Brackish puffers and protein skimmers

[ingo_1978]

I have a 1" GSP in a 2ft tank, upgrading to 3ft when he gets a litte bigger.

Do I need a portein skimmer, or will it be okay till he goes fully marine?

Would a cheap internal air powered one do as well as doubling as an aeriator?

 

[CFC]

As long as the SG is over 1.006 then a protein skimmer us a very usefull addittion to brackish tanks as it allows for longer periods inbetween costly salt using water changes. The cheap air driven ones are perfectly adequate for brackish tanks.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Personally, I think they a waste, until you reach closer towards SW conditions. It just won't foam. I still do large water changes on all my puffer tanks, including my SW GSPs--they are too messy not to.

 

[CFC]

I have no trouble getting the skimmer to foam on my larger brackish set up which has a SG of around 1.010, i empty the collection cup weekly and there is always a fair ammount of the dark smelly effluent.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Must be a better skimmer than my Backpak.

 

[ingo_1978]

Fitted my internal protein skimmer and getting some yellow oilling gunk collecting at the top... did have to get a more powerful air pump, but hope it's worth it!