What setup should I do?

urijah · 02/04/2015, 04:30 PM

So I have my 36 gallon bow front.. unfortunetly I bought this tank a long time ago before I ever really got into reef tanks and sumps... This tank is tempered glass so it can't be drilled... So I don't think I'm going to do a sump on and being that it's pretty much a nano scale tank I'm not too sure if I'm going to run a protein skimmer... And if I do it will sit in the chamber in the back.. So here is my question... What type of filtration do you guys think I should do on this tank? The biggest thing is it needs to fit in the chamber.. Or should I just do a mechanical like filter pad and maybe chemical and just do frequent water changes? Let me know what you guys think.. O and sorry about the mess... Currently painting etc..

Thanks Uri

Keith01 · 02/04/2015, 06:31 PM

Not sure what the hell that thing in the tank is, but if you go with a hang-on over-flow box, you could run that to a sump, and get the other 1/2 of your tank back to boot. They can be a bit tough to start, but I've had good luck, both with commercial boxes and with one's of my own design. Just go on-line and search for aquarium over-flow boxes. They're worth the money if I get twice the bio-load potential from my tank. Just sayin.

K

Jade5051 · 02/04/2015, 07:01 PM

For the price of a decent HOB overflow he could probably find a used 40 gallon breeder and drill it. HOB overflows typically run about $50. Used 30 gallon or 40 gallon breeder for $20-40 on craigslist. $5 drill bit on Ebay. Glass for the overflow cost ~$15 from a local custom glass store. $5 for silicone. That's a used tank with custom overflow for ~$55.

Jade5051 · 02/04/2015, 07:08 PM

I think the skimmer is a must. One very strong good skimmer is all you need for a small nano imo. AquaC Remora or Urchin. Maybe an Eshopps or Aquamaxx or Reef Octopus. Innovative Marine. Lots of really good small skimmers out there.

I ran a 20g hex with only a AquaC remora and live rock as my filtration for years. Was a beautiful and great tank. If I could do it again I'd sump it and add some carbon with gfo in a BRS mini reactor to make things prettier and easier to maintain.

urijah · 02/05/2015, 07:01 AM

The "thing" in the back is a live rock wall.. no different than any other live rock.. it's man made and then cured.. soon it will be seeded.. I would rather not do a sump because if I do I'll be piping it through the wall into the bathroom.. If anything I'll just do a protein skimmer in the back chamber and possibly a carbon/gfo reactor

02/04/2015, 04:30 PM	#1
urijah Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 33	What setup should I do? So I have my 36 gallon bow front.. unfortunetly I bought this tank a long time ago before I ever really got into reef tanks and sumps... This tank is tempered glass so it can't be drilled... So I don't think I'm going to do a sump on and being that it's pretty much a nano scale tank I'm not too sure if I'm going to run a protein skimmer... And if I do it will sit in the chamber in the back.. So here is my question... What type of filtration do you guys think I should do on this tank? The biggest thing is it needs to fit in the chamber.. Or should I just do a mechanical like filter pad and maybe chemical and just do frequent water changes? Let me know what you guys think.. O and sorry about the mess... Currently painting etc.. Thanks Uri

02/04/2015, 06:31 PM	#2
Keith01 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 11	Sump it. Not sure what the hell that thing in the tank is, but if you go with a hang-on over-flow box, you could run that to a sump, and get the other 1/2 of your tank back to boot. They can be a bit tough to start, but I've had good luck, both with commercial boxes and with one's of my own design. Just go on-line and search for aquarium over-flow boxes. They're worth the money if I get twice the bio-load potential from my tank. Just sayin. K

02/04/2015, 07:01 PM	#3
Jade5051 That guy... Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,218	For the price of a decent HOB overflow he could probably find a used 40 gallon breeder and drill it. HOB overflows typically run about $50. Used 30 gallon or 40 gallon breeder for $20-40 on craigslist. $5 drill bit on Ebay. Glass for the overflow cost ~$15 from a local custom glass store. $5 for silicone. That's a used tank with custom overflow for ~$55. __________________ The dream that is now a memory - http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2550891

02/04/2015, 07:08 PM	#4
Jade5051 That guy... Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,218	I think the skimmer is a must. One very strong good skimmer is all you need for a small nano imo. AquaC Remora or Urchin. Maybe an Eshopps or Aquamaxx or Reef Octopus. Innovative Marine. Lots of really good small skimmers out there. I ran a 20g hex with only a AquaC remora and live rock as my filtration for years. Was a beautiful and great tank. If I could do it again I'd sump it and add some carbon with gfo in a BRS mini reactor to make things prettier and easier to maintain. __________________ The dream that is now a memory - http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2550891

02/05/2015, 07:01 AM	#5
urijah Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 33	The "thing" in the back is a live rock wall.. no different than any other live rock.. it's man made and then cured.. soon it will be seeded.. I would rather not do a sump because if I do I'll be piping it through the wall into the bathroom.. If anything I'll just do a protein skimmer in the back chamber and possibly a carbon/gfo reactor