Is a skimmer necessary

+1. There are many, many nano's out there doing just fine without skimmers.

 

My opinion for a tank that size is simply
it depends what type of personality you have and only you yourself can answer this
if you can remain within the limitations of the tank, with a low bio load, couple of tiny fish and 3 or 4 small coral frags - your good to go, with filtration only
but if your likely to try and get as many things is there as possible up to the stocking capacity so to speak, then dont take chances - and get a skimmer for it.

 

I was thinking a pair of clowns, a firefish and POSSIBLY a gramma. As far as corals go, im waiting to spend the big bucks on my 80G tank, so I will probably have a few zoas thats about it. What do you guys think about the bioload. The issue is mainly that I want to get more experience before starting my 80G but I dont wanna go out and spend $400 bucks on a tank that will most likely end up going back to freshwater when I upgrade. Like rock and fish and corals can all move to the bigger tank, but lighting and skimmer are things that are size specific. I'm just trying to do the right thing without spending a ton of cash. I don't mind water changes but if its really not a good idea w/out a skimmer then I will just wait. Maybe do a real small nano with a pair of clowns just for experience.

Thanks guys

 

I'm having really good luck with the Aquaticlife Internal Mini. It's good up to 30 gallons and fits right inside the tank. Not a bad price, IMO ($47.99)

AquaticLife Internal Mini Protein Skimmer 115

 

If you go with 4 fish in a 40, you may as well buy a skimmer that can support the 80 gallon tank you want to upgrade to later on. That way you don't have to buy a small skimmer now and a bigger one later.

 

Wouldn't think twice about it. A tank will always run cleaner with a skimmer. Sure, it will remove some nutrients. But that is the lesser of two evils IMO. Just continue to do water changes on a monthly basis to add in trace elements and let the skimmer do the nasty work.

I even run a small skimmer on my 10g. Nothing fancy. Nothing overboard. Just something to take the poopy out of the water.

 

ok first off, the seaclown is a horrible choice for a skimmer to go on anything. I have had one and it's now in the city dump. You will pay roughly 90 bucks plus shipping one this skimmer. Why do that when you can do a decent skimmer for50 or 60 bucks more?? The aqua c remora is a great hang on skimmer or the cpr backpak. There is also the coralife 65 that is great. To answer your question, no I would not run this tank without one.

 

With this being said, you need to know everything about their system before recommending it.

If Callahan is planning on having a 20g tank, weekly WC would be all you need for the bio-load that he/she has stated. If your not fond of WC or not going to do them(WC) religiously, then I suggest you get a skimmer.
Your feeding habits will also determine whether you should/n't get a skimmer. Luna

 

also a great point luna. If I only had a choice between a really poor skimmer and having to do water changes, I would go with the WC.