Are Protein Skimmers Needed?

[benzjamin13]

Now a days, I see all these little Nano Cubes and other small tanks being set up as salt water tank in the pet stores. They have one or two fish in it and coral. My question is...don't they need a protein skimmer? I've always heard that a saltwaer tank needs a protein skimmer if you're going to have fish in it.

 

[Ophiuchus]

I'm not totally sold on them. I would say they're defintely required for large reef set-ups, but for small tanks, if you're diligent on water changes, have good filtration otherwise and you don't overstock it, you can probably get by without one. But every tank is its own animal.

 

[benzjamin13]

Yeah...me and a friend were talking about how their (pet shops) set up looks pretty clean and we find it hard to believe that they're "low maintenance." He thinks that they just replace any dead fish so no one knows, but I think it's too expensive for them to replace fish all the time. I just think that they're "low maintenance" means a weekly water change. What do you think?

 

[koliveira]

Yeah, Nano tanks need weekly water changes. They also need daily attention, You must at least make sure to top off for evaporation everyday. Salinity jumps around alot in a nano tank. Protein skimming in a nano tank is not worth it. The small protein skimmers on the market don't work very well. I would say they are more of a gimick.

 

[fishmatt]

i set up a 440 litre reef tank and the skimmer never work and is still doing well, must admit it was pretty packed out with live rock. a definate no for skimmers is if you keep seahorses.BUT they do take alot of scum out of the water but sometimes think it can be 2 much, try keepin it on for 12 hours or so see if it makes a difference