To reef or not to reef, 55g filtration

[Bojangles]

hey everyone!

So I'm having a problem and I wanted to see everyone elses opinions. Setting up a 55g undrilled tank and cant decide filtration. Heres what I was thinking.

One option I was thinking:
25g glass sump filled with bioballs or LR rubble
CPR 600 overflow
Mag 700 return pump
Hydor Koralia 2 (600gph) circullation pump
Skimmer undecided

Another possible option:
Maybe cutting out the sump and using a Cascade 1500 canister filter?
Hydor Koralia 2 (600gph) circullation pump
Skimmer undecided

I've never set up a tank this small so I'm probably going to severely overdue the filtration. Did I miss any options? I'm so excited hehe

 

[Bojangles]

Oh yeah I forgot to mention that I have no idea what kind of tank I want yet. I'm either going to go with a Reef with a few inverts and small fish, FOWLR with a lion and maybe a ribbon eel or tusk or a Fish only with maybe a humu humu, porcupine puffer and some small schooling fish...something along those lines

 

[Bojangles]

Maybe two Emporer 400's? Wouldn't be bad for a FOWLR or a fish only, filled with media. Kinda noisy with the water aggitation but provides a decent flow in a small tank like this.

 

[Anonymous]

a few suggestions...

stick with smaller fish. a 55g is not very big and something like a lionfish will not only be stressed in there, but it will look goofy.
for a 55g, i think smaller is better in most cases, there are always exceptions, for instance you wouldn't want something like a mandarin in there.

second...
i would advise you to steer away from bioballs and canister filtration.
they tend to grab gunk and suspend it within the system.
instead, i would spend your money set aside for filtration on good skimmer.

your budget is something that you might consider when deciding what type of tank you are putting together.
a reef tank will be much more expensive in operating/maintaining costs.
lights are probably the biggest cost item and they will determine what inverts you will be able to house.
what you are going to keep really changes the advise i would give you.. for instance if you planned on keeping an anemone, i would strongly advise you not to use a CPR overflow.. at least not in the traditional fashion as that powerhead will chew an anemone up.

there are a good many things like this..

 

[Bojangles]

...well I dont really have to worry about the operational costs right now because I get free utilities but I dont normally buy crazy output items anyway. As far as lighting I have 2x96 PC's that I'm going to put on it unless I go with a FO or FOWLR in which case I might only use one 96 or get a normal florescent lamp.

I'm probably going to buy a ASM skimmer. Maybe a G2 or something. I had a G4X but thats bigger than the tank LOL

 

[Bojangles]

Well a reef is out of the question living on the island. Everyone I've talked to says its very hard to have things shipped here and its unlawful for me to collect locally. The pet stores I've been to only sell local fish but their prices are at least 120% discount from Seattle.

Things like yellow tangs $10 and morish idols $15, flame angels $20 and potters $10. I think clownfish were like $7, naso tangs were $12 and my favorite tang the achilles was like $18.

I'm pretty sure I'm going with a FO or FOWLR now but I havent decied on sump or no sump. I could fill up a 25-30g sump with LR, drill it for a return pump and skimmer and utilize a overflow.

 

[IslandCrow]

I'd go with the sump and skimmer (and no bio balls). Even though nitrates aren't nearly as big a deal to fish as they are to corals, if you don't keep your nutrient levels down, you're going to be fighting algae. FO tanks tend to get heavily stocked with fish, and lots of fish equals lots of fish poop. A canister filter, even if cleaned regularly, isn't going to do nearly as much for you as a good protein skimmer. Plus, now you have a sump where you can hide all of your unsightly equipment. . .even a canister filter if you want to use one for some extra chemical or mechanical filtration (just be sure to clean it weekly).

 

[Bojangles]

Well my tank kinda got put on hold for a minute. It didn't ship well and I have to put a claim in for all the scratches and hopefully I'll get a new one.

Anyone recommend a hang on refugium?

 

[Bojangles]

Right now the skimmer I'm looking at most is the Octopus 150, rated for 150 gallons. I called the company today and they told me I could plumb the skimmer outside of the sump using the gate valve kit they sell. Anyone have experience with this brand or can recommend a skimmer with a minimum rating of 75g?

Heres the link