Dude are you nuts? A small tank is just as much work as a big tank (except for the waterchange part which can be made easier). Get the controller and the dosing pump and stop wasting your money on skimmers
Make your tank relatively bulletproof..play the "what if" game and figure a solution so it doesn't happen. Teach your wife how to work the controller, they're pretty easy.
Then again you seem to really enjoy the buying/selling/set-up aspect of the hobby so fill yer boots
