Hob Filter vs skimmer

I was sitting relaxing, watching my tank and I thought to myself whats more beneficial on a 15g or any tank for that matter a skimmer or hob filter?
If there is no sump and you want to use minimal equipment what would you choose skimmer or filter?

 

Skimmer, a HOB removes suspended particles, mechanical filtration. Charcoal and foam/floss provide a medium for the growth of nitrifying bacteria. A skimmer removes DOC (dissolved organic carbons). If I had to choose between the two I vote for removal of DOC.

 

Thats what i thought.

I kept reading ppl using floss but I swore I ditched using it in my 55g yrs ago because I was having issues with nitrates.

Should I just run carbon in the filter?

 

Yes. Direct exposure to flow allows the charcoal to absorb more impurities IME.

 

Carbon, GFO, and something like purigen or chemi pure elite in the filter (I prefer the former)

Skimmer for sure though, even in a nano, if it were me, I'd run a slimmer and a reactor of some sorts.

 

I've been running HOBs without a skimmer in smaller tanks for decades with no issue. The only caveat is that they require frequent cleaning to prevent Nitrate issues. Skimmers, IMOPE, tend to be less reliable in smaller systems where HOB filtration and water changes are more than sufficient for nutrient control/export.

 

They need to make a skimmer with chambers for carbon, phos etc. That would be awesome for small tanks.

 

Patent that, then sell the idea to some of the companies.