newbie needs help!!! please reply!!

[FLOPPYFISH]

Hi everyone, i'm just starting out i n the hobby and need help buying a skimmer for a 15 Gal. standard only 12" high to give you an idea of the size of the skimmer i could use. I know it's a hard tank to start with, but if i went any bigger i couldn't afford the equipment, and beside i'm doing all my research before really buying anything besides the tank and a good power head . (anyway) I had purchased a Red Sea Berlin Air Lift 40 at my lps but returned it(I thought it took up too much space in my tank) to buy a Prizm and know I"m unsure of that do to the mixed reviews, and also do I need a power filter and if so how big and recommend a good Co. that makes them. Thanks ahead of time for your help.

Matt

 

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't even run a skimmer on a tank that size. I have a 7 gallon on my desk here at work that is doing great. No skimmer, so sump. With smaller tanks it's easier to do more water changes. Now I have tons of experience, so that helps I suppose, but you don't NEED skimmer. Even my larger tank at home us running skimmerless now.
I suppose running a skimmer will give you more room for error though.
Jim

 

[PatrickM98]

I have a Skilter 250 (with the filtration media removed most of the time) on my 10 gallon tank and it works adequately well. It's far from a very efficient skimmer, but it works fine for small tanks. The problem with putting a good skimmer like a Prizm on such a small tank is the possibility of overskimming.

As to the power filter, it's really not necessary. The good thing about the Skilter is that it's both a skimmer and a power filter, so it's easy to snap in the filter media if you so desire.

 

[Ben 4]

Sorry, but Skilter= doo-doo. If you want to use a skimmer, A CPR Bak-pak would be a good choice. Good luck and enjoy.