Skimmer and light setup for a 10g?

[ultimatedc]

I'm looking to eventually grow soft corals and mushrooms in my 10g nano tank. Is there any benefit to using a protein skimmer? Especially considering I use tap water? (I know, I know, RO/di unit in 3 weeks!)

But anyway, I'm kind of on a budget. I've narrowed down my potential selections...


http://www.amazon.com/18-24-Marinel...575S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304516891&sr=8-1

However I get the feeling, as well as with the price, that it's kinda just for the look of LED without the high output?

http://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Saltw...2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1304516946&sr=1-2

Might be stronger, just concerned if the t5 bulbs would heat up my tank?

 

[mike_cmu04]

I kept a 12 gallon for over a year that i had sps corals in without a skimmer. As long as you keep up with weekly water changes of a few gallons you will have no problems.

 

[ultimatedc]

Hmm. I was told weekly water changes, especially in a nano, aren't the greatest idea as it is easy to eliminate critical nutrients and what not?

Perhaps I will wait for my skimmer but I would really like a new light. This 8,000k 15w fluroscent bulb isnt' cutting it.

 

[reefermad619]

I wouldn't use a skimmer on any tank less than 40 gal. With WCs and regular maintenance you'll be fine. And as far as replacing/eliminating nutrients, the water used for the WC should be intentical to that of the tank.

If you're on a budget, and most of us are, go skimmerless. One of the benefits of a skimmer is more time in-between water changes. But with a 24 gal tank, 10% of tank volume is probably closer to 2gal. A 2 gal weekly WC can literally be done is less than 5 min.