20G FOWLR - Skimmer needed?

[dmolavi]

Subject pretty much says it all...in my prep to get my first FOWLR tank running, I'm looking at whether or not a skimmer is needed on a small tank. One part of me says 'no', because it's a small tank and won't be heavily stocked. The other part of me says 'yes', because it's a small tank and the skimmer will help control dissolved organics and keep pollutant levels from spiking in the tank.

 

[Godfrey]

IMO there's nothing like seeing a cup full of dark ugly skimmate come out of my tank!!! I like skimmers and think it would be a good investment

 

[dmolavi]

IMO there's nothing like seeing a cup full of dark ugly skimmate come out of my tank!!! I like skimmers and think it would be a good investment

Are the HOBs that BRS sells good? Or is a bakpak 2 better? My tank isn't drilled, so no sump for me...besides, when I go bigger, this tank will be my sump

 

[Godfrey]

Don't know which is better I don't know what BRShas to offer but I like the bakpak cause you have the additional choice of using bio media in it yet have never tried one so don't know how they perform