Ok I just want to show people that it can be done. I would hope to get people to be a little less dependent on them. We all get so involved in all this expensive equipment when tanks can be run well without it. All of my saltwater tanks do not have protein skimmers. I'll post pics and explanations on how I get away with out it.
The set up...
Lights:Nova extreme t-5 I believe it was around $50
Mechanical filter:Tetra Whisper In Tank Filter (10i) and only $10
Circulation:JBJ powerhead 240 gallons per hour $20
Heater: Stealth submersible 20W $15
Rock:15lbs $90
Sand:10lbs $20
Tank:10 gallon $10
So for the set up alone its costs $215
Stocking
One two headed fox coral
One toadstool leather
A bunch of green mushrooms
two stripped mushrooms
torch coral
some other types of polyps that came in on some rock
(more corals to come just have to save up enough money)
one skunk cleaner shrimp
YTBD
one emerald crab
three astrea snails
one turbo snail
one pyramid
and a crud load of baby snails that are too small to id
then up until a few weeks ago I had a female mandarin dragonet that mysteriously died
The way I keep this tank going is fairly simple. All I have to do is feed measured amounts of food to keep too much waste from accumulating. That and occasional water changes. I check the SG daily and do my water quality testing every other day. So far I do a water change about once a month and that keeps everything just where I want it.
So I feel the key to going skimmer less is not having too many fish. My bio load is very low. The bacteria are thriving and same with algae and that helps keep a natural balance. So I just wanted to post this to prove that it can be done on a nano reef. My tank has been doing well for a while now. Hope this inspires a few to try a skimmerless tank or at least be a little less dependent on them.
The set up...
Lights:Nova extreme t-5 I believe it was around $50
Mechanical filter:Tetra Whisper In Tank Filter (10i) and only $10
Circulation:JBJ powerhead 240 gallons per hour $20
Heater: Stealth submersible 20W $15
Rock:15lbs $90
Sand:10lbs $20
Tank:10 gallon $10
So for the set up alone its costs $215
Stocking
One two headed fox coral
One toadstool leather
A bunch of green mushrooms
two stripped mushrooms
torch coral
some other types of polyps that came in on some rock
(more corals to come just have to save up enough money)
one skunk cleaner shrimp
YTBD
one emerald crab
three astrea snails
one turbo snail
one pyramid
and a crud load of baby snails that are too small to id
then up until a few weeks ago I had a female mandarin dragonet that mysteriously died
The way I keep this tank going is fairly simple. All I have to do is feed measured amounts of food to keep too much waste from accumulating. That and occasional water changes. I check the SG daily and do my water quality testing every other day. So far I do a water change about once a month and that keeps everything just where I want it.
So I feel the key to going skimmer less is not having too many fish. My bio load is very low. The bacteria are thriving and same with algae and that helps keep a natural balance. So I just wanted to post this to prove that it can be done on a nano reef. My tank has been doing well for a while now. Hope this inspires a few to try a skimmerless tank or at least be a little less dependent on them.
