Do i need a protien skimmer or a water pump

[clowny123]

hey i making a reef tank and i am wondering if need to get a protien skimmer and if i need to get a water pump my tank is a 29 gallon by the way
thanks:happy:

 

[clowny123]

can someone help me

 

[clowny123]

bump

 

[fishman830]

IMO both are needed, the water pump, do you mean to use for circulation, in that application most definitally, they aid in oxygen exchange and most fish and inverts require water, like it is in teh ocean, to some degree at least

 

[boomper]

To have a successful reef you definately want both, if you have to choose now between one or the other, get the protein skimmer.

 

[fishman830]

Originally posted by Boomper
To have a successful reef you definately want both, if you have to choose now between one or the other, get the protein skimmer.
noooo i would say the pump.. the skimmer won't provide so much as to circulation, i'd get the pump firt, and then the protein skimmer

 

[viper_930]

Originally posted by Fishman830
noooo i would say the pump.. the skimmer won't provide so much as to circulation, i'd get the pump firt, and then the protein skimmer
Then what do you do about the filtration? The skimmer would still provide some circulation and it would filter the water.

 

[msd2]

are you running the skimmer in a sump or hob style?
You do need circulation, but I would say the skimmer is just as important. Why not get the skimmer and throw in a cheapo powerhead for a temp solution.

 

[thedogofwa]

let me get in on this

I would have to say that if it's a HOB skimmer, it will provide some circulation.
however if theres not enough circulation the skimmer won't be very effective anyway.
a skimmers function can also be replicated through water changes
I ran a 29 skimmerless for a year, 3months of that was w/o a fuge.
.02 Stick to the basics, get your circulation, then worry about skimming.