New 20 gal setup?

[ccirish]

What equipment do I need for a 20 gal reef with maybe 2 small fish?
Is 20 lbs of sand and 30 lbs of live rock enough?
Is a skimmer necessary or would a good HOB filter be sufficient?
Thanks

 

[sir_dudeguy]

are you gonna do a reef or just fish?

Either way, the live rock will be plenty of filteration for that tank. For the sand...were you planning on live sand? if so, i'd get regular dry sand instead...it will be live eventually.

On you tank, a skimmer might not be completely nessesary, but it would definately help. Even something like a bak pak skimmer would work good, tho i'd suggest a coralife superskimmer 65.

the hob filter wont really do anything like a skimmer would. Just dont put any media in the hob if you do get one. Instead, you'd be better off putting some live sand, rock rubble, and a ball of chaeto or something in there to make a mini fuge.

 

[kabal2]

ccirish what are you planning to keep?? that's the main question, then do you going to use a sump/fuge, and yes a skimmer is better than no skimmer, but with good maintance, may be not necessary, just my .02c

 

[ccirish]

Will have live rock and sand, along with soft corals and maybe 1 or 2 small fish.

 

[reefaholic101]

wouldnt a skimmer take away to many nutrients since the aquarium is so smalll

 

[sir_dudeguy]

If by nutrients you mean stuff like calcium and whatnot for the corals, then no it wont take away nutrients. But if you're talking about nutrients like phosphate and nitrates (which are nutrients to algae, and are what is more commonly considered "nutrients"), then yes, it will take away nitrates and phosphates (not sure on the phosphates but i know it helps with nitrates to a certain point. No such thing as not getting a skimmer cuz the tank is too small. Well i mean you obviously dont need a skimmer on a 2.5 tank, but would it hurt? no...i just dont know what kind you'd put on there lol. But imo, you should start looking at skimmers when you get above the 10 gallon landmark.