The Puffer Forum

When I get home from camp, I am most likely buying a 55 gallon for a toby (I don't know what else, feel free to say anything)
I am buying a protein skimmer-what kind? Keep in mind this is a 55 gallon!
The tank comes with a aquaclear 70 (2x) and an aqua clear 30. Should I sell them and buy a canister? Or will that be fine? Also a 200 watt heater. and light and stand.
Now on to the extras. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO DRILL THINGS, MAKE SUMPS ETC. I need help with the whole saltwater setup. I have NO clue what to do. Would I have to get my tank drilled professionally? Or will it be easy with my dad and I. What materials for the sump do i need? what tubing do i buy for the connecter thingys... you know what i mean. ALL ADVICE IS GOOD ADVICE! pretty much just tell me what I need and what to do or give me articles... Sometimes I hate articles, advice from people that are answering my questions is always helpful, but hey, ill take what i can get

I don't have a sump on my 46 or 40g SW tanks. I'm happy with my Backpac HOB skimmers.

You dont have to drill the tank to add on a sump ! You can get overflow boxes on ebay pretty cheap I got decent 1 for my 29g for $39.99 plus about $19.99 for an overflow tube to the sump ! The sump can be a small tank or a plastic container like I did, lol ! Its sounds more complicated then it really is ! When I started my 75g sw I paid $75 just for the acrylic sump box , after I got everything set up , I felt stupid for spending $$ on a box that I could of easily done my self ! But figure out how you want it setup before you go and buy anything ! Way better in the long run!

So a sump is not needed?

No its not! But more filtration the better ! I was deciding between a sump and a canister filter so I went with sump . Im not using any skimmers on my tank though . Like pp said an HOB works fine !

how much is a decent backpac for a 55 gallon?

I bought both of mine used for $50 ea. Both have needed replacement pumps within 2 years though.

I agree that drilling is unecessary. Just use a gravity outflow. You can get an acrylic sump/refugium used pretty cheap, as an example my LFS has a nice 25g for 45 bucks. You could throw live rock in there and maybe cultivate some macroalgae to further boost water quality. I have a 29g with a fuge that holds maybe 8g, and my plan is to get the smallest type of figi puff. A refugium is also a good place to house crustaceans, etc where your toby can't get to them. That way you can pull out whatever you want to feed him on an as needed basis. Hope I've been of help.

Purifire I have to say you have been no help at all...........................These kinda posts are what makes me wanna go salt even worse, saying that you dont have to have all the extra junk which helps keep the cost down at the start.

lol i also want a small saltwater tank for hermit crabs but dont want to spend a lot. hoping to use a 2.5 gallon i already have.

Lol jeeper

Ah sorry, 4 weeks gone. I went away for camp, so thats why theres been no responses... I havent done a water change in 5-6weeks =/ getting on that today. Boy am i tired!

pics

of?

that was on the assumption that you got the 55 up