Please help to decide what pieces to upgrade when.

[SanguinesDream]

Originally Posted by Leah

I would get rid of the filter and invest in a better skimmer.

Thanks for your reply. So then no filter at all, just upgrade the skimmer?

[Leah]

Yes

[Leah]

SkimmerKing has one for sale a Deltec 500. He has it on here for a great price by the way.
You may wish to go bigger though it depends what you plan to keep. The bigger the bioload the bigger the skimmer.

What are your plans for the tank for fish? And what corals you wish to keep?

[Leah]

PM'd you.

[SanguinesDream]

Originally Posted by Leah

You may wish to go bigger though it depends what you plan to keep. The bigger the bioload the bigger the skimmer.

What are your plans for the tank for fish? And what corals you wish to keep?

My plans for the tank are mostly softies with lps, so nutrient rich waters. I'm not sure about fish yet as I want to strike the right nutrient balance with the corals first before I increase my bioload.

Is it possible to have a sump in a bowfront with the middle compartment shaped like this / \ ? I've been doing a lot of reading and for the tank I hope to run a sump would make more sense then a hob skimmer. Is there a way to cover the sump partially to protect from the cat hair, screening it possibly?

[monocus]

if you can,drill the back of the tank for your overflow to your sump and use a herbie or bean animal.also look into the return-how are you going to bring the water back up.you also need water movement in the tank-whether it's powerheads or a wave box

[jesse1884]

you can also but HOB overflow boxes and as for the sump try to get one with a lid to keep cat hair out mine for my 75G has one that should keep cat hair out

[SanguinesDream]

Originally Posted by monocus

if you can,drill the back of the tank for your overflow to your sump and use a herbie or bean animal.also look into the return-how are you going to bring the water back up.you also need water movement in the tank-whether it's powerheads or a wave box

I've got 2 eheim pumps used for draining the tank that could be used for the return and 3 koralia powerheads for water movement due to the bow front.

Yeah, I was wondering what kind of overflow would work because I don't have a whole heck of a lot of room. Right now the Rena canister, eheim pumps and the tetra UV sterilizer fits in this cramped area (with the eheim pumps and the UV unit off the ground and attached to the sides).

/ \ Ideally, I could build a sump looking like this with a skimmer and the
l l l return hoses at the apex. And if I could fit the entire unit inside, there would be a smaller chance of getting cat hair in the water, but I still might screen it.

[Leah]

Your tank is small enough...I would go with the hang on. Then if you like Salt think of going with a tank that has a sump. I have 3 dogs and a cat hair is no biggy.