skimmer and sump help

blazing · 03/10/2009, 12:22 PM

wussup everyone i jsut got my tank up and running about a motnh ago. i have a 55 gal with FOWLR for the moment. i might switch everything to a 100 gal but not anytime soon. i wanted to know which brand skimmer i should go with. i want a good skimmer but i cant really spend a whole lot of money. im looking at around the $200 range a lil more is ok. i have a baby on the way so thats why i cant really spend too much money. i plan on building a sump out of a 20 gal so i guess i need a in sump skimmer. after i get my sump and skimmer running im gonna get my lights. i couldent attach a pic but if u go to my gallery u could see my tank, could tell me how many pound of rock i might have in there. i feel like i have more then what i need and it takes up most of the space in the tank. rite now i just have a 5gal HOB "sump" with live rock in it. also could u tell me if this is a good sump to build.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgNe_OYgoL8

any help is much appreciated thxs in advance.

thegrun · 03/10/2009, 04:04 PM

It looks like you have an adequate amount of live rock, certainly not to much. Didn't someone weigh it when you bought the rock, or was it given to you. I would guess you have about 40 to 50 lbs in there now, but it's really hard to guess. You might try building some arches and play around with your aquascaping in general. Move some rocks closer to the front of the tank, get away from the one solid wall look. As for a skimmer, you will get 1000's of opinions as to what is best, but in general, cost is a fairly accurate gauge of quality (but not an absolute). You can save a lot by checking the for sale forum or Ebay. Read up on all the information you can find, particularly the information at the start of each forum.

03/10/2009, 12:22 PM	#1
blazing Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: yay area Posts: 625	skimmer and sump help wussup everyone i jsut got my tank up and running about a motnh ago. i have a 55 gal with FOWLR for the moment. i might switch everything to a 100 gal but not anytime soon. i wanted to know which brand skimmer i should go with. i want a good skimmer but i cant really spend a whole lot of money. im looking at around the $200 range a lil more is ok. i have a baby on the way so thats why i cant really spend too much money. i plan on building a sump out of a 20 gal so i guess i need a in sump skimmer. after i get my sump and skimmer running im gonna get my lights. i couldent attach a pic but if u go to my gallery u could see my tank, could tell me how many pound of rock i might have in there. i feel like i have more then what i need and it takes up most of the space in the tank. rite now i just have a 5gal HOB "sump" with live rock in it. also could u tell me if this is a good sump to build. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgNe_OYgoL8 any help is much appreciated thxs in advance.

03/10/2009, 04:04 PM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	It looks like you have an adequate amount of live rock, certainly not to much. Didn't someone weigh it when you bought the rock, or was it given to you. I would guess you have about 40 to 50 lbs in there now, but it's really hard to guess. You might try building some arches and play around with your aquascaping in general. Move some rocks closer to the front of the tank, get away from the one solid wall look. As for a skimmer, you will get 1000's of opinions as to what is best, but in general, cost is a fairly accurate gauge of quality (but not an absolute). You can save a lot by checking the for sale forum or Ebay. Read up on all the information you can find, particularly the information at the start of each forum.