Getting my feet wet

[Mandosh]

Will 55 gallons be large enough for a beginner?

• Yes, depending on what fish you want to keep of course.

Will my marine-land 3 stage canister filter be enough?

• If you plan on running a protein skimmer, you won't really need the canister.

Live rock how much will i need?

• General rule that I've always heard is 1-2lbs/gallon, but I usually just add rock until I like the look

Will i need sand how much and what kind?

• You don't need sand, depends on what you like the look of. If you do go with sand, you can find a calculator for how much here: http://www.reefcentral.com/index.php...bed-calculator

Do i really need a sump or will constant water changes suffice?

• Sump isn't necessary, but it doesn't really have anything to do with water change frequency. I'm not sure what you mean by this, could you clarify?

What type of protein skimmer is best?

• If you don't plumb in a sump you will be limited to Hang-on models, which I have never used so someone else will have to chime in on that one

How detailed of test kit will i need?

• For a FOWLR you don't need to waste the money on high-end kits. Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate while you cycle. You'll need a high range pH and something to test salinity as well.