Fish Hate Skimmer...FOWLR

[MaryPa]

I`ve noticed everytime I turn the protein skimmer off my fish swim the entire tank. When the skimmer is running they stay at the furtherest end from the skimmer and just hoover around their flower pot ( anemone replacement ). Is there anything I can do to run the tank without a skimmer?

30 gal FOWLR
45lb LR
2 Ocelarris
1 Firefish Goby
1 Lawnmower Blenny
1 Pencil Urchin

[Goalie66]

I would say you could but it would require more water changes.
Just my .02

Tom

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

i agree....keep up on w.c.'s

[MaryPa]

Wow thanks for the fast responces. So how much water and how often?

[MaryPa]

Have you ever heard of this happening?

[Goalie66]

I've have never heard of this happening myself.
How many fish are in the tank and what size. I would say that would be the factor of how often to do water changes. The more fish and/or bigger fish means more often.

[MaryPa]

30 gal FOWLR
45lb LR
2 Ocelarris
1 Firefish Goby
1 Lawnmower Blenny
1 Pencil Urchin

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

i would think 2-4 gallons a week would be good OR 4-8 gallons bi-weekly

[MaryPa]

Thanks everyone.

[anydarnthing]

You might want to check if skimmer pump isn't fully insulated and voltage is straying into your tank.

[romunov]

Build a sump under the tank or somewhere else. Put all your machinery in there.

[Omidon4]

What kind of skimmer is it? Is it noisey or does it produce a lot of vibrations? What is it (do you believe) that is scaring them?

[rshimek]

[moved]

[billpa]

Originally posted by anydamnthing
You might want to check if skimmer pump isn't fully insulated and voltage is straying into your tank.

Originally posted by Omidon4
What kind of skimmer is it? Is it noisey or does it produce a lot of vibrations? What is it (do you believe) that is scaring them?

These are both good points. You could have stray voltage from your skimmer pump or the noise/vibrations of the pump could be scaring your fish. I've noticed this with my crappy OceanRunner 6500 pump. It is pretty noisy...however, the fish dont mind too much...unless it has been off (like when I feed) for a while and then I fire it back up. When I do this, sometimes the fish will bolt quickly. I would try to keep the skimmer and figure out the problem when it is on. JMO.

billpa

[robsmith32]

actually, seen this on the other forum. and its a seaclone?
I dumped the seaclone 150 in favor for remora pro shortly after I got it. Seaclone in my opinion is a waste of electricity.
You could change skimmers, as someone suggested putting a sump.
up the water changes, and use Purigen. Purigen being a seachem product to remove organics.

[Thurge]

To run your tank without a skimmer you can add filter feeders such as Steamer Clams from the grocer, Thorny Oystuers, Tunicates, Sponges, etc.