Frag Tank questions

what all is needed to set up a frag tank?
Do I need a protein skimmer? or will just a HOB filter work

 

Just to clarify HOB filters and skimmers perform some slightly different functions so you may want both on the tank, or you may not, it depends.

A HOB filter isn't an export system like a skimmer, it doesn't remove anything from the water immediately, They're mostly used for some mechanical filtration, running carbon or other medias, and sometimes for biological filtration if you have a biowheel or some filter media with a lot of surface area on it.

A skimmer will pull organics out of the water almost immediately, it will also provide better gas exchange/oxygenation, it's a true export system but doesn't provide much biological filtration, bacteria-wise.

It probably depends what you want to keep in it and how large the tank is. If you're going to be keeping anything that you will feed you'll probably want a skimmer IMO to remove anything that gets fed. You may also want a HOB to provide some biological filtration (nitrifying bacteria) or you can use live rock for this too. If it's a smaller tank and you aren't going to be feeding you may be able to easily get by with regular water changes.

If you're going to be keeping acros or sensitive coral in the tank you may want as much filtration/export as possible, but if you're just keeping a bunch of zoas or mushrooms or something really hardy you may be able to get by with nothing.

 

It won't have any fish in it.
I was thinking either a 15 gallon or 20 gallon long.
I am familar with what a protein skimmer does I just didn't know since there won't be any fish in the tank if one was necessary.
Right now I have zoas, muchrooms, acans, candy caned, duncan, ricordia on my list. no SPS since I don't think I have the right lighting for them