I am about to set up a 20 gallon tank. I was wondering if it is worth it to buy a cheap skimmer while I wait until I can get a better one.

When I say cheap I mean like a $20 Fission skimmer or a Skilter, just something to lighten the need for constant water changes.

People have told me that this isn't a good idea but I have heard that you can modify the Skilter to use a wooden airstone and it will work quite well.

Any suggestions on whether I should buy a cheap skimmer or just wait until I can afford a nice one. Thanks!

Hmm, I've never heard good things about either. I think you would be better to save your $$ until you can afford something more effective.

you CAN add the wooden air stone (why do they call it an air STONE ?? it is WOODEN !!), and it will work MUCH better than stock, but i would save some money up and buy a good one from the start.

Forget the Skilters. It haven't been made in years and were obsolete 15 years ago. Fusions are not great skimmers, but are rather unique that i will fit into the bio-chambers of cube-style tanks and do a reasonable job if set up properly. That said, any skimmer is better than none. I suggest the Red Sea Prizm. For eighty dollars, I think it is the best skimmer for the money if you can fit it.

I'd argue that the skimmer is the most important investment in your tank. I just bought an H&S that cost twice as much as my lights! But the difference in my tank was noticeable in a week, and I was upgrading from a decent skimmer (Euro-Reef RS80). I second (or third) the opinion to not even consider a skilter. They are noisy and don't skim. So they really aren't better than no skimmer, IMO.

Okay thanks.
Is it worth is to buy an expensive skimmer for a tank this small? Are there any good skimmers that are cheap?

Are you going to need a hang-on, or do you have a sump? You should be able to get a decent skimmer without breaking the bank too badly.

Okay thanks.
Is it worth is to buy an expensive skimmer for a tank this small?
Absolutely. They do more than just pull dissolved organics out of the water, they super-aerate the water and create a healthier environment.
Are there any good skimmers that are cheap?
In a nutshell, no. You pretty much get what you pay for. Some companies have better deigns than others. H&S and Bubblekings are solid and sturdy in addition to being incredibly fine-tuned, but they start at near $1000. I'm very fond of Euro-Reef skimmers, but they too aren't exactly cheap. However there are some ERs made with injection molded plastic instead of acrylic that are less expensive. Anything under $200 is going to be lacking in some area to a more expensive model (besides just column volume). Most common is level sensitivity- if your sump level isn't maintained by auto top-off, the skimmer may need constant adjustment, which can be a real hassle.

Don't forget the local connections when looking at skimmers. Check the local club sites and ask around, I know that there are folks here in Atlanta with like 20 skimmers just hanging out in their basements from previous upgrades and just plain curiousity on how well a new model will work. If you are looking for a decent skimmer on the cheap, that would be my first place to look... second would be everyone's favorite... fleaBay :up:

I could send you one of my old crappy ones for free if you pay for shipping. Trust me, get a good one or you will have a cabinet full of crap and still pay for the good one.

Hi ducky, :welcome: to TR.

blubber, sorry bud, but i would even wipe my ass with a red sea prism.
never seen a more useless example of wasted plastic. Well i have, but not everyone was blessed in that department like me if you know what i mean :D
Ok back to skimmers - for the money yeah they are great, but why not buy a half decent asian unit, if your talking cheaply thats the way id go, & the units are pretty good for knock-off patents. hell if they can make nike gear & Breitling watches that look the same as what i paid top dollar for, the i take my hat off to em. Whats 1/8th of a dollar between friends i say...lol

Personally i dont believe any quality skimmer demands such a high price tag.
You can quote high end design to me all day & it will fall on deaf ears. If you ask me, we the consumers just fork out our hard earn't green for something that cost a 10th of the asking price. Its partly our own fault that retail suck the marrow out purchases.

Propper Hang time is what your after, to normal folk, honestly thats prob all they should care about, & if its perceived its working pro-actively in you application, then you'll be surprised how much it actually comes down to the Aquarius, rather that the equipment.

Hi ducky, :welcome: to TR.

Thanks for the welcome! I'm glad to be here.

Coralife Super Skimmer 65 would work just fine. :)