[pocketgirl]

hey guys. I'm currently starting up a 33g cube. Because of the size, I don't particularly want to hang a bunch of equipment, tubing, etc on the tank. My idea was to build a sump for it, nothing big, just ten gallons. That way I could put the heater and the skimmer in the sump rather than hanging off the tank. When I talked to my LFS, they said I didn't necessarily need a sump for my tank because it's really not that big. They said I should just go for a HOB skimmer.

So, here is the debate: Do I go with a sump or just suck it up and go with just the skimmer on the back of the tank?

And further.... If I go with the sump, I want to make it myself. does anyone have any suggestions on how to go about this?

Also.... I need to pick up a skimmer either way. Can someone give me an suggestion on what kind I should look into? I only have LR and LS in the tank at the moment, so I don't need one right away, but I still want to do my research and get opinions before I go out and buy one. (I just returned a POS berlin airlift that a Petco rep recommended... I should have gone with my gut and said "no thanks").

Any suggestions and opinions are very much appreciated!

Thanks!

[cplklegg]

Welcome to the addiction. You can go for the sump; I think you can check out Meleev's reef for instructions for DIY. It would entail pvc pipes, another pump, overflow HOB overflow box, etc. doable, but up to you whether you want to do it. Anyways, I have a 20 softie tank w/o sump and it runs fine. A CSS super skimmer needle-wheel would probably work nice for you, I luv mine and it was reasonably priced; $88 delivered from thatpetplace. (google it) Anyways, just keep up your water changes get a good skimmer, let your tank cycle and you'll be fine. Best of luck.

[glampka]

Welcome to RB, pocket! You're about an hour or so from me.
I have a 30 gal & don't have a sump. The sump lets you hide the equipment, gives you more water volume & if you include a refugium a place to grow macroalgae & pods. There are a number of good HOB skimmers you can get - AquaC, Bak Pak 2 to mention just 2. If you want a sump, you can take an old 10 gal tank & partition it off. It isn't too hard to do. I'd buy an overflow - much easier than trying to build one.

[pocketgirl]

thanks so much for your input guys! Really appreciate it! I guess I'll probably just go with the skimmer... I don't even know if i'll have the room in the stand to set up the sump. I'm thinking my husband will probably switch the 80g freshwater that we have over to a salt (I've definitely peaked his interest with the 30g!), and we'd do a sump on that... he's already cracking, so i'm sure it'll happen within the next month!

Williamsville, eh? nice to see that someone so close shares the same obsession!