filtration and lighting questions please advise

[jasdavis09]

Hello and thank you for your intrest in helping me. I have a 45 gal bow front tank that has 40-45 pounds of live rock in it as of now, I plan on adding more soon to finish the rock scape. As of now my main concern is the filtration and lighting system. I curently have a bak pak skimmer and a fluval 204 that runs the tank. the fluval is great for moving the watter I just dont think its the right system for a future reef and I know I need to upgrade the skimmer. my plan so far is as follows. please help me if I am wrong anywhere

1. 36" outer orbit 10.000k mh and dual actinic sunpaqs with lunar lights.

2. a 24x12x16 sump

3. a asm G series skimmer. I just dont know which one will work best or if I should go with the mini.

4. 2 new power heads that move at least 792gph

my tank is up and running and I will ad pics as soon as I figure out how.

 

[TekCat]

sounds like a good plan!
pix! where are the pix?

As far as skimmer goes, check out AquaC Remora or Urchin skimmers. I have Remora on my 55G tank, and very happy with it.

As far as lights go, what kind of corals are you planning to keep? Different species have different lighint requirements.

 

[Daddeo]

I say go with the ASM skimmer, look at the G1 or G2 for your application. They are awesome skimmers and very reliable. The rest of your plan sounds good.

 

[jasdavis09]

Thanx for the info on the skimmers I will be sure to look them up.
and as for the corals as of now I just dont know, however what I am trying to do is avoid futre limitations.

 

[jasdavis09]

Hey daddeo what about the minni. do you have any insight to that skimmer?

 

[Daddeo]

I don't have experience with it but I would go with a larger rated skimmer anyhow. You can never overskim .

Check out the ASM skimmers here: http://www.asmskimmer.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=21&osCsid=f6deaa6f2f1512ae377426c626b9f2ed

 

[zukihara]

I would also get a skimmer that could run a larger tank than a 46 to hancle the inevitable need to upgrade you will have in the not to distant future