skimmer or no skimmer

[kevins]

hi i have a 40 gal hexagon and right now i have a brown tang and a yellow tang a shrimp and a royal gramma i have about 5 pounds of live rock in there. what i want to know is every one talks about protien skimmers do i need one? i use a emperor bio filter 280 right now.

 

[corkytriggerfish]

protien skimmers are devices used to remove some
heavier organic compounds. Skimmers work, but
it's up to you to decide if it is worth the benefits and cost. periodic water changes will
remove some of the organic compounds from the
water, considerably reducing the need of a skimmer.Protien skimmer benefits=cost & maintance

 

[mr . salty]

You will be surprised how much crap a good skimmer will pull out of the tank,even with regular water changes.Plus they also do a great job of improving water clarity.water changes wont help with this(much).I would definatly say YES.Any marine tank with FISH in it should have one...

 

[bt_1999_66]

Question deleted

 

[dburr]

Sorry, I disagree.
I have a low stock count, a refug and a DSB. I'm going real slow building my 100 gal. I will not put a skimmer in there. I think a skimmer also pulls out stuff that feeds corels.
I put in my first lps a little while ago and didn't see the recession until I got it home. It is coming back fast. Would it if I had a skimmer I don't know. I have read in books that it may not at all when that happens. IMO the food it gets from the water coloum is more now than if I used a skimmer.
I feel good going natural and everybody is healthy.
Kevins- your stock count is high not to use a skimmer. Some would say 1 tang is to big for a 40.
You also need more LR and a DSB if you don't have one to go skimmerless. Macro is a big help in taking out the nasty stuff that a skimmer would.
HTH
look ma no skimmer!