Surface skimmer?

Hello everyone.
I'm starting to collect all of the things that I need to get my tank up and running. I ran into something called a surface skimmer today. What, if any, is the difference between a surface skimmer and a protein skimmer?

I'm doing a 50 gal tank with fish and rock only for now. I was looking at getting an AquaClear 110 but the lady at the aquarium store also recommended I get something like this Power Filter: Bio System Power Filter & Surface Skimmer from Foster & Smith Aquatics The reviews on it seem good to really good from what I can find.

Any thoughts on this subject? Thanks!

 

A protien skimmer pulls broken down organics from the water column,a surface skimmer pulls water from the surface to remove the oily scum that collects at the surface.What type of surface skimmer is it?
edit-i didn't read the link,that filter would probably to a good job in helping remove surface scum.

 

surface skimmer is a box that sucks water from the surface to go to your filtration. basically a box around your overflow.

protein skimmer are a type of filtration, that removes waste from the water column.

they are completely different.

 

that thing around the inlet tube is a version of a surface skimmer.

I would really recommend a protein skimmer instead of a powerfilter. Do your research there are a lot of bad ones out their

 

This is where I'm getting confused. I've had people tell me and I've read that I need a filtration system (in my situation, it would need to be a hob from what I understand) AND and protein skimmer.

I've also had a friend with a salt water tank tell me that I didn't need a filtration system. Just a protein skimmer and the ecosystem would take care of itself.

For someone just starting out and trying to get the right things for the tank, this is a hard nut to crack. I'm at a loss now. lol

 

You really only need a protein skimmer, and a place to run carbon. Anything else is situational.

Even the skimmer is optional, depending on the rest of your setup. That's one of the most highly recommended things, though.

 

I will tell you alot of people with reefs don't bother with filtration beyond protein skimmers. There is enough bacteria on live rock(providing you have enough) to take care of most bioloads. adding anymore aerobic filtration is overkill

 

If that was used in conjunction with a protien skimmer,i would believe it would do a great job(for a hob)I've never had a sump or overflowbox on my previous tanks,and even though my skimmer pulled alot of junk out of my water,i always had surface scum.I wish i known that they even had a hob with a surface overflow as this is the first i've seen(there may be better brands)but i'm just talking about the fact of it pulling surface water.

 

A protein skimmer basically pulls out waste from the water and moves it up to a collection cup for handy yet stinky removal.

 

Very true,never,i repeat,never drink from the collector cup! ;D