do i need a protien skimmer for a 20 gallon saltwater aquarium?

Answer 1

I have a 29 gallon saltwater tank with no skimmer that has been running for 2.5 years without any problems. You only need skimmers if you plan on a lot of corals.
I did consider this one for my tank because of it's small size
http://www.marineandreef.com/shoppro/fission_skimmer.htm
A

Answer 2

Depends what other filtration and what animals you have got in the tank.

You do not need it immediately in a lightly stocked tank. A protein skimmer removes organic matter before it enters the filtration cycle.

An aquarium undergoes an ecological succession of events by a build up of nitrifying and other bacteria. A protein skimmer delays this process, which is not desirable at the beginning because the bacteria are relatively low. As the aquarium ages, the oxygen using bacteria multiply. The fish grow as well. More dissolved oxygen is required.

No, I do not use one as I keep small fish. I would only use one if I kept sensitive fish or cuttlefish, octopuses etc, which are too much trouble. I also keep sea anemone which feed on small fragments of organic matter so the use of protein skimmer is counterindicated for me.

After three years, I tend to clean out the aquarium using undergravel filtration (the most efficient) because the detritus accumulates and interferes with the operation of the filter. With capsule filters, the detritus collects in the filtration medium in the capsules and the detritus can be removed that way. This means regular cleans instead of a spring clean.

Supplementary aeration is a good idea. Disruption of the water surface increases the dissolved oxygen up to the maximum holding ability of the seawater.

Answer 3

relies upon what different filtration and what animals think ofyou've have been given contained in the tank. you do no longer want it on the instant in a gently stocked tank. A protein skimmer removes organic and organic count in the previous it enters the filtration cycle. An aquarium undergoes an ecological succession of events by a strengthen of nitrifying and different micro organism. A protein skimmer delays this technique, which isn't ideal on the initiating because of the fact the micro organism are quite low. because of the fact the aquarium an prolonged time, the oxygen utilising micro organism multiply. The fish advance as properly. greater dissolved oxygen is needed. No, i do no longer use one as I shop small fish. i might purely use one if I saved comfortable fish or cuttlefish, octopuses etc, that are too lots hardship. I additionally shop sea anemone which feed on small fragments of organic and organic count so using protein skimmer is counterindicated for me. After 3 years, I even tend to scrub out the aquarium utilising undergravel filtration (the perfect) because of the fact the detritus accumulates and interferes with the operation of the filter out. With pill filters, the detritus collects contained in the filtration medium contained in the pills and the detritus could be bumped off that way. this implies properly-known cleans somewhat of a spring sparkling. Supplementary aeration is a good suggestion. Disruption of the water floor will strengthen the dissolved oxygen as much as the optimum conserving ability of the seawater.

Answer 4

www.saltwaterfish.com Go to the message boards and learn about anything !!

Answer 5

Couldn't hurt.

Answer 6

not for one that small. unless you really want one

Answer 7

not necessary,

optional