30gal tank setup help :)

[NanoDrummer09]

Well ive been gone for 2 years and came home and my tank was completely different! So it was a 20gallon long tank now its a 30gal tall. The clam i had for 6 months before i left died as well as a lot of the hard coral i had. The B&W clowns are beasts and held out and so did some of the orange polyps i have, also has a small purple tipped anemone in there. Its got a Solormax 5.0 50w t5 light going and just a hang on filter. My question is should i change the filter if im going to be adding more coral and maybe bye a pair of fire fish? I bought a nano oceanic protein skimmer but the bubble cube thing isnt shooting out nano bubbles but BUBBLES so its not working very well. SO over all question if im going to be adding 2 more fish and coral in the future should i change the filter system it has right now? And to what? Ive been out of the game for awhile so help me out please! Theres a little algae problem but its going away with water changes. Pictures soon to come

 

[Redhaloangel]

hi, i am new to this, but i have started a 30 gallon, and i started off with a biocube skimmer as well and that didnt work.. i got one of those big hang on the back white box like skimmers, and a aqua clear 30 for my 30 gallon.. im not sure about what fish tho.. im just telling you what i got on my 30 gallon.. i dont know the brand.. my skimmer didnt come in a box... but im asking what brand it is from my LFS....

ok i got the name of the skimmer it is a: SWC hot mini

 

[NanoDrummer09]

holy crap that things expensive lol. I forgot how much stuff cost. Ill look into it more so new question. Am i good with the skimmer i have? Just switch the bubble cube? Or should i get something different?

 

[Redhaloangel]

i am not sure.. like i said i am new, but my lfs when he first saw my biocube skimmer, he kinda shook his head.. and when i tried it i realized he was right.. lol and i ended up getting that other skimmer, yes it is expensive.. but for my future fish and live stock.. i want the best.. lol and i may eventually upgrade my 30 gall tank and it will still be fine..

all i can say is if you have a lfs that you trust and know will steer you in the right way.. go with him.. and this is a great community on reef central. we will also steer you in the right way

 

[Orm Embar]

Um, I would have said a Reef Octopus HOB BH-90, which is $20 more.

You could try adding some macroalgae which would consume some of the nutrients (and look cool); just stay away from Caulerpa in my opinion.

You may need more light, BTW.

 

[NanoDrummer09]

ok thanks for the feedback. I guess i forgot that if you want something done right you have to throw a little more money in it lol. Ill look into it more and see what i can do!

 

[NanoDrummer09]

theres also a pic. Better picture coming soon!

 

[RedAnt78]

Hey dude!! Glad you're back!
Look at the red sea prism for a skimmer, you can find used ones for a good price, the reviews on the oceanic nano skimmers are pretty bad, since they have the cube it can foul up with algae and stuff. I'd look into the hang on back skimmers over anything else.