protein skimmer

[skeeter01]

Do i need a protein skimmer running with just live rock and sand in a newly setup tank?

The tank is going to have a couple damsels to help with the cycle...

[woogy]

don't use damsels to cycle...use a piece of raw shrimp...and no you don't need to skimmer as of yet...are you doing a sump or HOT skimmer?

[jamesnmandy]

do you have a sump or plan to have one?

if you do not i would plan that first and then get a skimmer based on the sump design

if you dont plan to add a sump any time soon i would go ahead and budget for a good HOB skimmer in the meantime, until you do get a sump

[skeeter01]

no i'm not planning on getting a sump too soon...so i can wait to add the HOB skimmer?

[skeeter01]

???

[jamesnmandy]

i would only wait as long as you have to, regular water changes will be necessary if you dont have a skimmer, having 1.5lbs of live rock per gallon of water would help greatly to naturally filter the water especially without a skimmer but i still recommend a skimmer personally

and i concur about the damsels, do not do that, you will end up wanting to remove them from the tank soon enough and you will have to remove all of the rock from the tank to catch them, been there done that, local LFS gave me that bad advice when i started too

[baitshopboy]

Depending on how much live rock you have, you can wait but I wouldnt wait to long.

[rolodex1]

You will need a skimmer.....It's amazing the "stuff" those things pull out of the water. I've had several tanks over the last three years (55g, 46g, and a 12g Nano). The only one that did not have a skimmer was the Nano and it need several small water changes a month. BTW...you can find a Red Sea Deluxe HOB skimmer on Ebay for about 40 bucks...I know because I just sold one for close to that price...(I feel used) but, that how those auctions go!

CHECK E-BAY....IMO