Skimmers on nano tanks ?

[ryanscott]

I'm going to start a nano tank anywhere from 16 to 30 gallons. Would you run a skimmer or just stick with scheduled water changes?

 

[glb]

I have a 12g and don't run a skimmer. Water changes do fine. I've read of many people running skimmers on 29g cubes. I checked out the idea of a nano skimmer for my tank and they generally got bad reviews. Good luck!

 

[mainereefer]

unless you way over feed and overstocked the tank no need for a skimmer, weekly waterchanges on a nano tank

 

[jservedio]

I have a nano and a pico (20g + 10g sump and 2g) and for me, I would run a skimmer on anything over 10-15 gallons. Even with a big skimmer on the 20, it pulls a LOT out of the tank and it is acro dominated. On a tiny tank (under 10g) you can do huge water changes very, very easily without a lot of effort, but on a 20g or bigger it starts to become a pain.

The skimmer will make your life far easier and they are a small investment when compared to everything else. Here is the 20g from a couple months ago:

 

[Velodog2]

I have an AquaC Remora HOB skimmer on my 18 modified to fit in the sump. I had it lying around and I tried it and it took stuff out so why not? I empty about a 1/4-1/2" of pretty dark skimmate once a week so it's not a lot, but that would still be there if I didn't run the skimmer, and those puppies are complete no-maintenance. I do 25% water changes weekly as well in an SPS dominated mixed reef with 2 small clowns.