Originally posted by Jenni1979
Oh okay. Nobody ever explained that to me. I thought a protein skimmer was always necessary.
As noted my view is a little controversial today. i first set up a saltwater tank in the late 70's skimmers were either unheard of at at least brand new and experimental. So the standard was to not use a skimmer. I also set up my freshwater tanks with no circulation and no filtration other that that provided by the plants. Despite that, my current freshwater is a 10g with crystal clear water (2 year running), no circulation, no filtration and over 30 fish are currently in the tank and all but 3 have grown up in the tank.
As pointed out I do have nitrAtes higher than yours in my 55g. That tank had been setup for only 6 months, has just started spreading corraline algae, macro algae has started to remain with less replacement from my 20g macro algae culture tank. The water is clear, the fish healthy, ammonia and nitrItes are stable at 0.0, ph stable at about 8.2 to 8.4, and nitrates are trending downward. I do have a hob filter which I clean half the pads on each week. My 20g macro algae has no filtration or circulation and the water is clear, nitrAtes 0.0 and a molly grew up from 3/16" to over 2"(despite not being fed).
I all my tanks for the last 30 years, I just replace the water the evaporates with untreated tap water. I have not done a waterchange in that time. And again the result is clear water with lush plant growth and minimal nusiance algae growth.
Back in the 70's we did not need skimmers we just let that tanks stable out and grow plants and (in salt water) algae. Dispite the lack of skimmers, the water was clear and the fish and plants could not tell the difference.
Skimmers probably do everything stated. And if the cost $5.99 I would probably have one also. but at $160 I would much rather have a larger tank or macro algae or marine plants. I would much rather have the fish waste treated by biological action in the tank itself than have any mechanism removing that waste and therefore preventing the buildup of benificial bacteria in the tank.
