Do saltwater fish need and air pump?

[ryuson99]

Do saltwater fish need and air pump?
ok since from the post below i don't need to deliver air through a air pump do i still need the air pump to either drive a powerhead or protein skimmer?
also i have a 90gal tank how many powerheads would i need and how much GPH would they need to move each to have sufficient water flow

 

[wablondie98664]

no, you can use power heads for circulation and oxygenation of the water

 

[ryuson99]

thanks but now i added one more two part question above

 

[rvdfn420]

you should aim for a turn over rate of 10 to 25 times. Add how much GPH your filter does, protein skimmer (if you have one) and guess about 3 to 4 power heads that do about 160 GPH, for your tank.
Example of mine:
Filter = 150 gph
protein skimmer = 300 gph
2) maxi jet power head = 106 (total of 212)
662 gph / 30 gallon tank = a trun over rate of 22 times per hour

 

[big911dog]

the protein skimmer is driven by a pump, but which one will depend on ur skimmer.

 

[ryuson99]

oh i see so i might still need that air pump to drive the protein skimmer?
how about for the powerheads do they drive themselves?

 

[malounsbury]

Powerheads will drive themselves.
The pump most likely will come with the protein skimmer. Most manufacturers included that with the skimmer so there is nothing extra you have to buy. Usually when you look at the description of a skimmer, it says what pump it comes with (like a MaxiJet1200 or something). Just hook it up and go.

 

[ryuson99]

OK guys thanks a lot i guess i will be returning my air pump then

 

[spline9]

Trade the air pump for a battery powered one. In case you happen to have a power outage its good to have something your fish can rely on for air.
(dont forget to have some batteries for it, too)