Water change schedule for a 55 gallon saltwater

[Aquarium advice master]

I am starting a 55 gallon saltwater and plan to have a lot of fish what is a good water change schedule? I also need help on good food to feed them i plan to have carnivores and herbivores.

[bribo12]

Well a general idea is 10% weekly. But it will depend on stock and equipment. A heavily stocked tank with no skimmer will need a lot larger and more frequent wc than a lightly stocked tank with a skimmer. What fish did you plan on having?

[Aquarium advice master]

Like small puffers and triggers and a few others. I only have a filter.

[bribo12]

You will need a skimmer, especially if you want puffers. Triggers get to large and need more swimming room than a 55 offers. You plan on having base/live rock right?

[Aquarium advice master]

Yes live rock. I can make a small sump but what is a good skimmer? And pump?

[bribo12]

Some good brands are ASM, Buggle Magnus, eshopps, reef octopus. You will need to figure out how much room you have in the sump

[Aquarium advice master]

I am thinking a 20 or 30 gAllon sump and doing a diy draw wet dry filter. any protein skimmers that are cheap. Is coral life good?

[bribo12]

Cheap and protein skimmer don't go together. Corallife are ok, not really that great. A good skimmer goes a long way

[Sniperhank]

Originally Posted by Aquarium advice master

Like small puffers and triggers and a few others. I only have a filter.

You should look at liveaquaria.com to look into tank size requirements before jumping on any fish. There aren't many triggers that will be happy in a 55 and not that many puffers...though the blue spotted puffer is an amazing one that would fit the bill.