Should I have a skimmer on my 30 gallon tank?

Ragin · Apr 26, 2013

Should I have a skimmer in my tank? Not sure if there's a size limit or not. I have one for my 75 gallon tank that I haven't set up yet that I can use if I need to have one on it.

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46gReef · Apr 26, 2013

Ideally you should but with that said there are people who run skimmerless tanks without any issues. Is it a reef tank or FOWLR?

totion · Apr 26, 2013

I currently run a Coralife super skimmer 65 on my 29 gallon reef but am building a sump this week and upgrading to a reef octopus nwb 110 for said reef.

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Ragin · Apr 26, 2013

Well I have live rock and snails and a crab , my fish died , but I'm hoping to put corals in it when it's safe, I've got the purple algea growing on the rocks now so I'm guessing I'm getting close

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Ragin · Apr 26, 2013

I am super new to this lol

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Ragin · Apr 26, 2013

I'm wanting it to be a FOWLR

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Ragin · Apr 26, 2013

Reef tank I'm sorry, I'm still getting used to the names of each also,

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LVE · Apr 26, 2013

I would say yes you should have a skimmer. It can be done without one, but having one will make your experience a little bit easier.

Ragin · Apr 26, 2013

Ok, thx I will put it today then, I know a lot of this right now is confusing to me but I am determined to get it right

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Ragin · Apr 26, 2013

Also forgot to mention I have a spotted goby and a crab and snails living in this tank,

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Reefer_Go_Home · Apr 27, 2013

Im running a skimmer rated for up to 75g on my 30g tank.

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Electrobes · Apr 27, 2013

I am skimmerless on my 40Br, but I do encourage other reefers to use one. It is a lot more work without one, plus they do create a nice buffer from funk, overall.

mainereefer · Apr 27, 2013

save the $$ you are gona spend on a skimmer buy more salt and do a 10% water change every week

Liquid360 · Apr 27, 2013

Or you could save the $$ you're gonna spend on salt or a skimmer. Instead use that money to buy plastic fish and coral. Sure they lack the personality of a live one but they expel little waste.

NanaReefer · Apr 27, 2013

I went skimmerless for about a year on my 26g. Determined to prove it could be done without issues, so there ha! Soon discovered that the only way to keep the tank clean enough so as to avoid algae issues and low light penetration was to do weekly WC, and feed much less. My tank was not happy!
I bought a RO BH-1000. OMG! what the heck was I thinking going skimmerless!?
Today I feed the fish like they are supposed to be fed, constantly! At WC it looks as good coming out as it does going in. Here's what was pulled out of my tank only 2 days after a WC.

Run a skimmer!

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c_healy · Apr 27, 2013

Run an algae turf scrubber if you can't afford a skimmer. It's a great alternative and very cheap. Many people stop running skimmers once they start using an ATS.

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palvyre · Apr 27, 2013

I use the Eshopps Nano Skimmer on my JBJ 30 gallon nano. Works well after the break in period. Fits in one of the chambers in the back. If I had a sump I would have used a larger one though.