Hello! New here and still sketching out my reef..

Miami Lou · 01/05/2013, 11:29 AM

First of all thank you for the awesome forum you guys have going here! It looks like its going to be a great amount of help.

After many years of keeping freshwater fish I'm going to give reefs a try. Soft corals 2-3 fish maybe an anemone in a year or two and along that time a mandarin.

I will be trying to set up the reef in a 40 gallon breeder i have recently retired from fresh water (my last freshwater tank).

I'll do my best to give back to the knowledge base here as much as I can with pictures and experiences though it will be slow process...

I hope to make most of the equipment myself.

PVC FTW

Which brings me to my first question for the forum...

I am planning on making my own skimmer to place in what will more than likely be a 20 gallon sump/refugium...

How big of a skimmer should I attempt to make? I have heard from "that old guy at work" too much skimmer action depletes nutrients from fish and corals... any suggestions on a diy plan or rule of thumb for skimmer size? Maybe a kick in the right direction to the search button?

Chaotic Reefer4u · 01/05/2013, 11:45 AM

Miami Lou

To Reef Central

Painted skin · 01/05/2013, 11:52 AM

If you are planning on a skimmer with venturi pin or mesh wheel, just buy a new or use one. DIY is not practical as the pump it's self it not cheap for that size tank, you can get a new whole unit for not that much more money or like I said get a used one.

Miami Lou · 01/05/2013, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Painted skin

If you are planning on a skimmer with venturi pin or mesh wheel, just buy a new or use one. DIY is not practical as the pump it's self it not cheap for that size tank, you can get a new whole unit for not that much more money or like I said get a used one.

Cool thank you for the info!

From what I've read though I think I'm going to stray away from the venturi, do you have a model suggestion for the pin/wheel ones for that size tank? Views on "over skimming"?

I wasn't too worried about the 50-60 bucks for a pump, if that's the price range we are talking about...? I just don't want to get past the hundred dollar mark...

01/05/2013, 11:29 AM	#1
Miami Lou Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 13	Hello! New here and still sketching out my reef.. First of all thank you for the awesome forum you guys have going here! It looks like its going to be a great amount of help. After many years of keeping freshwater fish I'm going to give reefs a try. Soft corals 2-3 fish maybe an anemone in a year or two and along that time a mandarin. I will be trying to set up the reef in a 40 gallon breeder i have recently retired from fresh water (my last freshwater tank). I'll do my best to give back to the knowledge base here as much as I can with pictures and experiences though it will be slow process... I hope to make most of the equipment myself. PVC FTW Which brings me to my first question for the forum... I am planning on making my own skimmer to place in what will more than likely be a 20 gallon sump/refugium... How big of a skimmer should I attempt to make? I have heard from "that old guy at work" too much skimmer action depletes nutrients from fish and corals... any suggestions on a diy plan or rule of thumb for skimmer size? Maybe a kick in the right direction to the search button?

01/05/2013, 11:45 AM	#2
Chaotic Reefer4u ♥Acropora Aficionado♥ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollister,Ca. Posts: 5,163	Miami Lou *To Reef Central* __________________ Live everyday as if it was your last, take time to smell the flowers, enjoy all things living, never take anything for granted, you just never know when your number might be up... Current Tank Info: * 90g. Reef Ready TruVu tank with 30g. Platinum Filtration Series Sump SpS Acro enthusiast *

01/05/2013, 11:52 AM	#3
Painted skin Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 679	If you are planning on a skimmer with venturi pin or mesh wheel, just buy a new or use one. DIY is not practical as the pump it's self it not cheap for that size tank, you can get a new whole unit for not that much more money or like I said get a used one.