Need help with picking a protein skimmer and lighting please

[Nickcdll]

Hello, former hobbyist, but it's been about ten years and i'm excited to start a new tank. Bought a Innovative Marine 40g nuvo tank, and a Innovative Marine AUQA Gadget MiniMax All-In-One Media Reactor. I'm having such a tough time picking a protein skimmer and especially a light. Doing anything more than fish right now i think would be ridiculously over ambitious. But eventually i might want to add something like a coral. And lastly, what are peoples thoughts on a algae scrubber? Are they worth it? I've read everything from awesome to very hard to get to work right. I appreciate anyone who can help me. Thank you

 

[Crabs McJones]

Hello, former hobbyist, but it's been about ten years and i'm excited to start a new tank. Bought a Innovative Marine 40g nuvo tank, and a Innovative Marine AUQA Gadget MiniMax All-In-One Media Reactor. I'm having such a tough time picking a protein skimmer and especially a light. Doing anything more than fish right now i think would be ridiculously over ambitious. But eventually i might want to add something like a coral. And lastly, what are peoples thoughts on a algae scrubber? Are they worth it? I've read everything from awesome to very hard to get to work right. I appreciate anyone who can help me. Thank you

Welcome to R2R!!

reef octopus makes some really great hang on back skimmer options and is my go to grand for skimmers. As far as lighting, if you plan on going coral in the future this is definitely something you're not going to want to skimp on now. Makes more sense to spend 300 on a light now then to spend 100 now and 300 later for a total investment of 400 dollars. Save yourself a hundred bucks and get good lighting right off the bat. Are you looking at led, t5, metal halide, or a hybrid of the two? #WelcometoR2R

 

[Nickcdll]

Thank you for replying. Thats a awesome name you got. Ughh leds definitely. I've been reading alot of good things about reef octopus. Are they difficult to get working properly? As far as lights, what are your thoughts on a sbreef box? Or a Kessil? Is the kessil a160 not enough for my tank? Total cost for that, the arm and the controller is like 400. Where the wifi sb box is 250

 

[Crabs McJones]

Thank you for replying. Thats a awesome name you got. Ughh leds definitely. I've been reading alot of good things about reef octopus. Are they difficult to get working properly? As far as lights, what are your thoughts on a sbreef box? Or a Kessil? Is the kessil a160 not enough for my tank? Total cost for that, the arm and the controller is like 400. Where the wifi sb box is 250

the reef octopus is very easy to get tuned in. And if you ever have an issue coralvue (the manufacturer) has amazing customer service.
I'm an extremely big kessil fan. For a tank that size you'd probably want a minimum of two 160s or a single a360. I'm not familiar with the sb reef lights, however there is another user on here @saltyfilmfolks who uses them and absolutely loves them. And his tank looks amazing with them. The sb lights are good lights and can absolutely grow any coral you put under them.

 

[mjlash22]

I'm not sure if the nuvo is a AIO or sump style tank. If you have a sump, I personally like the Bubble Magus curve series. Cheaper in price than their competitors, but you won't be dissapointed. A curve 5 would probably be well suited for your tank. Nyos are nice too, but IMO, overpriced.

As mentioned above, Kessils are very good lights. I had 2 of the A160WE's on my previous tank and loved them! I have since purchased a new Red Sea tank that came with AI Hyrdas which I also like. I would have to say the 3 heavy hitters in the lighting market are Kessil, AI, or EcoTech. All are great lights, but will cost you a pretty penny. If you do plan to eventually add coral, invest now if you can!

 

[Nickcdll]

Its a AIO. As far as the reef octopus any suggestions? I've heard good things about the bubble magnus to. Are they easy to get to work to? The keesil looks great, but if i go with the A360 your talking about $525. What are your thoughts on the AI prime hd? Is that enough light? that would be about 200, and i'm basically trying to keep the whole setup under 1,300

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

Welcome to R2R

 

[40B Knasty]

Its a AIO. As far as the reef octopus any suggestions? I've heard good things about the bubble magnus to. Are they easy to get to work to? The keesil looks great, but if i go with the A360 your talking about $525. What are your thoughts on the AI prime hd? Is that enough light? that would be about 200, and i'm basically trying to keep the whole setup under 1,300

Idk what AIO means. I have a Reef Octopus HOB BH1000 that has been a champ for the past 2 years on a 20g, 40B, and now on a 65G. Decent collection cup size, quiet, pump is out of the water column so there is not temperature fluctuation, also the water does not get on the pump to have build up of algae, good dwell time in the chamber, has a needle wheel impeller(most important part of a skimmer), easy to disassemble and reassemble for maintenance. There is also the BH 2000 and 90 that has some nice features that has the same pump for the BH 1000. The 90 has an adjustable air intake and cone shape near the top VS the 1000 & 2000 that are boxed shaped. Costs are between $180-$240 I believe.

