Do I need a Skimmer for a Brackish Aquarium?

[green_spotted_girl]

I keep hearing all this stuff about protien skimmers, and I have been researching brackish aquariums and I don't ever remember hearing that I need a skimmer. I am very experienced in FW tanks but new to brackish tanks. As of now my aquarium is SG 1.004. Do I need a skimmer? my tank is a 33gal and I have a 40-60gal hang-on-back filter, a power head in the dead side of the tank along with a bubler to keep the water movement good. I also have SAND, not gravel, as a substrate. Am I ok without a skimmer? And when exactly would I need one? I am planning on going SW in the future sometime when money is more stable.

[Pufferpunk]

Skimmer won't work <1.018.

[geronimo69]

Skimmer won't work <1.018.

++++++1

[RTR]

Yup, another +1.

And before someone tries to shoot us down, yes, a skimmer can work below ~1.018, but they do not work effectively below that range. I do know some Koi folks who run foam towers on their KOi ponds, and yet, they dump garbage constantly. But IMHO those ponds are effectively clearish cesspools - I would not keep feeder fish in that water and they have thousands of dollars worth of Koi. No thank you.

[geronimo69]

Yup, another +1.

And before someone tries to shoot us down, yes, a skimmer can work below ~1.018, but they do not work effectively below that range. I do know some Koi folks who run foam towers on their KOi ponds, and yet, they dump garbage constantly. But IMHO those ponds are effectively clearish cesspools - I would not keep feeder fish in that water and they have thousands of dollars worth of Koi. No thank you.

I just actually LOL'd. I am not a fan of KOI at all. Ugly fish in my opinion. If I were to setup an outdoor pond, I'd run a massive barrel sized veggie filter, with perhaps a UV sterilizer running also. I'd probably stock it with Buenos Aires tetras or something of the like...

[RTR]

I actually like Koi, they are huge and beautiful fish to me, but too $$$ and need massive water volumes.

[greenspottedlover]

Amphibians are cooler pond animals than koi . Though a pond with puffers in it(DPs maybe) would be cool.

[greenspottedlover]

Amphibians are cooler pond animals than koi . Though a pond with Poochfaces in it(DPs maybe) would be cool.

So... why does "The PUFFER Forum" now sensor the word p u f f e r?