Protein Skimmer vs Filter

Well, this is going to be a dumb question but I really am new to saltwater and I have not been able to answer this question. I am setting a 30 gallon reef tank up and I have been trying to figure out if I need a protein skimmer and a filter or if I can get away with just the protein skimmer. I have been researching and I read on yahoo answers and googleing things and they said I could just do a protein skimmer with a shallow sand bed. I am planning on getting two power heads that will be on opposite sides of the tank and their jet stream will cross. I know a 30 gallon is small but for my size situation its ideal. Let me know what you think.

 

If you are putting in enough live rock that will act as your filter, otherwise ur gonna need a cannister filter with live rock rubble in the bottom. I run both cause I had a filter anyway

Always gonna need a skimmer IMO

 

I am planning on getting about 15lbs base rock and then about 10-15lbs of live rock.

 

With this and a damsel for the first 3 weeks you will be fine. At this point your base rock will begin to turn into live rock and begin filtering. What you do need is flow in your tank. Think about getting a koralia powerhead or two to accomplish this. A skimmer and live rocks its a great combo, but it does take a little longer to become active. You came to the right place for the help.

 

If I was less live rock would their be a problem? Are there other fish besides damsels that I could get for this. I have read that they can be quite a problem. I am looking for a peaceful reef community because evetually I would like to have some corals and I have been reading that damsels attack the polyps as well as other fish.

 

filters are a waste of money IMO and a source of a lot of extra work. Skimmer and 1.5-2lb of rock per gallon is all you'll need (plus a good clean up crew (CuC))

 

You don't actually need any fish for the cycle... damsels (including clownfish) and chromis work well if you want one though... though some folks find using them unethical (I don't care).

 

canister filters are nitrate factors most of the time. i wouldnt use one if you dont have one yet.

 

Okay well then this is what I will do. Any idea on how long this process will take until I can add fish?

Why do they find it unethical?

 

You're subjecting a fish to what amounts to a slow asphyxiation and burning sensation on the gills if they're exposed to ammonia. I don't mean this to be mean, but open up a bottle of ammonia and breathe it in for a couple breaths - that's what a fish would approximately experience, but they can't move away and let it just be over, and it would be to a slightly lesser degree.