New to reefing

Salty Lemon · Jun 16, 2019

Hi Eric! The one thing when I had smaller tanks that I couldn't believe made so much of a difference is a protein skimmer. Since your tank isn't drilled you would need a Hang on Back (HOB) -- I always get Reef Octopus but there are many decent brands out there. With a HOB skimmer you have to keep a very close eye on it, because it isn't like drilled tanks where if the skimmer starts to get full or overflows for some reason, it just goes into the sump. If you let yours overflow, the stinky water will go onto your floor. Canister filters work out great too -- but they kind of stand out. We put a big plant in front of ours to hide it. If you go to the "New to saltwater and reef aquariums" section, you will find all kinds of information on the sticky threads. Here is one of them: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/. Welcome!

dbl · Jun 16, 2019

Welcome to R2R Eric and to your new reefing family and welcome to the salty side.

Emarley · Jun 16, 2019

Welcome to R2R!!!

James M · Jun 16, 2019

Welcome to reef2reef !!!

Dom · Jun 16, 2019

Eric Meza said:
Hello I’m Eric I’ve just decided to get into the reefing hobby. I have been in the freshwater hobby for some time now and finally decided to make the switch. I have a 27gallon cube I can’t drill it but I was looking for tips on setup and equipment.

Hello Eric and welcome.

A hang on back overflow into a sump is a perfectly acceptable alternative to drilling your tank. I've enjoyed success in the hobby using an un-drilled tank with a hang on back overflow for years.

Where equipment recommendations are concerned, you first need to ask yourself what you will be keeping in your tank. This will dictate your equipment requirements.

Lastly, NEVER rush things in the hobby. "Nothing good happens fast in reef keeping".