Large enough??

[allisland]

New to reef tanks, converting a 46 gallon bow to reef, limited space under cabinet, could ony get a 10 gallon in there, have it devided into 3 sections, in from tank over live rock and sand (1/3 of tank) then protein skimmer, and finally return pump.
Big question is this sufficient, or will I need additional filtration?

[Seige]

How much LR and how deep a sand bed will you have in your display tank?

[allisland]

Thanks for the questions,
it's a 46 gal bow front, I have at present 40 lbs of live sand and a little over 60 lbs of live rock.
The 10 gal under the tank is denided into 3 sections , I have approx 3 inches of sand with some live rock rubble and a few mangroove plants in the filtering section, then a protein skimmer in the next section and finally the return pump in the last section, sorry to say it's the largest I could get in the cabinet.
Any sugestions on additional filtering needed??, tank is just in the beginning of it's cycling .

[Seige]

I'm relatively new to this hobbie too but it sounds fine if 40 lbs of sand in your display tank is around 2 1/2" to 3". The rock and sand will do most of your filtering.

My sump will be small like that too. I have to fit sump, ato, ro/di, lights and skimmer into a 22"wide x 15"deep x 26"high space. It'll all fit barely but I need to get a custom sump.

I mainly asked those questions because others will want to know that info to answer your initial questions. ;-)

oh. Forgot 1... What type of skimmer?

[allisland]

Coralife super skimmer

[metalhead]

Should be fine... IMO any sump volume is better than none. That said what you are describing should be more than adequate for a 46g.

Suggestion - You probably already know this - Put your sump light on a reverse cycle from the main tank. In other words: when your main tank lights are on your sump light should be off and vice-versa. Or you can leave your sump light on continuously... The main thing is that your sump light is on when your main tank lights are off.

I would also consider using cheato algae intead of, or combined with, the mangroves for better nutrient export. From what I have read mangroves are largely innefective for nutrient export in a closed system, though they are cool to look at.

Hope this helps!

[Seige]

I agree. You should be fine.

Are you setting up a quarantine?

Are you going to seed your sand bed with real live sand and/or a detritivore kit?

What type of fish are you thinking of adding?

Are you going to add corals? If you are what type of corals and what type of lighting do you have?

[allisland]

Using live sand, small quarantine area, yes on the corals, type as of yet unknown,also inverts and crabs and a few reef friendly fish. Still in the process of cycling.
Also will check on the Cheato Algae,so far none of the LFS carry it.
As to reef lightning have combo T5 and Actinic and LEDS, and I do reverse lightning between tank and sump.

[Seige]

Sounds like your in control. ;-)

That's real live sand? Not the "live sand" you get from the LFS in sealed bags.

Inland Aquatics and other online places will ship cultures if you need any.

Be careful about the number and type of crabs. They may eat your other cc. I recommend a few Nassarius snails. They'll keep your sand sifted and they are funner to watch.

I recommend that you set up your QT now while the main tanks cycling or add your QT filter to the main tank so it's ready to go in the QT. Don't put sand in the QT so it can double as a med tank.