Filter

So to start I could just get live rock and let it sit for a few weeks then get a protein skimmer? But would I need something to get the water to move?

Sorry for the NOOB questions

 

Yes you would need power heads to move the water around the tank
for a 30 gallon FOWLR a couple of power heads at either end would be sufficient

you need really good water circulation if you are going to use the rock as your primary biological filer, and also a lot of rock - there are equations but these do not take in to account various density of rock - so although it may be written by some that you need 1.5 lb rock per gallon (so 45 LB in your tank) many people dont use this as a hard and fast rule (which its not anyway) and go for something like 1/3 of tank would be rockwork

circulation - aim for between 30 and 50 times the tank capacity so 900 - 1500 gallons per hour between 2 or possibly 3 power heads

koralia style power heads are great, simply becuase they generate good water movement thats not all coming out of a 1/2 inch nozzle - so lots of flow, byt the force is spread nicely

all above just my opinion

Steve

Steve

 

If I didn't want to put so much live rock could I go with a fliter and not such a large amount of rock?

 

never heard of it man. sorry.