need some advice about setting up new tank...

[psariandras]

I want to get a goby,pistol shrimp,and some other fish/inverts that work in the setup(I haven't reserched enough yet to decide on additional tankmates, tentatively I am thinking any combo of the following: hawkfish/starfish/other gobies/shrimp) I am going to get a 29 or 55 gallon tank.
I want to set up an aquarium using the live rock and critters for biological filtration. I was going to use power filters for chemical and mechanical filtration, and use a protein skimmer(if necessary-I'm a little sketchy about P.Skimmers).
Please critique my plan- hopefully it is not too foolish. :) Regarding the filtration,:confused:
Some site says that power filters require a lot of maintenance and provide only moderate mechanical and chemical filtration. B/c of this, I was going to get a canister filter instead, but I decided not to when I read that canister filters are not the best when using live rock. I don't want to set up a sump beneath my tank because I probably won't have an acyrilic aquarium. I would not mind setting up components beneath the tank, but I don't feel comfortable creating a sump tank with pump. I would prefer not to have all the components hanging on the side of the tank-but if it is necessary then it is okay with me.

What are my alternatives for mechanical and chemical filtration? Would power filters work but not as good as something else? Are trickle filters my only alternative?

Will I definitly need a protein skimmer if I am trying to use the "berlin method" and what should the depth of my sand bed be? Will the answers to these questions change depending on if the tank is 29 or 55 gallon also?

Thanks in advance for your help. :)

--psariandras

[SuperScro]

The 55 gallon would be the best option to go with, as long as the choice is close to even with the 29. Don't add a hawkfish with the pistol shrimp, chances are he might eat him. A hawkfish like the longnose have really big mouths, you would be surpirsed.

For your sand bed, if you don't want a DSB, then only make the sand level about 1"-2" i believe.

[SHK_ATK]

The 55 gallon would be the best option to go with, as long as the choice is close to even with the 29. Don't add a hawkfish with the pistol shrimp, chances are he might eat him. A hawkfish like the longnose have really big mouths, you would be surpirsed.

For your sand bed, if you don't want a DSB, then only make the sand level about 1"-2" i believe.

what kind of hawkfish are you referring to that will eat a pistol shrimp??!!

[SuperScro]

I wouldn't doubt any hawkfish. Depending on the size of the pistol shrimp too. I wouldn't think a 2 inch pistol shrimp could escape a 5 inch longnose hawk.