small tank...sump?

[footballdude2k3]

hello, i am looking to put together a small tank, 30-40, i do not like that everybody upgrades the all in ones because things are not great in the system, so i want to just buy a tank and get things done right the first time, so i will slowly buy everything that i need for the tank. i have seen some people that use a sump/refugium for a small setup and some that do not. what are the pros/cons? also where would you guy the tank? i would like to get a glass tank, 2 small heaters, i have heard too many things go wrong for people with one big one, i know i need powerheads for the flow, i hear 10 times the total volume is usually good, is that accurate? also would you go with one big or two small? for lights i am not sure if i would get mh or t5. i am verrrry new, i have always loved reef tanks and would like to put one together so any advice or places to read online is much appreciated.

 

[FadeToGrey]

Hello footballdude2k3,
Welcome to reef central!I am by no means an expert, but I will try and answer some of your questions for you. It is awesome that you are doing your research before buying, and will probably save you a lot of money. As for where to buy the tank, if you are just looking for a regular, rectangular glass tank, then your LFS is probably as good of a place as any, however, if you do decide you want to go with a sump (which you might, for the added water volume, the option to have additional LR and macro algae as filters, as well as a place to hide ugly equipment, the cons are extra equipment needed <pump> and extra work to set it up,) then you need to MAKE SURE that the walls of your tank do not have 'tempered' glass so that they can be drilled to plumb your overflow/sump. You can often check online before you buy if it does not specify. As for powerheads, I think on a tank that size it would likely be a matter of preference to go with 1 vs. 2, however, 2 would give you more flexibility. As for lighting, that is again a matter of preference, but just remember you will need at least 3watts per gal for just about any coral, and 6+watts per gal for many corals. You will find an amazing amount of info around here if you look and ask questions, so good luck.

 

[WaterKeeper]

The two biggest reasons for having a sump are that it increased the systems total water volume so the tank acts more like a larger tank. The second is the return pump provides good circulation for the main tank. An added benefit is you can place things like heaters and skimmers in the sump and hide them from view. A Sump is always a good idea on any tank.

I'm a glass tank fan and would go that route but would strongly suggest getting one with a low iron glass in the viewable part of the tank. It is far clearer than normal glass tanks. Two heaters are the wise choice as one can fail and there is a backup. If you choose to use a sump I'd suggest a return pump with a 20X return rate and you can use a small powerhead if you have some corals that need extra flow.

Lights are tougher but the T-5's will handle most corals. If you have plans for high light requiring critters like clams, anemones and some corals then MH is better. The MH does create more radiant heat so keep that in mind if you home get hot in the summer.

 

[drparker]

The stickies in this thread are a great place to start.

A sump/fuge will add more water volume which is always a plus. They give you a place to put equipment so it's not cluttering up your main display tank. You get a protected area away from predators to cultivate pods, a good food source. A place to grow macro algae like Cheato to help in exporting nitrates and phosphates. No real down side other than being a little more expensive to setup and appears more complicated but it's not really.

Depends of the kind of powerhead chosen and flow pattern you want but in general I'd go with two over one stronger.

Check the lighting forum for info on MH and T5, there is no set answer on which is better. Check the DIY forum for idea on tank and sump layouts, read build threads.

After you've read through some of the stickies and the build threads ask specific questions.

You've just started down the path of a great addicting, expensive hobby