First salt tank. Need opinions

[littlefish09]

So im going to set up my first salt tank soon and i was looking for opinions on my ideas. the tank is a 36 bow and i was thinking about the glass-holes nano overflow with a 1/2" return. there will be a 10gal sump where the skimmer will be. what im not sure of is what type of skimmer is recommended and what pump for return. the tank is going to be fowlr for now.any input id appreciated.

TIA, Mike

 

[wilfx]

go back to fresh water fish

 

[delta]

I would go with the smallest octopus needle wheel skimmer they have and a ocean runner pump for a return.

 

[sagecx]

You may consider starting with a HOB skimmer instead of drilling the tank and adding a sump. I only say this because this is your first saltwater tank and it seems once the addiction kicks in full scale you will be upgrading to another tank within a year(maybe that was just my problem though)

If you have better self control than me then the sump will add water volume and the in sump skimmers tend to be better than HOB ones. As Delta mentioned the Octopus skimmers are a great value for the performance and one of the small ones should fit fine in a 10g. If you are doing a sump consider a 20g if space permits. It will give you more room for equipment and greater water volume gives you more room for error with the water parameters.

 

[littlefish09]

im kinda limited on space so the 36 is as big as i can go for now im going to build a new stand so i can make it fit a 20. would a overflow rated up to 300gph be enough or do i need bigger?

 

[wilfx]

My wife said I was a jerk for my previous post. If I came off that way I apologize. That's not the way I meant it. You will see what I was trying to infer once the addiction kicks in. It always starts with ( I need a bigger tank)
As for the overflow, I remeber reading somewhere, that 3 times the tanks volume is good. I would also go with a HOB skimmer.

 

[littlefish09]

i completely understand what you were saying. ive been reading up on stuff for over a year now and finally got the wife to approve.

 

[sagecx]

Opinions differ on if you want the water to go through the sump as fast as possible or slower to maximize the equipment inside. I think 300gph would be fine myself. It may be me effiecient to make the 10 or 20 sump as a refugium and use a hob skimmer on the display(you can hang it off the sump to if you want the display tank to have a cleaner look.)

 

[Royalty]

I seen a few nano skimmer at local pet shops. I forget the names the most resent place I've seen one was at petco $50 for a nano skimmer that handles 50 gallons. and its a insump or in tank skimmer so you'll have room for LR in you 10 sump if you set it up right then maybe you have room for a mini refugium. depending on the return pump you pick. I'd get a mag 3 or 4 and pump it up. if your going to go with pvc then it will look cleaner. Unless you just want to set up quick and easy the spa flex tubing is the right way to go it doesn't build up algae like the regular flex tubing. just keep that in mind when shopping for the pluming. besides that I'm sure you'll be all set do your water changes, check you temp give the tank time to cycle. And most important don't rush the process nothing good comes from rushing a salt water set up! take your time and learn to enjoy what you have don't let yourself get all worked up on corals and super expensive fish. there's plenty of people her willing to help out.

 

[Vinman75]

is sump needed?

hey question on this. A person does ot need to have a sump? Correct? I have a 55 gallon Fish only with live rock, and have power heads to move the water and using a hang on the back of the tank protein skimmer. No sump. It is not needed correct? the fish seem to be doing fine, other than an algae issue which I understand is normal consiering it is my first saltwater tank and is about 7 months old.