No Skimmer?

[danb_1985]

Could you run a nano of 10UK Gallons or less without a protein skimmer if a few soft corals and a max of 3 small fish and 2 shrimp were kept?

 

[mutantbigman2000]

running without a skimmer would be fine as long as weekly water changes were kept up.

3 small fish is far too much for a 10 gallon tank though. 2 shrimp might struggle to get along in the enclosed space too.

Maybe a small fish, single skunk cleaner shrimp and some hermits and snails would be better suited to this size of tank.

Or just get a bigger tank.

 

[Trod]

I ran my 120l without a skimmer for some time, but I have to concede as my nitrates have crept up, even with weekly 25% water changes, I have now started using it again. So yes it is possible to run without one, just watch the stats.

and have to agree 3 fish and 2 shrimps are to many in a tank that size.

 

[BigC]

No hard and fast rule stating that you have to run a protein skimmer, but once you do you'll realise why.
Regards
BigC

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Yeah really just to agree with the above. I run a 15g ish tank without a skimmer for a year and it was fine but after having run one on my new tank I wouldnt go back to running without it.

Also agree the 3 fish in a 10g is too much. 2 shrimp may be ok, depends on the shrimp (2 peppermint shrimp would be fine but a fire shrimp and skunk shrimp might not do so well).

 

[danb_1985]

i thought the fish may be too much tbh but the stocking i thought about was 1 clown 1 royal gramma and 1 firefish. the shrimp would've ben a skunk cleaner. the other shrimp would've depended on whether to have a symbiotic goby and shrimp(dont know the names) which i would then not have the fire fish

 

[Trod]

Forget the royal gramma 10g is to small for it, I think its even to small for a clown to be honest.
a purple firefish would be fine, and may be 2 peppermint shrimps with small CUC.
There are not really many fish that you can put in a 10g tank
a skunk cleaner shrimp is also to big

 

[Truck]

what about a clown goby? there are about 6+ different colour varients available and some are very striking, they are full of personality.

i also agree that 10G is too small for a clown or royal gramma

 

[danb_1985]

i may consider a yellow rock goby and a firefish.

how about the symbiotic goby and shrimp?

 

[Truck]

i may consider a yellow rock goby and a firefish.

how about the symbiotic goby and shrimp?

no not two fish stick with one or youll face problems, is this your first tank? if so it should be heavily under stocked

 

[danb_1985]

no it'll be my second SW tank. This is only a consideration for the future.

 

[mutantbigman2000]

just one fish!

You could have a shrimp/goby in the tank.

Just be prepared for shifting rockwork.

 

[Trod]

May be a pistol shrimp and a small goby but nothing else.

You can only keep 1 small fish. Happily