Does anyone with a larger tank go skimmer less?

[treesprite]

I'm back to thinking about setting up my 120. I am thinking about not using my skimmer on it, mainly because I want a shorter stand, but also because of the space in the sump. I used to have a 16g office nano that had perfect water without any skimmer and almost no water changes, just a ton of macros and a dsb.

[madweazl]

does

[nextlevel808]

You should be good if you don't over stock it or over feed. Not sure about space but look into an algae turf scrubber instead they will export a lot and heard people not needing skimmer as much.

[treesprite]

You should be good if you don't over stock it or over feed. Not sure about space but look into an algae turf scrubber instead they will export a lot and heard people not needing skimmer as much.

I have been planning to do that for a while, with the 16 high tank I'm currently using as a temporary tank. It's tall and narrow, so I could put lights on both sides and not worry about splash or spray.

 

I also may make a macros display with some fancy macros.

[Sharkey18]

I think the need for a skimmer has more to do with bio load than water volume, but of course a larger volume allows for a larger bioload.

 

Keep the bioload low and the water changes frequent and I'll bet you'll be fine. Until you add too much stuff. 

[RJT]

I have a 220g with around 30 fish sps and lps. I do a 50g water change every two weeks. I haven't seen any difference since going without a skimmer.

[madweazl]

I have a 220g with around 30 fish sps and lps. I do a 50g water change every two weeks. I haven't seen any difference since going without a skimmer.

Do you run an ATS or refugium? My last two setups were done without a skimmer but they were both small (26 and 50 gallons) so I could do a large water change if need be.

[Joshifer]

I just got the darn thing to stop microbubbing. Well I didn't stop it. I put filter floss on the intake of the return pump lol.

[RJT]

Do you run an ATS or refugium? My last two setups were done without a skimmer but they were both small (26 and 50 gallons) so I could do a large water change if need be.

I don't use either.  I tried a refugium a few times with different types of macroalgae but they all just dissolved after a while.  I only have some rubble rock in the sump where the water first comes in and a return pump for a sump setup.