Skimmer

[ForumPete58]

I have purchased a new tank, moving from a 26 gallon to a 55 gallon. I have a 330gph filter, a 170gph penguin bio-wheel filter, a 200 watt heater, and a penguin powerhead. In the tank I have 1 pink skunk clown, 1 maroon gold striped clown, 1 blue damsel, and 1 blue velvet damsel. None of the fish are big and they all get along wonderfully. The question I am trying to get at is this. Will a protein skimmer cut down on my nitrites? I know that skimmers are beneficial to my tank. And the cost of salt is about to break me.
Thanks,
Matt

 

[mogurnda]

Do you mean nitrite or nitrate? If it's nitrite, then keep doing water changes until the tank is cycled.

A skimmer will help somewhat with nitrate. It will pull nitrogen-containing organic compounds out of the water before the nitrogen is released as nitrate. Not necessary for your tank, but it will help with water quality.

Are you buying 200 gallon buckets? That helps a bit with the cost.

 

[Jman]

I've found that ordering salt in 200 gallon buckets online is cheaper than buying it at the lfs even with the shipping costs.