My buddy is putting back together 46

He is putting back together his 46 bowfront. He has already added about five damsels. In the past he has never run a skimmer just a HOB filter. I told him he needed to get a skimmer and that would be more important than the HOB filter. He went and got one of those little skimmers at petsmart for a biocube. I do not think this will be sufficient. Any advice on a cheap, decent skimmer that could HOB. Is this one any good?

Custom Aquatic - Store - Protein Skimmers - Hang-On Skimmers - [ Reef Octopus Hang On The Back Protein Skimmer ]

Also he has some fake rocks that have been in there for a couple of years. Will this stuff act like live rock? Should I tell him to take the blue sponge out of the filter and put rock rubble, as I have heard this method sometimes for those who you HOB filters. Also anywhere I can get cheap base rock?
Sorry for the long post...

 

Check out the following.....

**Aqua Medic Turbo Flotor-1000 Multi SL
**AquaC Remora Pro
**Octopus BH-100F

 

thanks

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Before I did a sump fuge I used a HOB filter and set up a small fuge with a older HOB filter system it was decent. I would have that done also..Live rock is a better filter then the mech ones.... But that Skimmer will help a little but its not set up for tanks over 20 or 30gal...