Keith;129016 said:
The only problem with the skimmer is that I can't find anything for something that size. I want to start the corals with a 20L or a 29 gallon, and theres nothing I could find that small. Recently I read something about the possibility of "over skimming" in tanks with corals. Correct me if i'm wrong, I just don't wanna screw em up.
Yes, you can over-skim a reef tank. It will remove some of the beneficial elements, food, etc.
In a tank that small, I would say you could probably get away without a skimmer if you kept feeding to a minimum and don't have any fish in the tank. If you use that HOB filter it's only going to be for the carbon cartridges and turning over the water. The carbon is great for keeping the water clear and absorbing junk, but as mentioned, it breaks down pretty fast and you'll need to replace it often or it will just become another source of polution in the tank. I tried using one as a refugium but it's hard to keep from getting sand into the motor, and once that happens, it will be a pain in the butt.
If I may give you some advice on this idea, get a good grip on one or the other first. Don't start them both at the same time, given you don't have much hands on experience with either.
I am starting to regret my decision to take on the coral propagation biz (of course I have 3 displays setup). It's a LOT of work, time, money. Water changes, topoffs, dosing, replacing equipment, cutting corals, waiting for them to grow, hoping they don't die (and some will inevitably) ...and then off to my day job. Oh yeah, and
then there's the display tanks to maintain! And I'm setting up another display in the living room currently... truly a labor of love.