Will I really need a skimmer?

[Eeels]

I've been planning on making a reef aquarium out of my 29g tropical tank and I'm finally ready to do it.

However, three years ago a reef octopus HOB that was good for 100 gallons was about 115 dollars and now it's 300 USD.

If I only plan on having a pair of clownfish and then zoas, montis, acros, and pavonas do I really need a skimmer? I plan on carbon dosing if I need to and I'm probably going to target 5 ppm nitrate.

 

[phillybean]

No tank "needs" a Protein Skimmer, but it makes keeping parameters in check easier. I could be wrong, but I don't think carbon dosing is recommended without a skimmer. You'll just likely having to ensure you are doing frequent water changes, probably around 5 gallons a week.

 

[dedragon]

definitely wouldnt plan to carbon dose while starting a tank out as you can quickly bottom out nutrients and have worse issues. In tank is also an option like tunze skimmers, icecap has actually copied the reef octopus hob and had a dc pump for less money

IceCap K3-200 HOB Protein Skimmer For Aquariums Ranging From 60-140 Gallons

Product Overview Modern Design and Functionality The IceCap K3 200HOB Protein Skimmer is a compact hang-on-back protein skimmer ideal for aquariums up to 140 gallons. The traditional style cylinder skimmer body shape reduces turbulence to provide optimal performance and its pump is mounted...

www.directaquariumsupply.com

 

[dedragon]

IceCap K3 100 HOB Protein Skimmer

Ultra-compact hang-on-back protein skimmer ideal for aquariums up to 140 gallons with a 1.5-inch rim or smaller. K3 100HOB User Instructions - Click Here

www.coralvue.com

I always prefer in sump ones and if you care starting a new tank you can get it drilled and add a diy sump for pretty cheap

 

[Eeels]

definitely wouldnt plan to carbon dose while starting a tank out as you can quickly bottom out nutrients and have worse issues. In tank is also an option like tunze skimmers, icecap has actually copied the reef octopus hob and had a dc pump for less money

IceCap K3-200 HOB Protein Skimmer For Aquariums Ranging From 60-140 Gallons

Product Overview Modern Design and Functionality The IceCap K3 200HOB Protein Skimmer is a compact hang-on-back protein skimmer ideal for aquariums up to 140 gallons. The traditional style cylinder skimmer body shape reduces turbulence to provide optimal performance and its pump is mounted...

www.directaquariumsupply.com

thank you for the skimmer reccomendation

 

[ZoWhat]

No need for a skimmer. No need for waterchanges to save on salt costs.

Just save money for new fish every couple of months is the best low budget option

Just helping you with what you want

 

[Pkunk35]

100% no, 5g changes weekly are def enough imo especially in the beginning with that size tank. I’ve run many reef tanks without skimmer up to 75g and currently run a 32g without. As the tank ages and populations increase I think they become more important tool, imo so adding one later might be something to consider but def think u are ok for now.

 

[Miami Reef]

I plan on carbon dosing if I need to

You cannot carbon dose without a skimmer.

 

[mindme]

I've been planning on making a reef aquarium out of my 29g tropical tank and I'm finally ready to do it.

However, three years ago a reef octopus HOB that was good for 100 gallons was about 115 dollars and now it's 300 USD.

If I only plan on having a pair of clownfish and then zoas, montis, acros, and pavonas do I really need a skimmer? I plan on carbon dosing if I need to and I'm probably going to target 5 ppm nitrate.

You don't need a skimmer.

But if you are going to carbon dose, then you probably need a skimmer.

 

[slojim]

Protein skimmers are just nutrient export. So are water changes. A reasonably stocked 29g might need something like 6 gallons of water every 2 weeks. Will you make water or buy? Skimmers are nice gear and have some advantages, they offer some flexibility in how you run your tank, but don't really pay for themselves until you get a bit larger tank.
Fyi, i have a 110 with an ats and a skimmer. I almost always have the skimmer hose returning to the sump.

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

No need for a skimmer. No need for waterchanges to save on salt costs.

