PICS OF MY SKIMMERLESS Check it out

[Tank]

Just some update pics of my 6 month old skimmerless reef.






Just like to share with ya. And comments/critisism are welcome.;)

[reefhead]

cool!

what do you feed?

how much do you feed?

what do you export? (ie..macro algea,soft corals...)


do you have deep sand bed w/ detrivore kit ? (how deep?)

Looks very clean, enjoy!

regards,
Joe

[scubadude]

Nice tank ....Tank!

Everything looks very healthy! clean too! would love to see some more stats...refug/DSB? Keep up the good work! Awesome CLAM!

[chromis]

looks great! Are you using 2 kinds of bulbs? The right side of your tank looks a little darker then the left.

Andrew

[Tank]

Yes it does have a DSB. About 4-5inches.As far as a refugium I do not have one.I do however have a sump and although other reefers may disagree with my methods I do actualy use the bioballs.It is a 75 gal tank with a KalkReactor and the cirulatory pump is a mag 950 I believe.You are correct the lighting on the left side of the pic is a 400watt 20,000k MH.The right side of the pic is only 250watt 20,000k MH.At least I think they are 20,000k LOL cat remember off hand.I do feed my corals, but sparingly maybe only once every 3-4 weeeks and I feed krill.The fish do not get fed.They survive off the pickings of copepods and amphipods.I have a viable population in the tank that is able to support the non coral life in my tank.

[ridetheducati]

Where is the DSB located. It looks like CC in main tank. How often and what do you feed your DSB?

[Tank]

It is not CC in tank.It is argonate.And it is the DSB.As far as feeding goes this system thus far is self suficient(sp?).I have found no need to feed AT ALL other than corals once every 3-4 weeks.Flame Away Guys...........

[reefhead]

how long has the system been set-up? (not just without the skimmer but, with the sandbed as well?)

BTW, your sand is way to course

there is absolutely no way this system is self-suffcient after 6 mon.

Im not trying to flame you , I just think your approaching this the wrong way.You must have something to export?although, your not adding anything that needs to be exported,you must have something.

Regards,
Joe

[reefhead]

"They survive off the pickings of copepods and amphipods.I have a viable population in the tank that is able to support the non coral life in my tank."

Not for long!!.......and what about the coral life???



are you registered at Reef Central.com? Good!!


http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...threadid=28834

http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...threadid=27168

about skimmerless systems
http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...threadid=28110

All of these links pertain to your system

Please, dont think Iam flaming you, i wanna debate this in a reefland'ish manner!

Regards,

Joe

[thezookeeper]

Hi there. Your tank looks very nice. I'm not into flaming. I'm just wondering how it was that you came to realize you did not need to feed your fish? Was this based on a theory, something you read perhaps? Or was it a "let's see what happens" deal? I have never, ever known anyone to keep a tank long term and not feeding. I don't consider 6 months long term by a long shot. Perhaps you meant that it has been skimmerless that long? Just speculating until I have more info. Anyway, thanks for sharing pics!


Joanne

[Mikeman]

how many fish do you have in your tank?I see 2, and I think the tank could be self suffiecent,

lets say as an example how do madarins survive? Don't you think the other fish that would live in the same tank as one would eat the pods too? just an idea

[hcp28]

Wait I still don't understand how the corals can be surviving without more nutrient support, surely you dose with DT or something? Do you have inverts in the tank like snails and shrimps that provide a free floating foor for your corals? Maybe that's the case?
Correct me if I'm wrong but from what I heard a DSB needs to be fed? I'm confused now I'm going to take a nap and when I wake up maybe it will all be better.
I do like the tank though just don't agree that your taking the best path for the happiness of your fish.

