need help and advice

abiza02 · 01/03/2016, 07:45 PM

hi my name is steve.. i had a 34 gallon nano setup before everything died on my and called it quits..decided to get back in the game. I purchased a 100 gallon setup on craigslist. Since im not sure what i still need wanted to see if i can get some help and advice on how to go about it. Came with sump but there is no space to add a protein skimmer. i plan to do a fish only with live rock. So my questions are as follows.

1 can i modify my sump to add a protein skimmer.

2 what kind of skimmer would i need?

3 what return pump do i need for this setup. the one it came with does not work. can i rebuild?

4 has metal stand. would i need something to support middle of the tank or should it be fine..

thanks again..i added pics of what came with my setup.

BillNye · 01/03/2016, 10:54 PM

1 can i modify my sump to add a protein skimmer.
Maybe. You could try ditching the bio balls and placing a skimmer in there but it might be tight. If you can take the lid off of the first compartment, that may work too. Definitely ditch the bio balls though.

2 what kind of skimmer would i need?
Depends on your bioload. I love my ASM G2 skimmer - cheap, works great, easy to clean.

3 what return pump do i need for this setup. the one it came with does not work. can i rebuild?
You can try rebuilding but I'd just spend the money on a good one that you know works. It's one of the more important parts of your tank.

4 has metal stand. would i need something to support middle of the tank or should it be fine..
I think it should be fine.

shifty51008 · 01/04/2016, 01:06 AM

You could also get an external skimmer and run it outside the sump.

If your not gonna do corals then keep the bio balls, they will give you more bacteria.

There isnt much you can do to rebuild the pump, if it's not working then the motor is shot. I would just buy a new one and know it works as said eariler.

The stand will be fine.

abiza02 · 01/04/2016, 01:14 AM

yea i plan to just do fish with this tank. want to get used to running a tank again. so a skimmer is a must right? can i get by with out it for awhile. and what else should i use in the sump.

abiza02 · 01/04/2016, 01:37 AM

it also came with a uv filter..do i need it and how do i know if its any good?

shifty51008 · 01/04/2016, 12:35 PM

A skimmer imo is nessasary, you can get by without one for a while though just do decent water changes.

powderblue1 · 01/06/2016, 07:22 PM

post a pic of the UV sterilizer and bulb and I can tell you the quality. Probably want to change out the bulb to be safe. You will need it if you plan on having more delicate tangs that easily become overwhelmed by parasites. A skimmer IS necessary if you have a good amount of fish and critters. With a tank that size you will probably want a few leathers and shrooms at least too, they are very tough, cool looking and easy to keep. Those iron stands are tough, just check the welds and make sure there are no cracks.

abiza02 · 01/12/2016, 07:10 AM

Thanks for the help decided to ditch the uv for now. Going to reseal the tank and paint the canopy. And go from there. One thing at a time. I got a bit overwhelmed lol.

01/03/2016, 07:45 PM	#1
abiza02 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: mission hills Posts: 41	need help and advice hi my name is steve.. i had a 34 gallon nano setup before everything died on my and called it quits..decided to get back in the game. I purchased a 100 gallon setup on craigslist. Since im not sure what i still need wanted to see if i can get some help and advice on how to go about it. Came with sump but there is no space to add a protein skimmer. i plan to do a fish only with live rock. So my questions are as follows. 1 can i modify my sump to add a protein skimmer. 2 what kind of skimmer would i need? 3 what return pump do i need for this setup. the one it came with does not work. can i rebuild? 4 has metal stand. would i need something to support middle of the tank or should it be fine.. thanks again..i added pics of what came with my setup.

01/03/2016, 10:54 PM	#2
BillNye Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Socal Posts: 226	1 can i modify my sump to add a protein skimmer. Maybe. You could try ditching the bio balls and placing a skimmer in there but it might be tight. If you can take the lid off of the first compartment, that may work too. Definitely ditch the bio balls though. 2 what kind of skimmer would i need? Depends on your bioload. I love my ASM G2 skimmer - cheap, works great, easy to clean. 3 what return pump do i need for this setup. the one it came with does not work. can i rebuild? You can try rebuilding but I'd just spend the money on a good one that you know works. It's one of the more important parts of your tank. 4 has metal stand. would i need something to support middle of the tank or should it be fine.. I think it should be fine. __________________ Trust me - I'm a scientist. Current Tank Info: 125G

01/04/2016, 01:06 AM	#3
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	You could also get an external skimmer and run it outside the sump. If your not gonna do corals then keep the bio balls, they will give you more bacteria. There isnt much you can do to rebuild the pump, if it's not working then the motor is shot. I would just buy a new one and know it works as said eariler. The stand will be fine. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

01/04/2016, 12:35 PM	#6
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	A skimmer imo is nessasary, you can get by without one for a while though just do decent water changes. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

01/04/2016, 01:14 AM	#4
abiza02 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: mission hills Posts: 41	yea i plan to just do fish with this tank. want to get used to running a tank again. so a skimmer is a must right? can i get by with out it for awhile. and what else should i use in the sump.

01/04/2016, 01:37 AM	#5
abiza02 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: mission hills Posts: 41	it also came with a uv filter..do i need it and how do i know if its any good?

01/06/2016, 07:22 PM	#7
powderblue1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 83	post a pic of the UV sterilizer and bulb and I can tell you the quality. Probably want to change out the bulb to be safe. You will need it if you plan on having more delicate tangs that easily become overwhelmed by parasites. A skimmer IS necessary if you have a good amount of fish and critters. With a tank that size you will probably want a few leathers and shrooms at least too, they are very tough, cool looking and easy to keep. Those iron stands are tough, just check the welds and make sure there are no cracks.

01/12/2016, 07:10 AM	#8
abiza02 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: mission hills Posts: 41	Thanks for the help decided to ditch the uv for now. Going to reseal the tank and paint the canopy. And go from there. One thing at a time. I got a bit overwhelmed lol.