Yes I agree its very true, you don't need a skimmer, and I will never use one unless I decide to build a pred tank, as they are much messier and even then maybe not. Some people think scrubbers are more effort then they are worth but I say its not much worse then cleaning a skimmer and its makes a healthier system in my books so any extra (not much) effort needed is worth it.
I will always use scrubbers as they leave all the good things in your system that help corals and fish thrive like phytoplancton and zooplancton that the fish/corals/inverts love to eat, and it removes all nitrates and phosphates. Skimmers remove food particels before they break down, which is good but at the same time some will still break down and stay in the system which means with a skimmer you still need to water change often as from what I've read skimmers cannot remove ammonia, nitrite, nitrate or phosphate once they are free floating (both tested and anacdotal evidence showing this).
But with a scrubber that is done RIGHT you wont have to do water changes at all except to replenish trace elements, but those water changes are less often unless you have alot of corals (as corals suck up trace elements faster).
Its possible that the algea is picking out the trace nutrients as they are formed so yes you read zero, with the water changes, but you aren't doing water changes constantly (impossible of course haha) so you will still get a small build up of the stuff the algea needs which alowing it to grow, slowly, but grow none the less.
Wow long post haha, well I try to be thorough if I'm going to help someone haha. So links.... here we go this one is to the "algea scrubber" site so lots of info, but I'm giving you a specific thread so you can see general designs, I think the very first one on the page will be what you should build (something similar as that one isnt the best I've seen) since you dont have a sump. http://www.algaescrubber.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=26
If you need more info or want help with designs or want my opinion on a design you find send me a PM and I'll get back to you ASAP.
Oh and one more thing, never use clear pipes or you will grow algea in them and it will clog which could kill your pump or cause a flood haha.
I will always use scrubbers as they leave all the good things in your system that help corals and fish thrive like phytoplancton and zooplancton that the fish/corals/inverts love to eat, and it removes all nitrates and phosphates. Skimmers remove food particels before they break down, which is good but at the same time some will still break down and stay in the system which means with a skimmer you still need to water change often as from what I've read skimmers cannot remove ammonia, nitrite, nitrate or phosphate once they are free floating (both tested and anacdotal evidence showing this).
But with a scrubber that is done RIGHT you wont have to do water changes at all except to replenish trace elements, but those water changes are less often unless you have alot of corals (as corals suck up trace elements faster).
Its possible that the algea is picking out the trace nutrients as they are formed so yes you read zero, with the water changes, but you aren't doing water changes constantly (impossible of course haha) so you will still get a small build up of the stuff the algea needs which alowing it to grow, slowly, but grow none the less.
Wow long post haha, well I try to be thorough if I'm going to help someone haha. So links.... here we go this one is to the "algea scrubber" site so lots of info, but I'm giving you a specific thread so you can see general designs, I think the very first one on the page will be what you should build (something similar as that one isnt the best I've seen) since you dont have a sump. http://www.algaescrubber.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=26
If you need more info or want help with designs or want my opinion on a design you find send me a PM and I'll get back to you ASAP.
Oh and one more thing, never use clear pipes or you will grow algea in them and it will clog which could kill your pump or cause a flood haha.
