How much of a daily water change to avoid skimmer?

I was looking at one of them spectrapure liter 3 units that can perform water changes automatically for u and was wondering on a medium bioload how much water does everyone think it would take to elminate the use of skimmer to maybe a small nano skimmer on a tank with around 100 gallons of volume?

 

I don't use a skimmer on my 30 gallon reef tank with good success doing a weekly water change of 10-15% each time.
Go with 10 gallons each week that you do a water change. You have a larger tank thus affording you more room for error. I also have a Pacific Long Tentacle anemone and a Niger Trigger so my water needs to be optimal since they are great waste producers.

 

I wouldn't think you'd have to do daily water changes, maybe weekly.
I have no skimmer on my 75gal and I do 15gal every week keeps NO3 around 10ppm. I have a large bio-load, 10 fish including a dogface puffer who is a huge waste maker. so 10ppm in my tank isn't bad, no live stock seems to mind.
just let the water params tell you how often you need to change water.

 

Its just that the spectra liter does auto waterchanges for you if u buy the equipment. Seems like with a small skimmer and 1-1.5 gallon daily water change u could have a massive bio load while maintaining pristine water in virtually any size tank. I need a top off system so in the coming months i will be buying one of these units & figured ill get the auto water change attachment to so wanted opinions and thoughts.

 

I see what you mean. yeah i'd go w/ 1.5 /day cause in a 100gal open top, you'll be topping off about 1.5gal/day then change out 1.5/day that's 3gal new water/day so about 21/week give or take.

 

Do you have a link to that system ?
With our smaller tanks that we have (I have NO experience with any thing over 15 gallons ) I just do 20% -50% depending on algea and tests ..

 

You dont need a skimmer. Theres no rule saying you do, I know several people including myself who doesnt run them on tanks. I use one on my sps grow out tank, but thats because sps like a libit cleaner water. Soft corals like zoanthids and mushrooms actually like some nitrates in the water. It feeds them and they grow a lot better and faster.

 

heres a link to that system sadielyn: Aqua Medic Reefdoser and SP 3000 dosing pumps from Salty Critter - Your Saltwater Specialists

 

i agree with like 10 gallons once a week.

 

If he does 1.5-2g daily, thats the same as 10-15g a week. Personaly, I like the idea of the WC being done on a daily basis b/c that would be the closest to replicate the ocean. Luna