Just save money for new fish every couple of months is the best low budget option

Just helping you with what you want

Seems like you’ll legit save money this way sadly

 

[Spare time]

You can also try a hang on back refugium instead

 

[Eeels]

You cannot carbon dose without a skimmer.

ah, I see. well, then I will probably get the one someone mentioned. looks good. dc pump as well

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

I'd rather run a skimmer than do wcs. Lol. Time is money.
Why would you suggest someone not run a skimmer?! Mind blowing
D

 

[JoeinLA]

I’m relatively new to this but I suspect that if you really get into your tank you will eventually get a skimmer. They do a lot more than “just“ nutrient export: oxygenation and also co2 scrubbing/increasing ph, in addition to very efficient nutrient export. In the beginning, however, you certainly don’t need one to get things rolling and presumably you won’t need one for a while until you need more efficient nutrient export beyond whatever water change schedule you’re willing to live with.

It would certainly surprise me if you don’t have one after 6 months assuming you’re very much “bitten” by the reefing bug then and your tank starts to get somewhat filled with fish and corals that you very much don’t want to see unhappy or dead…

 

[mindme]

ah, I see. well, then I will probably get the one someone mentioned. looks good. dc pump as well

I use a bubble magus HOB on my 29g anemone tank. It works well, but if you have a lip on the top, you'll need to cut out a little notch in the edge where you want to hang it. Not the entire lip, just a little part on the flat edge inside. Pretty easy to do and doesn't take enough out of it to make it weaker.

I've had it for years and still works great. You can also easily adjust it by raising and lowering the cup. I use a QQ1, which right now I see is about $75. It was $100 when I bought it. They have a QQ3 now, not sure if it is better, but it seems to run $130ish.

 

[fryman]

You don't need a skimmer although it can be helpful. My recommendation is stock fish very slowly and test frequently. If nitrate starts trending up, increase your export. Skimmer, carbon dosing, refugium with macro algae or an ATS are all viable options.

My 16gal system doesn't have a skimmer and I just do weekly 5gal water changes and carbon dosing (vinegar).

You do not need a skimmer for carbon dosing, btw. There is a common misperception that a skimmer is needed based on the theory it will remove excess bacteria. This has been proven false empirically. There are plenty of people successfully using carbon dosing to reduce nitrates without a skimmer.

*Edit*
There is a danger from carbon dosing to fish from oxygen depletion, but that can be mitigated with a simple air stone. Skimmers also work to prevent the problem so perhaps this is why people still think it's required.

You also need to carefully fine tune the carbon dose to prevent bottoming out nitrate.

 

[Eeels]

You don't need a skimmer although it can be helpful. My recommendation is stock fish very slowly and test frequently. If nitrate starts trending up, increase your export. Skimmer, carbon dosing, refugium with macro algae or an ATS are all viable options.

My 16gal system doesn't have a skimmer and I just do weekly 5gal water changes and carbon dosing (vinegar).

You do not need a skimmer for carbon dosing, btw. There is a common misperception that a skimmer is needed based on the theory it will remove excess bacteria. This has been proven false empirically. There are plenty of people successfully using carbon dosing to reduce nitrates without a skimmer.

*Edit*
There is a danger from carbon dosing to fish from oxygen depletion, but that can be mitigated with a simple air stone. Skimmers also work to prevent the problem so perhaps this is why people still think it's required.

You also need to carefully fine tune the carbon dose to prevent bottoming out nitrate.

i plan on having 50x flow from a powerhead would that prevent the danger of low o2

 

[HuduVudu]

I plan on carbon dosing if I need to and I'm probably going to target 5 ppm nitrate.

Carbon dosing REQUIRES a skimmer to work. The long and short of it is that carbon dosing will encourage what is essentially a bacterial bloom. This bloom will be full of nitrate and phosphate. You will use the skimmer to export the bloom thereby exporting the nitrate and phosphate.

Exact numbers in this hobby are not a good thing to shoot for. As so succinctly said in Jurassic Park ... ¨Life finds a way". You will pull your hair out trying to reach exact numbers.

 

[Daftendire]

Every tank is different as far as how it will handle nutrients and you won't know until it's running and established. You might find that you struggle to keep detectable levels of nitrate and phosphate in a nano with low bio load and lots of corals. You can always buy a skimmer later if needed as others have eluded to.