20 gallon tank. Do I need a skimmer?

[Salt in Texas]

Hey all, I have a 20 gallon tank with a hang on filter. It has mushrooms 2 percs some crabs and snails.

Do I need a skimmer? If so what can I get for $100. Thanks a ton

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Hey all, I have a 20 gallon tank with a hang on filter. It has mushrooms 2 percs some crabs and snails.

Do I need a skimmer? If so what can I get for $100. Thanks a ton

no. even big tanks don’t need a skimmer. you’ll just need to keep up in water changes to keep certain nutrients down.

 

[AdamNC]

Not necessary, water changes will keep up but.... if you want, a good one for that size is the Tunze 9001.

 

[Bossman]

Hey all, I have a 20 gallon tank with a hang on filter. It has mushrooms 2 percs some crabs and snails.

Do I need a skimmer? If so what can I get for $100. Thanks a ton

I put a Skimz Monzter SH1 on my Fluval 16 gallon and it works great. It's an internal skimmer that attaches to a side of the tank with a magnet holder. I did cut a hole in the top of the cover for fitment as I didn't want to lose the cover.

I'm about to add a Tunze Nano ATO so I can dose kalk.

Cost from BRS is just over $100

 

[ReeferReefer]

A skimmer is not a required piece of equipment but it can help with some nutrient export. It's a great piece of equipment if you find yourself missing out on water changes.


Yes a reef tank can run without a skimmer, but that will require there to be other forms of nutrient export like water changes, refugium or algae scrubber.

Personally I would never run a reef tank of pretty much any size without a skimmer.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

Been running my 20 for a year without a skimmer. I do have an algae scrubber though.

 

[legionofdoon]

I wonder if running without a skimmer helps keeping that healthy looking goni you have.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

I wonder if running without a skimmer helps keeping that healthy looking goni you have.

I'm sure it doesn't hurt. I bought it at the LFS about 7 months ago and it went through a rough patch the first month but has been doing well since. Its grown some but not a ton.