How long without protein skimmer???

[Ice Man]

My HOB protein skimmer has a leak so I had to take it down. How long can I go without one?
My setup is:
30g FOWLR
10g refugium with chaeto, deep sand bed, 4 mangroves
Green killing machine uv sterilizer 5W
Water circulates between DT and refugium at 400gph (estimated) maybe less
Live stock:
2 clowns
brittle starfish
Cleaner skunk shrimp
2 peppermint shrimps
Around 10 hermits and 10 nerite snails

I can't fix this one until Sunday. I guess it will be OK without protein skimmer for 3 days!?!?

Thanks.

 

[lakaiguy]

I hope you'll be fine cause Im screwed if you're not

I've got a 29 with similar stock and I've never had a skimmer

 

[bskerrichard27]

Yes u guys will be fine .just check your water parameters on a regular basis and you will be ok....

 

[Convict2161]

I have a bio cube 29 gallon and do not use a skimmer and my parameters are fine. I do 5 gallon weekly water changes.

You'll be just fine...

 

[crister13]

Especially on a tank of that size. It's much easier to change more water and do more frequent t changes to keep params in check.

 

[Ice Man]

Thank you all for reassuring me. I can't really spend $200 for new skimmer so I will try to fix this one.

 

[Bige]

Other than aerating water, there abilities are questionable. Your fine without one.

 

[danbstrong]

My HOB protein skimmer has a leak so I had to take it down. How long can I go without one?
My setup is:
30g FOWLR
10g refugium with chaeto, deep sand bed, 4 mangroves
Green killing machine uv sterilizer 5W
Water circulates between DT and refugium at 400gph (estimated) maybe less
Live stock:
2 clowns
brittle starfish
Cleaner skunk shrimp
2 peppermint shrimps
Around 10 hermits and 10 nerite snails

I can't fix this one until Sunday. I guess it will be OK without protein skimmer for 3 days!?!?

Thanks.

You can go without skimmer for years if not heavily stocked or overstocked

 

[danbstrong]

My HOB protein skimmer has a leak so I had to take it down. How long can I go without one?
My setup is:
30g FOWLR
10g refugium with chaeto, deep sand bed, 4 mangroves
Green killing machine uv sterilizer 5W
Water circulates between DT and refugium at 400gph (estimated) maybe less
Live stock:
2 clowns
brittle starfish
Cleaner skunk shrimp
2 peppermint shrimps
Around 10 hermits and 10 nerite snails

I can't fix this one until Sunday. I guess it will be OK without protein skimmer for 3 days!?!?

Thanks.

But they do help keep water quality good id especially reccommend one for bigger tanks and heavily stocked tanks or even tanks with delicate coral

 

[CorallineAlgae]

Other than aerating water, there abilities are questionable. Your fine without one.

They're proven to be a huge help to thousands of aquarist worldwide. No question about it. That doesn't mean they're necessary on small tanks. I've always under-skimmed on all my tanks with fine results and even had a 10 without a skimmer for years.

 

[Beengirl]

Yeah, for a 30g FOWLR, you probably don't really need a skimmer. I have one on my 55g reef, but not on my 30g FOWLR. Water is fine in the 30 without it.