Filtration help

[Toad42013]

My HOB filter finally died today. Which makes me happy because i can finally get something new. I would like to get or build a sump. Either way i have to get some type of filtration. Please give me some advice. I am also purchasing a skimmer as well. Thanks for any help. Pics and links really help. :)

[DrBDC]

Is the tank drilled? If not, you will 1st need some form of hang on overflow. Here is a link to some sump info:

http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html

On the left you will see different size designs you can view.

Depending on the sump design you end up with, choosing a skimmer will be hard to do until you have/order it. Some sumps will be designed for a hang on skimmer just like the kind you would hang on a tank w/o a sump. Others will have the skimmer inside the sump. This is safer for spills usually and being more compact.

The sump can even be a simple glass tank that you silicone some dividers into.

Usually looking around your local club forum you can find some great deals on used sumps/skimmers.

[Shooter7]

Go to this thread, which is a sticky at the top of the page:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1031074

Scroll down to the header that says "Equipment", and there is discussion there about skimmers, pumps, and a link to melev's sump design website. Read those. The next header is "Filtration", and you can read some there. Your choice of skimmer is going to be multifactoral. It will involve being adequately equipped to handle your tank, be sized such that it can fit into how you're doing your sump and other equipment, and then also has to work well with your wallet.

[Shooter7]

Stop barely jumping in ahead of me doc. ;)