protein skimmer?

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bbortko

bbortko

Polypterus
MFK Member
Mar 3, 2010
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Northwest, Indiana
Do all salt water tanks need skimmers? I have a20g tank collecting dust and my wife says I have enough tanks already set-up but she likes clown fish so me thinks I can sneak it in if I get her a clown fish. I have tried researching the matter but everything I come across is a serious tank. I am looking for a bare minimum set-up with a clown fish, and maybe a cardinal and/or goby, I'm focusing on hardware first then I'll look at tank mates.

I've kept freshwater for 20 years and know I can handle it but as I stated above, all more research seems to lead me to bigger and more intricate tanks.

I understand that small tanks are significantly harder to keep in balance, but I find maintenance to be relaxing.
 
bbortko;5056032; said:
Do all salt water tanks need skimmers? I have a20g tank collecting dust and my wife says I have enough tanks already set-up but she likes clown fish so me thinks I can sneak it in if I get her a clown fish. I have tried researching the matter but everything I come across is a serious tank. I am looking for a bare minimum set-up with a clown fish, and maybe a cardinal and/or goby, I'm focusing on hardware first then I'll look at tank mates.

I've kept freshwater for 20 years and know I can handle it but as I stated above, all more research seems to lead me to bigger and more intricate tanks.

I understand that small tanks are significantly harder to keep in balance, but I find maintenance to be relaxing.
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If you maintain it well then I would say no. I always recommend getting a skimmer because it does make your tank water cleaner and inhabitants healthier, but with an under stocked small tank that you maintain well you should be fine without one.

I would say you other option here could be to plumb it into a system with another one of your tanks. This will eliminate that small tank instability and grant the tank a skimmer(if you have one on your other tanks.).
 
It's recommended, especially for corals, since they need pristine water conditions. But since you're doing a small fish only tank, I think you'll be okay if you have good filtration. All you need is live rock, sand, a good filter and the clowns. Good luck.
 
Good to hear, I was hoping some live rock and sand plus a cannister is all I needed. my other tanks are cichlids so plumbing the tanks won't work.
 
bbortko;5056078; said:
Good to hear, I was hoping some live rock and sand plus a cannister is all I needed. my other tanks are cichlids so plumbing the tanks won't work.
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Oh. I would skip the canister if you are doing live rock. Unless you are going to clean it out constantly(think at least once a week). Otherwise you will end up with a nitrate factory and poorer water quality than without the canister.
 
It doesn't "need" a skimmer, however it would keep it cleaner and will cut down on the amount of water changes needed.
 
So to start I can go live rock, live sand, hob filter and add a skimmer when looking for a new toy that will make my life easier.
 
drop the hang on back filter all together... Get yourself a good skimmer and some LR and you'll be good. I did some craigslist hunting and got a used AquaC Remora with the maxijet 1200 pump shipped to me for $60....

If you have an extra HOB filter you can always make a refugium out of it...
 
I have a 28 gallon that I kept skimmerless for 1.5 years. It had 2 clownfish, 1 royal gramma, 5 sexy shrimp, 1 cleaner shrimp, and lots of zoas and LPS coral. I did water changes once or twice a month and never had a single problem.
The skimmer does help keep the water cleaner but is not absolutely necessary especially if you're just doing a simple set-up. You can always convert the hob into a refugium as was suggested and put some chaeto in there, which will help keep your nitrates down.
 
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