Fluval 204

[boxman]

I've got a Fluval 204 in my 22g UK tank. Would anyone recommend getting a surface skimmer for it?

Is there a downside for surface feeding fish like gourami and livebearers (turbulant surface)?

Thanks
Pete

 

[chkltcow]

I run the skimmer attachment on my 204 on my little 5g saltwater tank, and my dad runs two on his 304s on his 75g planted freshwater. They're nice because they break up that gunk that sometimes forms on the surface of the water, but with a planted tank, they don't create enough surface turbulence to drive out CO2. On my little saltwater tank, there's always this little tiny film that forms right after feeding, so it takes that right off. The only turbulence is in the skimmer tube as the water cascades down.

 

[vantgE]

I doubt you have a protien problem, you won't without a grossly overstocked tank or a salt tank, so there isn't much benefit to it and it will cut down your mechanical filtration slightly, if you want to try it go ahead I would be intrested in how it turns out as haven't used myself


EDIT->I'd like to mention in response to the following post that I relize the difference and what I said is correct, you use a surface skimmer for prptien removal

 

[rdd1952]

I'm running surface skimmers on both of my Fluval 304s on my 75 gallon tank. They work great. For some reason, my water tends to develop a light film on the top. The surface skimmers keep it from developing as they are constantly sucking from the top. They also pull in any leaves that happen to be floating on the top. I just lift them off when I do a water change and rinse them in the tank water I've just removed. Do not confuse a surface skimmer with a protein skimmer that is required for SW tanks. They are totally different and perform different tasks.