[TimH07]

i have the 26 bowfront reef as some know and its doing just fine. i have the basics down and feel i know a fair amount about the hobby.

i have a 55 gallon fresh water, and i have been pondering changing it to a reef aquarium. my problem is its not a drilled tank, and im not sure i want to try an overflow box to a sump. so i was wondering if anyone thinks a sumpless 55 would work.

my 26 works great and i used a hang on skimmer and a aquaclear filter converted into a hang on refugium (just take out the media and you have a mini tank that you can put cheato in)

does anyone think that that set up might work on a 55 or is a sump a must on over xx gallons? as i said, its working perfect on my 26 and 29 gallons more doesnt seem like that much more.

any suggestions would be great.

[dibenni]

Tim,

I have the same set-up with my 55 and have done fine for over a year and a half now. I have a hang on skimmer and an aquaclear 500 that I put small peices of live rock in instead of the media. I also have 3 small/medium sized pumps for circulation and a 5 * 54 watt T-5 light fixture.

I have not had any problems to date (knocking on wood).

Nick

[Peterock]

You should be fine like dibenni said i have actually set up many sumpless 55's for maintence accounts and they look almost better than my 125. I would go with the following

1- large AquaFuge External Hang-On Refugium from foster and smith that way you can have a external place to grow pods and have that macro alage for nitrate reduction growing and running that will also help with ph due to the night and day time setup with lights.

2- Hydor Koralia 1 that will give you enough water movement and circulation

5 t-5 lights

1.5- 2 inch of sand

you will be off and running and doing great things for the hobby

[TimH07]

thanks peterock, your suggestions are basicly what ive been looking at these last few days

im considering the 48" nova extreme pro, the large aquafuge/w light, open to suggestions for skimmer.. i have a seaclone on my 26 gallon and its doing great. not one problem and i get a full cup every week, so was thinking about another one. and was thinking about the hydor 2's. i have the 1 in my 26 and i think it would be lacking in a 55

then all the standard LS LR and so on

the only reason i said considering is im also debating a 125 gallon with sump. but i dont think i should go there in an apartment lol, that and i have no plumbing near by for an auto top off.

[Peterock]

I'm sorry yes the hydor 2 are perfect.... I personally like retro lights if you have a canopy that is but if not you should be fine i rather spend $100-200 and have lights and wood built and looking nice than just a large light box that sits on top (wife dont like the look)

Skimmer i would look at the typhoon hang on skimmer by dr. foster and smith this guy is nice and small enough to hook up to the setup and you can run a tube from the collection cup to like a empty milk jug for extra crap and keep it hidden. I am thinking about setting up either a 40gal or 55 as my reef and turn the 125 into a fish only with angles, tangs, puffers, and triggers (cant have that in a reef you know)