[Bashiba]

Hello All, I am researching my first Saltwater Reef Set up. I currently have a 55 gallon Freshwater that I can convert, I know its not the best size for a reef, but I already have it. I am planning on going Skimmer only with plenty of Live Rock and Sand. If I get a good skimmer is this acceptable? Or am I asking for trouble buy not having another filter? Anyway any suggestions on a skimmer, I have been leaning towards an AquaC Remora, seems to have the best reviews out there for a hang on? Also the tank currently has an Emperor 400 on it, would it be helpful on the Saltwater Tank or Not?
Thanks in Advance
Bashiba

[Neal359]

are you not going to get a sump. they have a BIG list a good thing that you can do with them and would strongly urg you to get one on and have the bavk ove your tank drilled (trust you should really do it other will agre) it also adds more water to the tank, witch is a plus and you will have a big chose of good insump skimmer. and you will need a good one with the type of set up you are going fore

[G7subs]

Yeah! What Neal said only with spell check! If you can fit one in your stand get a simple 10 gallon tank and use that as your sump.Drill your 55 while it's empty,hang on overflows are terrible.

[Ltspd]

I will suggest the remora also. I had one on my old 55g and it worked very well. It is also much queiter than the prizim if you use a maxijet 1200 instead of the rio.
I will agree on the sump issue. If you have the room they are well worth the added expense. This gives you a area to do w/c's, add chemicals, house a refigium, skim, and basically clean up the main tank. If you do go with a sump I would suggest one of the urchins as a in sump skimmer.


Welcome to Reefland !

Good Luck!

[SCETT316]

I also used an AquaC Remora, on my 20 gal. nano and it worked great. I now use the AquaC EV-200 on my 168 gal. and love it.
HTH

[SKRIZ]

i would not use the filter, it will be more of a pain than anything else. If you do not want to add a sump, then using a hong on skimmer will be fine. I have done this and have had good results. I do believe that a sump is the way to go, but as in my case, it wasnt an option. so, to anzwer your question, yes that would be fine. make sure you have a good sand bed and plenty of live rock. and get a good skimmer. NOT a seaclone

[Neal359]

Sorry about the spelling

I have had small skimmer like the CPR backpack and the turbo flotor1000 but last week I got a euroreef CS6-1 and I cant tell you how awesome this skimmer is. It is 10 times better in construction quality than any of the other skimmers and it produces more foam then any other skimmer I have ever seen. It was a little on the $$ side but you can get them for under $300.00 usually around 260.00 and worth it. You can get a less $$ one but you will eventually in the end get one of the top end skimmers so save your $$$ and just get the best

[jcwbnimble]

Howdy,

Go for the Remora Pro if you can swing the extra cash. Eventually the upgrade bug will hit ya, and you will want a bigger tank. It's better to spend a little more cash now than to have to buy a whole new skimmer then.

I have my remora pro on my 40g, and love it. Jason Kim (owner of AquaC) is a great guy and his customer service is excellent. He can make different sized collection cups or skimmer boxes for relatively cheap, just email him.

As for a sump, I had one on my old 55g show tank. Having a sump can be both bain and boon. On the plus side; you can keep all or most equipment there and out of sight, you can buy a "bigger" more efficient skimmer than a hang-on unit, it adds water volume, and it's a good place to pour supplements.

Bad side; difficult to setup unless your tank had built-in overflows. You will have to buy an overflow box, plumb it, and keep it from stopping so your tank doesn't overflow.

For me, 55g is the borderline between going sumpless or not. Anything under that and you can avoid the sump with hang-on equipment. Anything bigger, and you will probably need to get a "bigger" skimmer and other equipment (reactor, etc) that need a sump.

Net/net, go for the Remora if you can't afford the Pro model. If you are adventurous, fairly handy, and can afford it, go for a sump setup and get a bigger skimmer like the AquaC EV150 or Euroreef CS6-2.

Good luck,

Scott.