Help with first saltwater tank.

[Hope2158]

I have a 29 gallon tank that i am using to start my first reef tank. I plan to keep a pair of clownfish, a few hermit crabs, and a few snails and for coral i will have a rock by its self with GSP and the main rocks of my tank will have zoa's. I have a 10 gallon i will use as a sump. what is a good protein skimmer for this size tank? And what is a good light under $100 that will support the corals in a 29 gallon tank?

 

[Peach02]

not too sure on your budget but what I tend to to is find a equilivant waterbox tank and look at their blueprints for a suggestion. Here It would be a Ai prime and a nyos 120. The prime is a bit over your budget but well spent

 

[Gareth elliott]

welcome to reef2reef!

I can not suggest a budget skimmer. I would look for used skimmers that will match your bioload and what you want to spend. Look for brands that use name brand pumps, like sicce. These things are work horses and are fine used.
After you select your skimmer build your sump around its operating height. Will save you a lot of headache later.
lights for $100 i would look at black boxes. Not chic and lack bells and whistles but they are controllable and will grow any corals.

 

[Dragon52]

Also GSP will take over your tank so you need to keep an eye on it.

 

[Jekyl]

Until your tank is further along you dont really need either. Will take a month for cycle. Lights aren't needed until you start adding coral. Skimmer isnt really needed until a month or 2 after fish are added. During that time you should be feeding light anyway. This will give you time to save for better items. Lights and skimmer are both things that shouldn't be skimped on.

 

[lapin]

For a good light in your price range look at these

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As for skimmer look at the build threads here with the same tank as you have.

 

[Jekyl]

I used the black box lighting at first. They work great and provide all the light you need for corals. That being said they also wash everything out. Details on the tank will appear blurry almost.