gather as skimmer "strips" most of the good stuff out of water along with the bad, making the water clean but "void")
Plus not having another PUMP and expense of skimmer (for newbies) is REALLY a plus IMHO as I see it if the scrubber can do the trick. Not to mention less heat, and also Way less cost going scrubber only $300.00 for skimer/pump vs $25.00 for scrubber? lol
Nother thing I was thinking about is less VIBRATION in my sump to tranfer into tank (less hum for fish to live with too) The electrical savings prolly equal out adding the lights in place of the skimmer pump so thats probably a wash there.
Main question I have is did water remain clear going scrubber only? Or was there always a "tinge" to it?