 

[kkeller416]

I have the same tank...just a little older it's the 38g nuvo aio.
I just upgraded to the hydra26 hd light.
It's pretty impressive and controllable with your phone or computer.
I also have the min max reactor and run the IM mid size ghost skimmer...
The skimmer does good..the other options for a skimmer was the tunze 9004. Haven't tried it myself yet tho.

 

[mjlash22]

Idk what AIO means. I have a Reef Octopus HOB BH1000 that has been a champ for the past 2 years on a 20g, 40B, and now on a 65G. Decent collection cup size, quiet, pump is out of the water column so there is not temperature fluctuation, also the water does not get on the pump to have build up of algae, good dwell time in the chamber, has a needle wheel impeller(most important part of a skimmer), easy to disassemble and reassemble for maintenance. There is also the BH 2000 and 90 that has some nice features that has the same pump for the BH 1000. The 90 has an adjustable air intake and cone shape near the top VS the 1000 & 2000 that are boxed shaped. Costs are between $180-$240 I believe.

AIO = All in One

 

[Jesterrace]

Its a AIO. As far as the reef octopus any suggestions? I've heard good things about the bubble magnus to. Are they easy to get to work to? The keesil looks great, but if i go with the A360 your talking about $525. What are your thoughts on the AI prime hd? Is that enough light? that would be about 200, and i'm basically trying to keep the whole setup under 1,300

A pair of AI prime HDs with mounts would work as long as you don't put in super demanding corals or plant them too deep. A single wouldn't work. If you wanted to try a single light it would be a stretch but you could do a single Kessil A360 or a single AI Hydra 26. The Hydra 26 has a slight edge IMHO in that it is a dual puck light. I literally just mounted a pair of AI Hydra 26 lights over my 90 gallon and it looks stunning.

 

[siggy]

What's your Budget and what's the likelihood of an upgrade in two years.... Is the 40 a cube or the long. My 40 AIO was 36" I planed on 2 160's but upgraded to a 48" tank and have 2 larger 360's, a cube would need 1.
Good luck

 

[Mark Gray]

Welcome to R2R good luck and I am not going to comment right now on protein skimmer or lighting lol

 

[reefertank]

AIO = All in One

I have a bubble magus curve 5, works great and super quite.

 

[Nickcdll]

The forty is a cube. I'd rather spend the money now than upgrade later on. As far as the tank i even if i were to get another i would still utilize that. My budget, ughhh...startup is like crazy costs, but i would like to keep it to 400 for the light. I was thinking about the hydra26 to, that with bracket is like 425 i think. The kessil 360 looks sweet to, but that with the controller and bracket is like 500. Are those two the best for that price range? My question with skimmers is this, am i better off with one that hangs on the back or i can put underneath the stand

 

[Reef Jedi]

I love my Eshopps skimmer. It’s been going for the last 8 years every day with out an issue. Works very well I’d say. As far as lighting I’m a huge Radion fan. Very quality lights with amazing output and growth.

 

[Night_shift_reefer_]

Id vote 2 AI primes or a hydra 26. I have two Hydra 26s over my reefer 350 and love them.

 

[Nickcdll]

The reef octopus 90 hob and 1000 hob are nearly identical in price. is the 1000 the old reliable standby basically? is there a advantage to either. Btw thanks so much everyone for helping me so far. I truly am psyched about this and the forum here is awesome. the tank and stand will be here this week. The rest i'm gonna order in two parts. Oh, btw....how much sand will i need. Is 40lb of rock to much?

 

[Nickcdll]

the radion xr15 looks sweet, that would top out at almost 500. would one even be enough? the hydras do look like the ones i'm gonna end up getting. but ughh, between that the ai's and the radion...which i've been looking at, they're all so close in price. i just want something thats gonna be worth it.

 

[Night_shift_reefer_]

https://www.marinedepot.com/md_educationcenter_calculators_sand_bed_calculator.html