Do I need a skimmer for my saltwater tank?

While protein Skimmer can help enormously in keeping a clean tank, they are usually not necessary for beginners who plan to keep easy fish and corals. If you want to run a pristine tank with LPS and SPS corals, a good protein Skimmer is a great investment and will help you enormously in the long run.

Do all saltwater tanks need a protein skimmer?

No, you don’t necessarily need a protein skimmer. Unless you are keeping a nano reef tank, a protein skimmer is completely optional. If your tank has another method of filtering its water, you don’t need a protein skimmer.

Do you need a sump for a 55 gallon tank?

A 10-gallon sump on a 55-gallon aquarium is unlikely to provide the space you need for equipment. It is also a good idea to have a sump large enough to accommodate some extra water in the event your return pump fails and water is back-siphoned from your display tank into the sump.

Can I run a reef tank without a protein skimmer?

There are many successful tanks run without skimmers. And fish urine and feces does not develop pop eye or bacterial issues – running a skimmer will not address the root cause of either of these diseases.

How many saltwater fish can live in a 55-gallon tank?

A 55-gallon aquarium would best house only about 12 inches of fish, so to be safe, limit it to holding three 4-inch fish or two 6-inch long fish. A vast majority of reef fishes require a “house” or someplace to hide either to sleep or to retreat to when they feel threatened.

How many clownfish can I put in a 55-gallon tank?

As a result, unless you have a very large aquarium, you should only keep 1 or 2 clownfish per aquarium. If you want multiple clownfish, it is best to add to small clowns at the same time.

Are sumps worth it?

Without a doubt use a sump. It allows you to keep heaters, probes and skimmer out of the DT. It allows for better water circulation. With the ability to use a bigger skimmer than in tank you can introduce more oxygen and remove more crap.