getting 20 g going...need advice

Ok we started up a 20g just fish only, with a few hitchhiker shrooms. This started a few months ago. It has a damsel and hermits in it. The problem is my hubby doesn't want to get a skimmer, can he run the tank with a good filter instead of a skimmer. I know skimmers are the better choice but for a 20 can you get away with a good filter? At this point he only wants the damsel, and a bicolor blenny. Can we do this? He doesn't want to spend the money on a skimmer seeing as the real show tank is my 55g reef.

 

Sure why not. I have a friend who has a 90G any it's been running for 4 years with out a skimmer. It's the nicest LPS tank I ever seen.
Maintenance will need to be consistent and frequent. Will it have a Sump?

J

 

ive got a 20 long. It doesnt sound like you have a heavy bioload there. If you do the normal water changes i think youd be fine without a skimmer. A lot of people say EVERY aquarium should have a skimmer, but with average maintainence, and if you keep it lightly stocked, i think you will be okay

 

Thanks, that's great to hear. I feel the money spent on a skimmer is such a waste on a small tank. In the future if my hubby decides to build on it with corals I would get a skimmer and better lighting but he really just wants shrimp, a blenny, and a fish. Can you recommend a good filter, right now I run the tank with a filter for a 40g tanks with the carbon sheets you get at the LFS.

 

To be honest with you, a cheap filter is all that is necessary!!! Save the money for a good skimmer down the road!!
The filter should house a carbon and phosphate remover!!! And that is basically it with a good biological filtration base!