Hi,
I have a 400L tank, it's a great tank - 30" tall, 40" long, 20" width.
I currently keep Malawi Cichlids.
It is filtered via an FX6 Canister filter.
I've been thinking about going salty for a while, I think this is a good tank size for a marine setup that would look great.
But I have issues:
My tank is built into a brick alcove. It was custom made for this space.
There is no space under my tank for a sump. It is placed on solid brick. There is no space to the right side or behind the tank. It is in an alcove. The only space is a roughly 1" gap to the left, which I currently use for my FX6 pipes.
My idea was to:
- get rid of the FX6 (or use is only for flow?)
- live rock
- fish.
- soft corals.
- Wavemakers.
- improved LED lighting.
- internal skimmer.
Skimmer wise...what are my options. My tank is heavily braced at the top around the edges, like 3 inches along the back and front, and 6 inches at each end as there is no centre brace. There are 2 small 2"x2" holes each end for pipes. So I cannot easily place an external skimmer. Means it would be in the middle which would look odd, and I wouldn't be able to close covers etc. If I used an internal skimmer, I would have to significantly lower the water level in my tank? I have seen mention of a remote skimmer, that could be used sort of the same way as an external filiter...with pipes going up or down to a skimmer elsewhere? Is this something?
Does anybody have any advice on setting up here? Bearing in mind although I do have over 25 years of fishkeeping experience, this is my first (potential) experience with a marine aquarium.
I want to do it right, or I don't want to do it at all. Will just stick with my Malawis. I think the skimmer issue is something that is bothering me. I know some say you don't need one, but being my first tank, I want to. I think it will help me. I don't just want to do a fish only tank either, with canister filter etc, it has to be a little bit more than that.
Thanks!
I have a 400L tank, it's a great tank - 30" tall, 40" long, 20" width.
I currently keep Malawi Cichlids.
It is filtered via an FX6 Canister filter.
I've been thinking about going salty for a while, I think this is a good tank size for a marine setup that would look great.
But I have issues:
My tank is built into a brick alcove. It was custom made for this space.
There is no space under my tank for a sump. It is placed on solid brick. There is no space to the right side or behind the tank. It is in an alcove. The only space is a roughly 1" gap to the left, which I currently use for my FX6 pipes.
My idea was to:
- get rid of the FX6 (or use is only for flow?)
- live rock
- fish.
- soft corals.
- Wavemakers.
- improved LED lighting.
- internal skimmer.
Skimmer wise...what are my options. My tank is heavily braced at the top around the edges, like 3 inches along the back and front, and 6 inches at each end as there is no centre brace. There are 2 small 2"x2" holes each end for pipes. So I cannot easily place an external skimmer. Means it would be in the middle which would look odd, and I wouldn't be able to close covers etc. If I used an internal skimmer, I would have to significantly lower the water level in my tank? I have seen mention of a remote skimmer, that could be used sort of the same way as an external filiter...with pipes going up or down to a skimmer elsewhere? Is this something?
Does anybody have any advice on setting up here? Bearing in mind although I do have over 25 years of fishkeeping experience, this is my first (potential) experience with a marine aquarium.
I want to do it right, or I don't want to do it at all. Will just stick with my Malawis. I think the skimmer issue is something that is bothering me. I know some say you don't need one, but being my first tank, I want to. I think it will help me. I don't just want to do a fish only tank either, with canister filter etc, it has to be a little bit more than that.
Thanks!