Welcome back!
A protein
skimmer is not strictly necessary, especially if it's going to be a fish only tank. That being said, I would still encourage you to think about getting one. Especially in a small tank, water quality can drop very quickly, and a protein
skimmer can help keep that from happening. I don't believe you've ever mentioned having a
sump, so I guess you'll need a hang-on model. The Aqua-C Remora is a great little hang-on
skimmer, and used ones can be picked up pretty cheap.
BTW,
LR does NOT do the same thing as a
skimmer. A
skimmer removes dissolved organic compounds from the water, whereas
LR harbors bacteria that break down fish waste.
Besides the
skimmer, if you're planning on trying an anemone again, or any type of coral, you'll need a new light. The stock light is not nearly enough. If you're going fish only, then the light you have is just fine.
I'd also encourage you to skip the damsels. They can be very aggressive and a real
PITA to catch. If clowns are what you want, then go ahead with them instead of the damsels. They're pretty tough, and assuming your water is settled and stable in a month or two, they should be just fine.
There are just a few other items I'd recommend, that you may or may not already have.
1) a good set of test kits. At a minimum you'll want
ammonia,
nitrite,
nitrate, and
pH. If you're planning on keeping corals, you'll need calcium, alkalinity and magnesium too.
2) Either a refractometer or
hydrometer to measure the
salinity of your water.
Salinity can change very quickly in a small tank, and should be closely monitored.
3)
RO/DI water. I'd recommend either buying pre-mixed salt water from the
LFS made with
RO/DI rater, or picking up a
RO/DI filter so you can make your own. Using good, clean water is key in this hobby.
