Skimmer question

[Oceanwave45]

hello - I have a 40 gallon bow front tank and I have a few questions.

Right now I have no skimmer, however I guess I need one? Or do I??

Which one is the super quite? My tank is in my bedroom, so I don't want anything with noise.

Also what is the best media for a HOB filter? I have an aqua Clear. I am currently using matrix and carbon.

Thanks for your help

 

[tdileo]

Get a sump! Just use like a 15 gallon tank. You don't need a filter for saltwater, your rock does the filtering. IME skimmers arent loud. You don't need one either but I reccomend one, especially if you want difficult fish or corals.

 

[Rufus’ goofs]

Aquaclear filters are probably the best HoB filter for saltwater applications from what I've read and heard.
There are lots of mods and uses for them.
I'd just search "aquaclear" on the site and see what people are doing with them.

You don't need a skimmer. You can get away with doing more frequent water changes, depending on your goals for the tank. If it's a fowlr or softie tank and you're willing to be dilligent about your water changes, then why get one. If it's an sps tank, or nps tank then constant stability as well uninterrupted nutrient export are almost as important as the corals themselves and I would definitely run a skimmer.

If you get a sump, you're like going to have a noise issue since it's in your bedroom.
Bean animal overflows are known to be near silent, as well very reliable.

 

[Oceanwave45]

Thank you everyone... I can't get a sump - I don't know enough about them and I would have to make holes in my tank

I will just get a protein skimmer and call it good

 

[tdileo]

You can get a HOB overflow if you want. The sump is great because you get extra water volume and get to hide the ugly stuff like skimmers, heaters, dosers and extra live rock for filtration. I'm 15 and built and plumbed mine myself. If you ever decide you would like one I can walk you through it
Maybe an hour of work total and well worth it

 

[Oceanwave45]

You can get a HOB overflow if you want. The sump is great because you get extra water volume and get to hide the ugly stuff like skimmers, heaters, dosers and extra live rock for filtration. I'm 15 and built and plumbed mine myself. If you ever decide you would like one I can walk you through it
Maybe an hour of work total and well worth it

Wow I'm impressed!!! I'm andrew - I'm 35... this is my first tank. I thought about a sump but I just don't know how to make or add one... do you have a picture by chance???

 

[tdileo]

Not at the moment but I can explain what I did and tell you what I wish I did differently! I bought a 10 gallon tank to use as my sump since it fits under the stand. I bought GE 1 silicone at home depot since it is fish safe once it cures for 48 hours or so. I cut out plastic to size from a big sterilite bin and siliconed them into the 10 gallon to be my baffles. But since they were plastic while I was moving stuff in my sump I accidentally bumped them a lot and ended up breaking the silicone seal so my sump is kinda just one big thing right now lol. I will be remaking it in a few weeks using a 20 gallon high and probably some acrylic for baffles. Our tank is a very similar size (mines 46) so you could use the same return pump. I used a Syncra 2.0. Of course I had my dad help with the plumbing to some extent since I'm not a pro, but it was pretty easy!

 

[Oceanwave45]

Awesome!! Look at you!!! Well if you could or would take pics that's would be very helpful if not
No worries!! Good luck on the next sump build

 

[tdileo]

Thank you!
This one is very ugly since its a mess of silicone and had to be thrown together last minute but it definitely gets the job done as well as adding some water volume to my tank. I can post a picture in the morning

 

[Oceanwave45]

Thank you!
This one is very ugly since its a mess of silicone and had to be thrown together last minute but it definitely gets the job done as well as adding some water volume to my tank. I can post a picture in the morning

Cool thanks man!!

 

[Reef_Tank_Fan_SC]

If you do go with a sump the Reef Octopus make some killer skimmers for a good price. They also make a HoB skimmer but I have no experience with it. However, I would have no problem saying it is probably top notch ad well..

Thus is the sump that is underneath my 54 gal corner tank. It was a DIY project that was built using a 10 gal aquarium from walmart.


*sorry for the sideways picture. For some reason thus site always flips them on me...

 

[Oceanwave45]

Omg!!!! Are you kidding me I wouldn't even know where to start to make something like that!!!!! heck no!!!! That look too intense!!!

 

[Reef_Tank_Fan_SC]

Omg!!!! Are you kidding me I wouldn't even know where to start to make something like that!!!!! heck no!!!! That look too intense!!!

It's really not that much. It's 1 10 gallon tank, 4 pre cut pieces of glass from lowes, 1 tube of GE silicone and some painters tape. This is the first one I ever made and honestly I was a little intimated at first. However after a few videos on YouTube and a bunch or research on Google it was super easy. I can post a link to a guy on YouTube that make it look super easy if your interested.

 

[Oceanwave45]

Totally please do!!! I just don't understand how the water get into the tank - does that makes sense?? I am going to have tubes sticking out and it will take away from my tank prettiness! Lol lack of better words here is a picture of you tank now

 

[Reef_Tank_Fan_SC]

You will have to get an overflow box to move the water from your display tank to the sump. You can get a HoB overflow that works with a siphon or you can get one that you install permanently to your tank. The second one will require you to drill your tank or have someone do it for you. I chose the later and drilled my own. I'm a total DIY guy so I hate paying for stuff..

The first picture is the back of the overflow and the second is the inside if the tank. As you can see it really doesn't effect the look of your DT.

 

[Oceanwave45]

That just looks like it's hard to make... my tank is only a 40 gallon bow front I'm not sure if I want a sump. With all do respect I don't even know how to use a hammer and neither does my boyfriend!!! Ha! This just looks difficult!!!!!

 

[Reef_Tank_Fan_SC]

Here is the link to that simple sump I mentioned above. Super easy.

 

[Reef_Tank_Fan_SC]

That just looks like it's hard to make... my tank is only a 40 gallon bow front I'm not sure if I want a sump. With all do respect I don't even know how to use a hammer and neither does my boyfriend!!! Ha! This just looks difficult!!!!!

Fair enough. Like I mentioned above if you really want a skimmer their are hang on back options out there. I am sure that as long as you research them you will find the right one for you.

 

[Oceanwave45]

Wow that's cool!!! Looks easy!! But the plumbing is what I am lost on!!! And my stand can't house anything long see the picture, I wonder if a ten gallon long would work

 

[Reef_Tank_Fan_SC]

My stand was hollow when I started out. With your having built in shelves you may be better off with the HoB skimmer