Do You Need a Skimmer?

[SaltwaterNoob17]

I'm thinking about changing my sump/refugium set-up, and was wondering: What does a skimmer remove that chaeto and a dsb refugium doesn't? Would it be more beneficial to use the space in the sump that the skimmer takes up to expand the refugium?

 

[wontonflip]

Skimmers actually remove the poop and uneaten food out of the system. before they have a chance to break down into nitrates. Chaeto and the bacteria living in a dsb simply eat up nitrates from stuff that the skimmer does not get.

 

[dcantucson]

If I had to choose between a refugium and a skimmer, I would run a Skimmer myself.

 

[daugherty]

i would choose a skimmer unless you are going to do be very diligent about water changes every week.

 

[sen5241b]

I do not have a skimmer. I rely on cheato and my 'trates stay at zero BUT a skimmer can serve as a backup if your cheato fails or dies off for some reason.