no protein skimmer w/ berlin method filtration?

I know most people seem to use protein skimmers these days to remove excess organic material from the water that isn't processed out from the bacteria on the live rock.

My question is: if I have a large amount of live rock and a very light bioload in the aquarium, can I be fairly successful w/out a protein skimmer?

I've got a 55 gal tank and am slowly planning out the best way to set it up on a budget. There won't be a sump, at least not in the beginning. I've considered the octopus HOB skimmer.

I'm more interested in coral than fish, so I would think the live rock may be able to handle the filtration....I just don't want to go down the wrong road only to realize later that I should have done it another way from the beginning (I wouldn't be the first to do that, would I?? ;D)

Thanks for any suggestions you may have!

 

Get a skimmer and save yourself a lot of headache.

 

The only really successful long term tanks without a skimmer I have heard of use a daily waterchange with natural sea water to maintain water quality.

 

GAC (carbon) actually removes more DOC (organics) then a skimmer does. That being said, any skimmer will still remove 20-35% of your DOC, so it is worth getting a skimmer, but not worth getting a Bubble King.

 

I would use a skimmer, it's easier to just get one now, especially if you want to do a reef tank. I have about 85lbs of rock in my 55 and my skimmer still pulls a fair amount stuff.

 

Not all DOCs are the same. There are hydophobic and follic. Skimmer remove hydrophobics much better than GAC, and they also remove solid waste as well. It does not have to be dissolved. I don't think you could afford to run as much GAC as you would need to keep a reef clean. Skimmers are easy to clean. Skimmers remove 100% of the hydrophobic DOCs.

 

Thanks Telgar. I could see how daily water changes could quickly justify buying a skimmer

 

Thanks Beaun & Powerman.
Interesting, I wasn't aware of how the different organics are removed...I'm still learning ;D
How would refugiums work into this (aside from giving pods a place to grow)? For example, if I had a small space within the tank to grow chaeto or something similar?

 

I was hoping if I had a good amount of rock and a small bioload then I could get to some equilibrium where the skimmer may not be needed. I just got a couple 50 lb bags of crushed oyster shells and will be picking up some cement to make my own rock, so the cost of rock is less of an issue for me now. I plan on seeding the tank with a good piece of live rock from the lfs.

I've looked at DIY skimmer plans, but for a tank this small I think I'm actually better off buying one, it seems like the value of DIY increases with water volume.

 

I would get a skimmer and save yourself the headache running skimmerless can and will cause.

FWIW, all the DSB tanks I know of, even with the berlin method in use have had mini crashes.