What Skimmer Should I Get?

[Hawkins]

This is a sequel to "What powerhead do i need?"

My tank is 30 gallons, and the dimensions are: 81L, 36W, 50D. they are CMs btw.

i am hoping to have a sump.. i have a tank which can be made spare. its about 9 gallons. hopefully i can get the skimmer in it!

can anyone suggest a nice skimmer please? xD

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Look at deltec and TMC skimmers (these are probably the best two makers of skimmers currently). You can pick up a second hand V2 400 TMC skimmer for about £40-50 which should do fine for a 30 gallon (though it is worth looking out for a good deal on a V2 800, better to have one bigger than needed).

 

[Hawkins]

ok cheers i will check ebay

im not going to go marine until january atleast... im 17 and need a job

 

[N1z]

Dw i felt that stuggle when i started at 16, tbh for 1st skimmer what barney says should be spot on for ya.

Just dont go near, redsea and underworld they are pants

 

[Ter]

hi Hawkins,

One of my two marine tanks is a 31 gallon (US) it runs without a skimmer I perform 50% water changes every week. I believe for a system in that size range its the best option, it will cost more in the long run and does take more time but has many advantages, its probably the best option for a tank ur size...

 

[Hawkins]

I dont know any advantages of not having a skimmer.. apart from saving the £40 initial cost.


I am hoping to get a list of all the equipment I will need for this set up.

So far:
2x Koralia 1 (powerhead)
V2 400 TMC (its cheaper than the 800 version )

 

[ben1987]

i have the v2 400 on a similar size tank and it works very well. Needs to be empties a lot. Pulls some real gunk out. When you see what they actually fetch out then you wont want to run without one

 

[Hawkins]

ooh ok!

so the next thing is lighting. I dont think the current lighting on the tank will work.. i believe the bulbs are T5 or something?

 

[ben1987]

depends what your keeping.
Fish only - anything they dont really care
Corals your looking at T5's or halides really. Best with individual reflectors

 

[Hawkins]

ooh ok so the bulbs that i have are good enough!

reflectors? oh the *tinfoil* stuff?

edit: oh yes i want corals btw

 

[ben1987]

on t5's you want individual reflectors really.

 

[rabbut]

The number of T5's you need depend on the corals you want to keep also....

What corals do you have your eye on?

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Hawkins]

i havent even looked into corals yet, could you link me some pics of easy to keep corals please?



cheers

 

[ben1987]

http/www.rareocean.co.uk/rareocean/

there quite good for corals

 

[Hawkins]

ok and anemones, will they eat any other fish that isnt a clown?
thank you