Hi all. I'm getting back into the reef keeping hobby after being out for about 10 years. Previously had a 10 gallon nano with various soft corals and a few fish and shrimp. Honestly, it's been so long I don't remember exactly what all I had. The tank itself did GREAT. Coral flourished as well as the fish. That is up until we moved. With the move to our new house I lost interest/motivation and the tank quickly went to crap. Sold everything and am now looking to get back into the hobby.
Plan is something in the 40 gallon(ish) range (cube preferred) with an appropriate size sump. My previous 10 gallon was upkept with only a hang on the back mechanical filter with a little bit of LR rubble, weekly water changes and the obvious LR and sand in the tank itself. So the sump addition and all that is included with that, is foreign to me. This is where most of my questions lie.
What tanks do you guys recommend? Rimless would be nice, but not necessary. I'm trying to get some decent stuff this time around, but the budget isn't limitless. I'm also planning on drilling and installing my own bulkheads for overflow and return from sump. Or should I consider getting one pre-drilled? I'm a decent enough handyman that I can handle cutting and gluing PVC and running all the necessary plumbing. Cutting aquarium glass and installing an overflow seems a bit intimidating though.
For the sump I was thinking a 20 gallon long. Is that overkill for something like a 40 gallon display?
Anything else sump wise anyone wants to school me on, feel free. I'm uneducated in them in pretty much every aspect. I'm talking protein skimmers, return pumps, DIY baffles, etc., etc., etc. The beauty of my old 10 gallon was the simplicity. But I'm ready for the increased stability and ability for more/different fish and more/different coral with a larger setup w/sump.
What GPH flow do I want in something like a 40 gallon? I plan to do the standard soft corals (shrooms, zoa's etc.) would like an anemone to accommodate a pair of clownfish and want the ability/flexibility to dabble into LPS and SPS. I know SPS takes higher flow than LPS and softies, but I'm not sure what that really means. Am I basing my GPH flow on tank size or planned livestock or both?
Lastly, what am I gaining by going with a 40 gallon over say a 30? By that I mean, what more/different fish and/or corals can I do in a 40 over a 30 or 25? I'm thinking 40 will be about my limit, but am open to a 50 or 55 if it REALLY opens the possibilities for different type of fish and corals.
Please feel free to add anything you wish. I'm a fan of DIY, so will probably stick with that type of approach. I'm just scratching the surface of getting back into this hobby and am currently in the research stage. So still a LONG ways to go. I have noticed things have changed quite a bit since I got out of the hobby and appreciate any and all help/comments!!!
Plan is something in the 40 gallon(ish) range (cube preferred) with an appropriate size sump. My previous 10 gallon was upkept with only a hang on the back mechanical filter with a little bit of LR rubble, weekly water changes and the obvious LR and sand in the tank itself. So the sump addition and all that is included with that, is foreign to me. This is where most of my questions lie.
What tanks do you guys recommend? Rimless would be nice, but not necessary. I'm trying to get some decent stuff this time around, but the budget isn't limitless. I'm also planning on drilling and installing my own bulkheads for overflow and return from sump. Or should I consider getting one pre-drilled? I'm a decent enough handyman that I can handle cutting and gluing PVC and running all the necessary plumbing. Cutting aquarium glass and installing an overflow seems a bit intimidating though.
For the sump I was thinking a 20 gallon long. Is that overkill for something like a 40 gallon display?
Anything else sump wise anyone wants to school me on, feel free. I'm uneducated in them in pretty much every aspect. I'm talking protein skimmers, return pumps, DIY baffles, etc., etc., etc. The beauty of my old 10 gallon was the simplicity. But I'm ready for the increased stability and ability for more/different fish and more/different coral with a larger setup w/sump.
What GPH flow do I want in something like a 40 gallon? I plan to do the standard soft corals (shrooms, zoa's etc.) would like an anemone to accommodate a pair of clownfish and want the ability/flexibility to dabble into LPS and SPS. I know SPS takes higher flow than LPS and softies, but I'm not sure what that really means. Am I basing my GPH flow on tank size or planned livestock or both?
Lastly, what am I gaining by going with a 40 gallon over say a 30? By that I mean, what more/different fish and/or corals can I do in a 40 over a 30 or 25? I'm thinking 40 will be about my limit, but am open to a 50 or 55 if it REALLY opens the possibilities for different type of fish and corals.
Please feel free to add anything you wish. I'm a fan of DIY, so will probably stick with that type of approach. I'm just scratching the surface of getting back into this hobby and am currently in the research stage. So still a LONG ways to go. I have noticed things have changed quite a bit since I got out of the hobby and appreciate any and all help/comments!!!