Mixed reef new setup help

[Vallon]

I just bought this tank (before cleanup). I plan to get 50 pounds of live rock, the tank is 45 gallon. It has a built in sump/filter? not too sure what the correct term is. It will house 2-3 small fish.

Water overflows into the left chamber, then flows into the second (middle) chamber with blue bio balls, a sack of carbon, then flows into the 3rd chamber, with a pump immersed in the 3rd chamber pumping the water back into the tank.

Do I need a skimmer for this setup? If I do need one, is there a small skimmer that would fit into one of the 3 small compartments? Or if you can suggest a skimmer for this tank, it is appreciated. Thanks for your help.

 

[Anonymous]

Definitely get a skimmer. Others will be able to suggest one (I'm not in the US, not sure what will fit over there).

I'd advise you to get rid of the bioballs btw. Tend to end up being a nitrate factory. Not such a big deal with a fish-only, but if you want coral, not good. Maybe use the space to run carbon as and when needed.

 

[Len]

You don't need a skimmer but you should get one. However, not much will fit into a 3" wide space. The Tunze Nano skimmer is the best one that will fit. You can always consider an hang-on like AquaC Remora or Precision Marine HOT-1, connected to the middle section of your integrated filter box.