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I've finally decided to set up my first marine tank after many years of freshwater success. I am going to turn a standard 55 gallon freshwater starter kit into it. The kit comes with the aquarium, hang on back filter, heater, light, and some chemicals(all for 150 bucks). My question is how can I best filter this set up?? I know I will use the hang on back filter because I may as well...but I want to set up a protein skimmer in a sump. I have an empty 29 gallon I could put the skimmer in. Is it correct that I would need an overflow box to get the water in the sump? How should I set this up? I'm under the impression that the skimmer takes the water and pushes it through tubing back into the aquarium? Is there some kind of overflow box that would pull in the same amount of water as the skimmer would be putting back out? I don't know much about how these work and any info is appreciated. Also, what kind of skimmer/overflow box is good considering its 55 gallons? Please let me know if you have any suggestions and information.

I am curious why you think you need the sump. A protein skimmer is designed to take out excess protein and organic wasted from the aquarium. It can do this in two ways. The most commonly used way in a smaller aquarium (less than 100 gallons) would be with a venturi type skimmer. The way these work is they push water through a reaction chamber, as it is doing this a venturi valve is also injecting air into the skimmer as well. This in turn develops tons of tiny bubbles within the reaction chamber. The polarity of the bubbles helps to adhere the proteins to these bubbles. Then, the organic waste travels up the reaction chamber and into a collection cup to be removed. This process has nothing to due with pushing water back in to a tank from a sump. I suppose you can plumb a skimmer this way, but generally it decreases the effectiveness of the skimmer by putting back pressure on the outflow of the skimmer. Not to mention this would be a sure fire way of getting thousands of bubbles clouding your tank. Also, in my experience overflow boxes are a complete pain. I would suggest a hang on skimmer to go with your hang on filter. You will be much happier and it will be alot easier. Than when you master your 55 gallon tank, you can upgrade to a pre-drilled tank that is designed to use a sump. Also, a bare sump really only gives you two things: It gives increased circulation, and it gives you a place to put skimmers, heaters, and other toys out of site. Since larger tanks need larger skimmers, this is usually the way to go to get them out of sight. However, for you a smaller more compact skimmer will work just fine. Look into these skimmers: Aqua C Remora, Prizm, Sea Clone, and ESU has a new needle wheel skimmer out that I hear works really well. I hope this helps and sorry I am long winded.
Ryan

I just thought it would be a nice way to get some of that stuff out of the way so people wouldn't have to look at them...Also the plus of adding more water to the set up is good. I had heard it was a better way to filter the water as well. But, I may be interested in doing a hang on back skimmer...Are Jebo skimmers any good or are they generally junk...I found a nice looking one on ebay...http://cgi.ebay.com/New-150-Gallon-JEBO-Protein-Skimmer-Reef-Aquarium_W0QQitemZ7730578794QQcategoryZ46313QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Let me know and thanks for the advice...
Matt

I have never personally used the JEBO skimmer. However, if you want my true advice, any skimmer that is $35 cannot be that great. But, I have been proved wrong before. Good Luck
Ryan