55g without a sump?

[manowar669]

I'm setting up a 55g salt tank. Probably no corals. Just liverock, crustaceans, and fish. Already have the livesand (live Aragonite 35lbs), and about 15lbs of liverock in there already (about a week). Already have pods and a few larval somethings (radial symmetry, look like coelenterates or echinoderms under magnification). Have a "wet/dry" HOB (marineland something) and a biowheel penguin 300. 2 killer powerheads (big ones) with prefilter sponges, lots of current. Installing a skimmer (about 2 feet high, not sure of model), which I will HOB. Sound adequate? Lighting is 160w CF daylights.

[Reefscape]

hey there...yes, for a fish only tank, it sounds spot on mate...what are you planning on stocking it with?

Niko

[manowar669]

Right now, there's an arrow crab, 2 blue-leg hermits, 1 margarita snail, and 1 purple crab (filter feeder about 2.5cm across). Will add more "cleanup crew" first. Fishes will come after the "reef" of liverock is built, but possibly a PJ cardinal early on (fiance loves them), maybe a firefish. I always loved the black cap basslet (gramma), so maybe one of those eventually. My fiance also loves the various shrimps, so probably a bunch of crustaceans, as long as they're compatible. Cleaners, peppermints, sexy shrimp, et al.

[musho3210]

seems good for a FO

[Reefscape]

yeah, it sounds good..Best advice i can give you is to research lots on each and everything you thinking of putting in the tank...nothing gets missed and hopefully, mistakes are avoided..

Niko

[manowar669]

Thanks for the replies. One question on the skimmer. Is it ok to have the input come from a powerhead, and the output return directly to the tank? I may try to rig something that will skim surface water for the input (like the inside portion of an overflow box). Do you think that's a worthwhile pursuit?

[Reefscape]

cant really comment untill we know the make and model of the skimmer i am afraid..

Niko

[manowar669]

cant really comment untill we know the make and model of the skimmer i am afraid..

Niko

:confused: Not sure. Fiance got it with a used 46G corner tank, along with hood, lighting (crappy), pumps, HOB filters, powerheads, and this skimmer. I'll see if I can find one online, but it's about 30" tall X 4" diameter (75cm tall X 10cm dia). It's pretty old-school, but old school (>10 years ago) is the last time I had a salt tank, so my tech knowledge is a bit dated.

[musho3210]

do you know if its venturi or air powered or something, even the smallest bit of information can help a lot. A picture or something could also help us.

[Germanman]

yeah, it sounds good..Best advice i can give you is to research lots on each and everything you thinking of putting in the tank...nothing gets missed and hopefully, mistakes are avoided..

Niko
ill 2nd that
on another note the sexy shrimp will prolly get eaten form the black cap.

[WeeNe858]

your setting up what is pretty much referd to as a FOWLR (fish only with live rock) one thing i reccomend it adding more life rock into the tank, that will help keep your tank stable and give your fishes more hiding spots.

the only problem with running a skimmer pump like an overflow is that it will take in more air than is needed

[manowar669]

do you know if its venturi or air powered or something, even the smallest bit of information can help a lot. A picture or something could also help us.

I'm at work now, but I'll put up a photo when I get home. It has water input at the top (approx water level in the display tank), with the current going downward against the stream of bubbles from an airstone at the bottom. There is an internal return tube at the bottom which carries the water back up to the tank via a rigid "spillway". No venturi, the flow will be provided by the powerhead in the tank. I know it's old tech, but they worked "back in the day".

[musho3210]

ok i think its an air-powered counter current skimmer, yeah they work but newer models today work much better, but the bad part is there are so many bad companies that seem good.

[WeeNe858]

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=11362&N=2004+113771


like this?

[manowar669]

Here it is.http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/ManOwaR669/100_0584.jpg
I know there are newer/better things out there, but this was sorta free. Would it be adequate, or should I just scrap it?

[Germanman]

ah u want a powerhead on that that makes micro bubbles for ya. maxijets and viaaquas have skimmer attachments.

[musho3210]

scrap it, bak pak skimmers are good, berlin, aquaC, coralife is ok. If you cant afford one yet do what germanman recommends, add a powerhead to it until you have the cash

[manowar669]

I planned on running the powerhead and the airpump with a fine bubblestone at the bottom, but I'm going to thatfishplace (very large LFS) tonight, so maybe I'll just get something more modern, just hate to spend the $$$ if I don't have to (rather get more liverock).

[musho3210]

you can wait a bit until you start to get a bit larger stocked, the air-powered thing may work for an understocked FOWLR tank, maybe once you go past the understocked FOWLR tank you may have more money to spend on a skimmer.