Returning To The Hobby

All the baffles do is set the water height and help to maintain it. I'm not saying you can't have more then one what I'm saying is the tank is very small so I wouldn't put more then one. Put 4 pices of card board in side that tank space them out like in the video. See how small the spaces are? As far as putting them in it's all pretty much the same rather you do one or 4. What I would do is if you are going to put one in put it right before the return pump. You could put in just a bubble trap before the return pump but it will take up a bit more space.
 
If the tank is made out of glass then use glass for the baffles. Acrylic and glass don't like to bond together.

That skimmer can only handle a 40gal heavy bio load. You need to look for something a bit bigger.





I would go something more this size if it fits in your tank





 
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Really they are big and clear on my phone

Won't let me post the link for the sump. Just search sump with no baffles. It comes up in the pictures. The skimmer is skimz SK184 search it on BRS.
 
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With a 30gal tank unless he made the stand to fit a bigger sump I don't think he can go bigger. He could make a sump from acrylic but for a fish only system I don't think I would want to spend a few hundred to buy or make a sump. I do agree with you though go as big as you can.
 
I still want a decent amount of live rock so I would consider it a medium bioload. I wanted a mix of a decent amount of fish and live rock.
 
The skimmer takes waste out of the water (fish poo ect). The more fish you have the bigger the skimmer you will want with in reason that is. You generally want to over size your skimmer to give your self a cushion. Unless you are going to have very few fish in that case you will have a light or medium Bio load. Rocks on the other hand help convert NH3 to NO3 with is less harmful to your fish and other live things in you tank. The skimmer is mechanical filtration and the rocks are biological you need both.
 
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Actually the Reef Octopus Classic 110 handles up to 75 gallons on heavy bioload so I think you may be mistaken?https://fragtasticreef.com/reef-octopus-classic-110-in-sump-protein-skimmer-nwb-110/ You where looking at the wrong one, the space saver one that is less powerful than the regular one.
I think im going to go with Rock rubble (probably about 3lbs of it), and some Chateo for the sump. All I need to find now is a overflow box and powerhead and a return pump any recommendations on that
 
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Actually the Reef Octopus Classic 110 handles up to 75 gallons on heavy bioload so I think you may be mistaken?https://fragtasticreef.com/reef-octopus-classic-110-in-sump-protein-skimmer-nwb-110/ You where looking at the wrong one, the space saver one that is less powerful than the regular one.
I think im going to go with Rock rubble (probably about 3lbs of it), and some Chateo for the sump. All I need to find now is a overflow box and powerhead and a return pump any recommendations on that

Thought you were talking about the 110SSS. The skimmer you picked is fine.
 
3LBS is not going to do much. I would go more. It depends on how much rock you have in the DT. If you go light on the rock in the DT then I would go heavy in the sump or use a marinepure block which will take up less space. Also you will want a small light for your chateo. As for an overflow can the tank be drilled or is it tempered glass? The safest overflow is an internal one. HOB ones have come a long way though and are pretty reliable. I couldn't drill my tank so I have a HOB overflow. For a return pump I like Eheim or Syncra
 
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As far as power heads if you just want something cheap that will work then WPs are the way to go if you want top of the line then Vortech. Some people like Tunze.
 
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Actually, I have not even purchased my 30 gallon tank right now. Im in the planning phase. Where can I find a pre drilled tank? If I can not find one I dont mind using the external overflows. I think for the return pump I will get a mag 3 which is 300gph. For the overflow I know it has to be over 300gph to be more powerful than the return pump, and since i don't know if im going to get a internal or external yet, im not going to choose one yet. For the powerhead I think i'll go with 2 WP-25 on the 800-1000 GPH setting but im not completely sure. Another thing is I need my equipment to be near silent. Its in a living room. I believe the WP's are quite noisy. Also I have heard of different types of skimmers that make less noise then others. Same with return pumps.
 
I know you said fish only, but I had the same idea you did and started with fish only with live rock. I recommend getting the sump and an in sump protein skimmer just in case you change your mind later and want coral. That way you won't have to spend more money on upgrades just in case you change your mind and start wanting coral. That's what I did and now I have equipment sitting in the closet not being used. I have a protein skimmer and a zeolite reactor now. Make sure to cure your live rock so you don't create an algae factory like I did, or find a place where they have the live rock already cured.
 
Mag pumps are noisy

As far as the tank some fish stores will drill it for you or you can do it your self. It's really not that hard. BRS sells a kit for this I think.
 
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