Protein Skimmer a yes or no.

[mattbutler179]

I am curious to see if you can get away with out having a protein skimmer on a 10 gallon reef tank with soft corals and 1 clown fish. If you did a water change every week and used an Eehim canister filter and 8 pounds of live rock which I have right now. The reason why I am asking is because I have on my tank now a Marineland Sea Clone 100 proein skimmer and it not a great product. Also I is an eye sore. Any thoughts would help?

[ballvice]

I have a 12 gallon nano with no skimmer...It has been running over a year...not problems (but no softies either).

Frank

[yardboy]

Water changes do an even better job of removing organics than a skimmer, but they are only practical for smaller tanks since they have to be substantial.

[Loverotties]

Skimming is all ways good but it can be done without.When I had my 5 gallon hex I made one for it.

[Reefdude5]

You can probably get away without in that size tank.

[Kent E.]

Don't bother. You could theoretically do a 100% (don't do that)water change easier than setting up a skimmer. Changing large volumes in large systems is much more difficult and so skimmers are more or less manditory.