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I am thinking of using no protein skimmer on my tank. The tank would be 20g, and will only have two fish in it (maybe three at most).
This tank will be in my room, so it would be kind of nice to have a tank that makes no noise at all! Also one less thing I would need to look at in my tank. I can use a small air pump (dialed way down) for aeration. Having been using a protein skimmer since I've started the marine hobby, I am having a hard time just dropping it. That said, I have seen some skimmer-less set ups that are astounding.
I can also put some macro algae in my tank for some nutrient export.
Does anyone have any thoughts? Talk me into keeping, or ditching my skimmer.
-Gregory
The counter-current skimmer still needs to go in the tank, and would be an even larger distraction than the Remora skimmer.
Its been done (recently):
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/4/aquarium
Still would take room in tank, but maybe only run skimmer on a timer when you aren't there
I run a 7gal without a skimmer. My nutrient export consists of a 1gal water change every 4 days and a small clump of chaeto in an HOB on the back. I use the HOB as a tiny fuge and a place to put a bag of carbon. If it wasn't for the lighting fan, my tank would be almost silent.
-Russell
I had a 10g set up with no filter and skimmer, just a powerhead and heater, and it did great. I say give it a shot without one and see how it goes.
I ran a 12g tank with no skimmer no other type of filtration just did small water changes every week or so. I think on smaller tanks its easier to get away without having a skimmer. Just make sure your bioload is good to go before hand.
Yeah, I plan to change 2-3 gallons every week or two on this tank.
I think my bioload is pretty light.
I figure I will keep the skimmer lying around in case I change my mind, or throw it on before I ever leave for vacation or something 
Consider a DIY semi-continuous water change.
Meaning:
Have a two small tanks in the stand or nearby. Say 10G each.
One is full of fresh salt water. The other is empty.
Put a simple small pump on a timer, so you pump salt water from the fresh tank into the main tank at intervals.
Say a quart, 4 times / day. So you can run for a week with no effort. Exact dosage does not matter much.
The other empty tank is connected to an overflow, much like a sump.
As water gets pumped in, it causes the dirty tank water to overflow to the empty tank.
As usual : You need to equate the water change percentage to the bio load. That 1G/day is a a rough guess. Probably low.
Totally silent. Well, except for a tiny noise a few times when that small pump goes on.
Very low effort. Just mix a new batch of SW on weekend. (Best to have a third bucket of same size, swap)
Since it is a small amount at a time (a quart or so), no real concerns about PH, temp, salinity matching, etc.
Note: If you have a lot of evaporation, it gets a bit tricky, since you need to dilute the salt water in lower tank a bit.
Otherwise, salinity level will slowly rise.
This is something I roughly plan to do on my 20G quarantine tank.
Except it pumps in water from my main tank.
Just moved tanks ... may never use a skimmer again! I am really digging the silence. haha 
Why not one of the old style skimmers on an air stone? If you're going to run an air pump anyway why not do a twofer?
-Gregory
Tempus Edax Rerum
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