are skimmers always needed?

J

jimnjamie2703

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Mar 16, 2007
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I have a question about the skimmer....I have a 55 gal tank that is freshwater, and since my hubby got me starting a saltwater 20 gal for him, I've now caught the saltwater bug.:) We have a skimmer on the 20 gal, but I saw a post on here that said if you are doing a FOWLR tank then a skimmer is not a neccessity, but it is if you do a reef tank. Well I'm not that brave yet to try that, although they are beautiful, I just want to start with fish and live rock. So do I absolutely need a skimmer for the FOWLR? Keep in mind it's 55 gal, and I don't plan on having many fish in there....so what do you all think? Finances right now wont allow me to change mine to salt if I have to buy 60 lbs of live rock and a skimmer. But if its really important to have one I'll just have to wait.:sad: I have everything for a freshwater setup,(lights,heater,2 30-60 filters,which I've read you dont need with the right amount of live rock,hood ect.) so what else would I need to add to make it salt? (Well other than salt!)Also I used sand for the freshwater, so could I reuse it for the saltwater? Any help is appreciated! Thanks!
 
i agree with germanman. many people run tanks without skimmer, fowlr and reef alike (i know one guy who has sps... but i dont think he has ANY fish and he has a hge refugium.... lol). however, i would recomend one for any tank. if you would like, you can start up your tank now and then buy a skimmer once you have the money. :)
 
Thanks, that was what I was thinking about doing.....I wasnt sure if I needed to wait to start it after I bought everyhting or if I could do without somethings and buy gradually.......Thanks for the help!:)
 
Skimmers are not needed and many tanks for FO and up to Reef tanks don't use them. HOWEVER, what they do is make the system MUCH MORE FORGIVING, for when you make mistakes. It is much easier for a beginner to start up using one.
There are many different ways to approach salt water aquariums but the most common ones would be without external HOB filters or cannister filters, (although some do use them) but many times incorporate a sump for extra system capacity, and inserting equipment like skimmers. Some also use a refugium.
What the majority of experienced hobbyists would most likely tell you is to not use your fresh water sand for your salt tank, ESPECIALLY if you ever used chemicals in the fresh tank. It won't matter too much with fish only but just in case you ever in the future want to go reef, the chemicals could leach into the rock and make it difficult or impossible to keep corals and inverts. Better to go bare bottom than go with that sand.
IMO, don't skimp out on buying rock, as it's the best biological filter you can have. Buy QUALITY and buy enough! With quality live rock you should use about 75 pounds for a 55g, but if any of the rock is lesser quality then you need more as the more dense rock hasn't the capabilities of the quality porous rock for the biological filter, AND it weights more for a given size piece compared to the good stuff. That makes the cheaper rock "more expensive" than it seems to be, because you need so much more of it.
If money is to tight to get what is needed, it's best to wait instead of "cheaping out", as in the long run, it will cost you a lot more in terms of dollars and probably stock losses.
Always consider that you eventually will make it a reef tank as most hobbyists go that route. Then if you don't, there is still no problem but if you do, you haven't made it more difficult for yourself.
In addition to the forums, there are two excellent online magazines that have archived all their past magazines for excellent reading.
 
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