When does the skimming start?

My tank (120g) has been running since Apr.15.2007.

Inhabitants include sailfin tang, tomini tang, coral beauty, clown, two cleaner shrimp and about 30 snails.

I have noticed pineapple sponges spreading.

Water parameters as of yesterday: ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrates 0.

90lb LR, 50lb LS.

Coraline has started to spread like wildfire, especially on the back of the tank.

I alternate between carbon and floss every second month in my canister filter.

When do I start the skimmer?

 

i would have started back in april, but it sounds like you don't even need to. how often do you do water changes?

 

Aside from normal top-offs due to evaporation I have not done a water change. Given the above params why do one?

 

I never add a skimmer until about 5 to 6 months you see how the fauna took off also the skimmer will impede coralline growth as it will pull the new spores from the water. On average 6 months is when I start a skimmer.. and carbon.. Whats to skim at first ? Unless the tank was started with a bunch of live rock

 

mine was

 

Not running a protein skimmer, or not doing regular water exchanges (except on a very large tank) - is certainly an option.

Maybe less important for those with very large tanks and well designed refugiums.

However in the interest of good nutrient export, toxin dilution, water clarity it certainly makes sense.

Water clarity itself is greatly enhanced by regular water changes/exchanges. Why worry about spending all that $ on expensive lighting just to have unclear water negate some of it.

Water may appear clear, but would be much more so if time taken to do the exchanges.

Besides nutrient buildup, leading to all kinds of algae problems...toxin build up from various corals is another reason to regularly change water. I have a large variety of soft corals, unnaturally living in close proximity without the benefit of the massive diluting effect of the ocean. It is well known they release toxins into the water to compete for space with other corals. These will certainly build up over time. Albeit it may be a while before serious side effects may occur, but they will!

I notice a significant increase in water clarity after each water change. I also can see a dramatic increase in the blooming and expansion of my corals when I do so.

We certainly have been down this road many times before...But doing regular water changes without question certainly enhances the look of my aquarium and health of my corals. - In addition to aggressive protein skimming.


I for one am sticking with the advice of one of the formost experts in the hobby today...

"Water Changes/Ex-changes"​

By Anthony Calfo​

(Webmedia.com)​

I have yet to see or hear of another "expert" of his caliber/reputation advise against doing so. :-/

 

I started mine at about month 6 just like Tangster said and my tank is donig very well. I waited until I seen corralline growing good before I started mine. I dont do water changes either because most of my tank is sps anyway.
If you ever get a chance to visit Inland Aquatics in Terra Haute, IN he has a tank in there that has been running 15yr with one water change....now that should tell you something about wasting money on salt buckets. The only catch is like Omard said, you need to have a good filter system and ways you are replinishing elements (reactors, dosing...etc.)

 

See you have corallines most would pay and do pay dearly to get growing into their tanks via purple up a product by another well known expert!.. Most Books have the newer hobbyist putting the cart before the horse. Example's LOL I could write my own book about the stupid advice I have seen in Books that where brought and paid for.. You keep your tank just as you have been and in 10 yrs you will be way ahead of the experts .. And through experience you will know what they don't tell

I myself can't stand a coralline its just more work for me.. But I never had a problem getting them to show up and run wild..

 

I started skimmimg on day one and now 4.5 months later almost the entire back of the tank is coated with coralline, actually mutlipe layers on the better part of the tank. It would also be completely covering my sides if I did not scrape it off about once a week. I started pulling skimmate at about 1 month. We did beginning addding LR at the beginning and within a month we had about 125 lbs...8)

 

different strokes for different folks