Henry

[Tank]

DSB Way Too Course?Explain that to me.Yes there are only 2 fish in the tank.And is kinda strikes me that if a fish like a damsel can live for 6 months without me feeding it , it is getting it's food elswhere.I do not dose DT's, I did add it when the tank was intialy(sp?) set up.If you notice I do feed the corals every 3-4 weeks and when I do this they eat well.All I can say guys is the proof is in the pudding.6 Months from now I guess we can have this same disscusion.Just wanted to share MY expieriences with you guys.Reefhead question for you?Why it is NOt for long?If I have a reproducing population of cope's and amphi's that are surviving off the excess during coral feedings and after 6 months its still working out what is gonna change now?Just curious why you think this?

[scubadude]

WOW! this topic got heated quick! First off I see both sides of the story....No body can tell Tank that his regimine of feeding is wrong all systems are different! I commend you Tank on your venture of a "Skimmerless tank" and realized on your first response (maybe others didnt) that you are feeding your corals!....Ok this here states that you are feeding your tank! Unless you are very strictly target feeding!...it doesnt take much for pods and such to populate and thrive....However I will suggest that your tank being only 6 mos. old is by far NOT out of the danger zone! I Would love to see you succeed in this The problem is there are too many ppl that dont have the GUTS to go skimmerless. Your fish on the other hand...I would definately feed them, cuz if you feed them then their feces(poop) feeds corals. WOW...did you go skimmerless from the very beggining? Has there ever been a skimmer on your tank?

[Tank]

HEHE I'm sure I'll catch some flak from this also.....Yes the tank has been skimmerless from it's conception.I have kept 2 other reefs both with skimmers so I don't want people to think I made an uneducated dicision when I set this reef up.As of now I can hardly keep up with the growth of some of the corals in this tank, and all I can think is that I was greatly misled about the nutritional needs of my corals.I was initially feeding them like EVERY week.With the addition of the calcium reactor they have just taken off.Not much more I can say about this.This is my Expirence and all is well so far.I guess I would not suggest this to other reefers.You do what makes you feel comfortable and whatever your tank needs you supply it.It just so happens that my tanks needs seem to be small, and I hope to have long term success with my method of reef keeping.Further comments are welcome.BTW about your concerns for the happiness of my fish:Trust me, If my fish didn't seem to be happy and healthy I would not be doing this.What other reason is there for keeping a reef tank?I am in this hobby because I like to see happy healthy fish swimming around, I am not here to deprive any of what it needs.Sorry had to say that.

[reefhead]

I'm just gonna wish you Good Luck Tank!!


Although, I do have two more question:
Do you add any chemical supplements to your system?

How offten do you do your water changes with fresh sea water?

Regards,
Joe

[Tank]

Man It just keep's gettin worse for good ol Tank.lol Water changes?I'll Tell ya this I top off a total Of 3.7 gallons a week.The only thing to be considered a supplement is my cal reactor.I add the supplemental stuff from Koralin to it which replenishes the trace stuff like iodide and the other stuff.Sorry guys.The 3.7 gallons is purely top-off Fresh Water.I also want to add that I am not an irresponsible reefer.I monitor all elements of my water to insure that everything is functioning properly.

[reefhead]

your kidding me......


In this thread Eric Bornemen give his best interpretation of the benifits of water changes...

http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...threadid=29192

Another thing I noticied

What do you feed you huge anemone?

I just cant see how your system is gonna last that much longer, if it does it will defy everything that I have read in my 3yrs of reefkeeping.

cheers,
Joe

[ridetheducati]

Tank.

Dont worry. Thats the beauty of the hobby , many ways to prove a point.

Good luck. Keep us posted if you dont mind.

Here is a pic of my 12 month old reef, skimmerless for 3 months.

http://home.covad.net/~tonygolden/Ri...0of%20Reef.JPG

[Tank]

Sorry ReefHead.And no Im not kidding.The anemone gets fed with the corals.Think what you want to think about me and my reef man.It's gettin a little to hot in here.I came back to reefland to share not to argue.And you can't realy say I'm wrong because as of now it works.If I get the slightest feeling that it's not working then the system will change.Sorry if I seem to have an attitude but I realy didn't expect to have to defend myself so much.I like to inform people of different things but this has gotten to the point of childishness.And not I'm not "kidding" you.