Nano Cube Advice-Do You Need a Protein Skimmer on a 29 Gallon Tank?

If you have 29 gallon tank, do you need to have a protein skimmer?

From my research and experience protein skimmers are among the most crucial pieces of equipment in a reef tank, 3rd only to proper lighting and pumps for water flow. Their ability to help preserve highwater quality (particularly in more small-scale tanks) is priceless. The marine hobby is no place to go cutting corners. That being stated, a lite bioload and regular upkeep can help a great deal. But I'd nevertheless advise that you use a skimmer on that size of tank, whether it's a reef or fish only aquarium. I would propose a Seaclone 100 on a 29 gallon reef and while it's unquestionably not the best skimmer out there, it's better than nothing.

If you can afford a more expensive skimmer and it will fit onto your tank then go for it. My only suggestion as to which one to choose is to stay away from any that employ an airstone. The reason why is because airstones have a tendency to clog very rapidly and need to be replaced way too often.

If you don't want the skimmer because of the additional cost, then you're getting into the wrong hobby. The marine hobby isn't cheap and you can not cut corners and get away with it. Down the road it will come back to sting you, believe me, I have tried in the past. If you're going to do a marine tank then do it properly from the very outset. Even if it takes you a bit longer to save up to get the rock and livestock, spend the additional to get the skimmer for your tank.

Advice-Can you Keep a Yellow Tang in a Nano Cube?

Nano cubes can make very nice reef displays. However, they are very small. So, could you keep a yellow tang in such a small tank? The answer to that question would be, NO!

The yellow tang can primarily be found in the shallow waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans. They can be found along the coast of Hawaii and Japan, for example. They like to dart around quickly and are known for swimming long distances every day. They are fish that have to have a lot of space to move. That's what they are used to. Also, they can range in size from 2-9 inches, so another words, they can get pretty big, and they can get big fast! Yellow tangs are also semi-aggressive fish, and when confined to a small space, aggression can become extreme. The average life span of a yellow tang in captivity, is about 10 years. But putting this little yellow beauty in a tiny tank could make them miserable, possibly causing them to die prematurely. They also could become more susceptible to disease, as well.

So what tank size is recommended for yellow tangs? The majority have stated that a minimum of 55 gallons is recommended. I say, the larger the tank, the better!

Give your tang a lot of space to swim, a lot of places to hide, keep the water moving, and maintain good quality water. If you do that, then this little yellow fish can give you many years of enjoyment.

Keep on reefing,
Chris