Newbie Question

[manfish]

Is it possible to keep a fish only, with no live rock, tank without a protien skimmer?

[Makaiveli]

yes sir

[manfish]

Would frequent water changes be the key to keeping the protien levels down?
What, if any, problems could I expect?
Is anyone here not running a skimmer?

[gbolton]

For a fish only with no live rock and no protien skimmer you would just need a good mechanical filter that would provide the biological filtration as well.

[TKOS]

And yes, lots of water changes. Keep lots of test kits handy. Is this a breeder tank or qt tank? or do you just not like the LR?

[as40]

Do you plan on putting any "dead" decorational rock in the tank? If you don't want to worry about curing/purchasing the live rock (it isn't cheap), definately at least put some cheap dead rock in there, something porous. Then just go about using the mechanical filtration, lots of water changes, etc. After a while, you'll be pleasantly or unpleasantly suprised to find that your rock has become live rock. It's natural, will happen no matter what, and is a good thing. If you go that route, you don't have to cure anything, or pay the $$$, and you'll have just one more thing in the tank to help out your mechanical/biological filtration.

[manfish]

I do like the live rock, but I'm working with limited funds at the moment.

Iwould like to get the tank cycled and add a couple of fish while saving to purchase lighting and skimmer. I will be adding LR a little at a time.

I would have to fall in love with such an expensive hobby. :)

I have plenty of biological and mechanical filtration. I have a Tidepool II sump with a huge bio wheel and a fluval 404 on a 125gal. tank.

The tank has been FW for over a year and I've had good success with this filtration.

[TKOS]

I would go with the suggestion of buying some dead pourous rock and a little LR. The LR will seed the dead rock, though it will take longer of course.

[manfish]

Once again I would like to thank all of you for your help. This is the best and most informative fish sorum on the web.

[Max]

I agree with tkos 100% I have a 55 gallon tanks that I put around 75 pounds of dead coral from my neighbors coral garden. Nice little lady! I added around 12 lbs of cured live rock from various locations and now I can't even tell which was which. Except of course the stuff I bought was little bitty and the coral boulders were pretty big. If you are going to use coral though make sure it's real clean or you might have a GIGANTIC mess and a TOXIC situation for your live stock. No fertalizers pestacides etc. I used a pretty complicated process to clean mine if your interested I'll share. Just let me know and welcome to the brimey deeps!
Chris :D

[DEmigh]

I have several pieces of "dead rock" that have graduated to "live rock."

It doesn't provide any "hitchhikers," but growing your own is kind of fun.