avoiding skimmer

[diztorcion]

hey everyone

i have a very simple question with seemingly a complicated answer
is there anyway to avoid buying a protein skimmer i have a 20 gallon and is not loaded yet but im willing to keep only one fish aslong as i don't have to pay for a skimmer ( any idea how many sneakers i can buy with the money from one skymmer

[Lucid]

you could probably do more water changes. I dont have one my dad's nano, but I would love to have one... even a $20 one. ;)

[Poseidon]

Sure, on a 20 gallon tank, you could choose not to have a skimmer, you just need to do weekly water changes, 10-20% should do just fine.

[Papa Doug]

I dont have one on my 20g sps nano. As others said, I do about a 5g/week water change, if that much. Still pretty early in the tanks life, so to soon to firmly say thats what works but dont see why not.

Even if I add a small one I have around it would not be large enough to be the end all of filtration. . It would just be to say I have one in there.

[diztorcion]

ok thanks
you know what is the worst part they are so expensive and so simple it actually annoys me
but thanks for answering

[lil.guppy]

Look into a hang on back skimmer. I am in the same boat as you where I really dont want one but they do make your aquarium a better place in the long run.
I got mine for under $95! and I have a 46gallon

[Ninong]

You can definitely get by without a protein skimmer in a 20-gal tank. Are you running any sort of filter at all? I'm talking about one of those cheapy hang-on-the back filters that have a carbon-filled pouch in them that you replace regularly? One of those would help and it would also provide additional aeration. If you have one of those plus one powerhead, you should be okay. Be sure to change the carbon-filled pouch regularly.

And, as Poseidon has already pointed out, be sure to do regular water changes. For that size tank, something on the order of 2-3 gallons/week would be fine.

Obviously you will have to watch your water levels continuously and add freshwater (distilled water or R.O./D.I. water) frequently. Do not let the water level get too low before topping off. Doing so would result in swings in the salinity. Do not use tapwater. I'm sure you don't have an R.O./D.I. filter, so use distilled water (about 59 cents/gal at Walmart) or some of that "drinking" water in the vending machine at the front of the store in Walmart Supercenters. It's really R.O. water that is run through a U.V. sterilizer as it is dispensed. It's only 25 cents a gallon if you bring your own containers.

[jdill]

I am really new to the Marine world. Thank you in advance for your compassion. I used to work in a small pet store, so there were things I picked up and over the years adequately forgot.
Anyway. I have been running my 40 gal tank for about 5 months now with no water changes (only topped off level) and I have not been running a protein skimmer.
From the responses here, it is highly recommended, but I just wanted to add my 2 cents.
I remember in my old marine tank (15 yrs ago?) that I would have to empty the protein skimmer a couple times a week. I have a canister filter running, Fluval. I also have crushed coral and about 40 lbs of live rock.
I have 1 coral beauty, 2 clown fish, another 4 small fish and a blue-legged crab.
I had 1 blue-leg crab die, but in hindsight, it was the first time I had seen a crab shed its shell- either way, he's dead now.

I will invest in a protein skimmer as it seems to be what all of you recommend, but I have been doing fine without it.