more filtration for the $$$

[noogiefish]

Okay, i have finally whittled the wife down enough to get another filter for my new 200g tank. Its an aggresive setup now, but i am going to be introducing an emporer angel to 'run the tank'. i want to have a filter to keep the water clean enought for his/her health, but at the same time, i'd also like to filter out as much of the diatomaeous (sp?) brown crap that is sticking to my glass (scrubbing a 200g tank is no walk in the park). SO, should i be looking to a protein skimmer or a diatom filter? will a diatom filter remove any of the garbage whihc might affect the angel? ro/di is out of the question right now, so i have to deal with the brown crap issue. Any advice would be appreicated...

 

[kdlbem]

Skimmer, definately. I wouldn't set up a tank without one.
B

 

[mr . salty]

I also agree that a skimmer should be #1 on your priority list...The "brown stuff" go away on it's own as the tank matures...

 

[noogiefish]

that's kinda where i am at, but i've been told the diatom filter is good for water polishing. from what i have read, here and other sites, the brown crap is from too much silicates in my tap water, which isn't gonna go away on its own. Is spring water okay to use for topping off, etc?