can you just have a protien skimmer as main filtration

I'm new and about to invest in a protien skimmer as well as a new light because, all i have is the 2 25w flouresant lights that came with a built in filter with a bio wheel.... Its all one peice that makes the hood. when i get a new light i have to remove the whole thing... so i was wondering if a good protien skimmer would be able to keep the tank the way it should be with-out the cheap filter already on there... i do have about 40lb of live sand and 45lb of live rock in my 29 gallon tank. thank you for your help a head of time. also http://shop.aquatraders.com/Odyssea-24in-Metal-Halide-with-Power-Compact-p/54201.htm the 24" halide light on this site seems like a good investment, i just would like to make sure before waisting my money

 

As concerning mechanical filtration, yes. This is the way most reef tanks are set-up. Neither of my tanks has either a hang on or canister filter.
But the main source of filtering will come from your rock and sand

 

Yes, a skimmer can be your main source of waste removal from the system, after the rocks. They aren't a mechanical filter though.

 

This is not true. While skimmers are considered to be more chemical filtration than biological or mechanical, they do overlap into the mechanical filtration category--as they remove a fair share of particulate matter from water. LR is the biological component, and skimming is the chemical and mechanical.

 

I wouldnt personally rely on a skimmer alone for mechanical filtration, but thats me.

 

You could essentially run an entire FOWLR tank using a skimmer alone. When corals are added to the picture, things get a little more complicated. Plus, you'd need quite a beastly skimmer to support a FOWLR by itself. I was just saying it's possible because the Tennessee Aquarium does it quite easily and has been doing it with no major problems since 1996

A skimmer is almost as important as live rock is, IMO. I've always thought about it like power steering. You can drive without it, but having it makes life soooo much easier.

Also, here's a question of mine. I fail to see how a Protein Skimmer has any chemical filtration at all? A skimmer is all mechanical isn't it? No one runs or can run carbon, phosban, or what have you in a skimmer.

EDIT: Unless by chemical you mean it removes the source that causes ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates? Other than that I'm lost here *scratches head*

 

What type of chemicals do you run in your skimmer?
Seems like mechanical only to me.

 

filters are categorized by what they remove not what they're made of.

so in this case, a skimmer would be a biological filter since it removed organic waste.

 

Air is a chemical. Mechanical filtration is considered particulate removal by physical means. Skimmers do remove particulate, but are not considered a mechanical filter. Foam fractionng works by surface tension of disolved organics and the air/water interface. A form of chemical filtration. The only thing a skimmer is clearly not is a biological filter. After that, it's a little blurry.

 

I would disagree. Filters are classified by how they work. Biological filters employ biological means(living organisims) to remove the filtrate. Skimmers do not employ biological processes to remove waste. Skimmers are foam fractioners.