AOI or DIY'ish

Mike Fishman · 11/19/2015, 09:57 AM

Looking for opinions.

I currently have a Fluval Sea M60 24 gallon. I had to replace the terrible protein skimmer it came with to a nice Tunze unit. The tank is stocked conservatively with a pair of ocellaris clownfish that I have had for 5 years, a yellow clown goby, various inverts, a few trumpet and ricordia corals, and about 10 pounds of live rock.

All good and healthy, except of the fact that the tank is a bear to keep clean. I do a decent job with maintenance and water changes each weekend, but by the middle of the week it is already looking kinda crappy. And truth be told, after a couple of years with this set up I am itching for something new.

Option One - easy way out:
* Innovative Marine Fusion 20 gallon - the stock lighting s/b ok for my low light/medium light corals
* All stock except would add their Ghost Skimmer and Spin Stream Nozzles (would probably need to also upgrade the pumps to maintain water flow)

Option Two - piecing things together:
* ADA 17 or 21 gallon
* CPR AquaFuge 2 Hang-on Refugium with Protein Skimmer, Small (http://www.saltwatertogo.com/cpr-aqu...mer-small.html)
* EcoTech Marine VorTech QuietDrive Propeller Pumps (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...0&pcatid=30270)
* Appropriate lighting led lighting for the tank and refugium

Question - as the CPR unit is a combined skimmer and refugium, is further mechanical filtration required given my stocking level? This is actually my main concern - sorry for the long build up, but the devil is in the details!

Any help on this will be appreciated.

Thanks.

11/19/2015, 09:57 AM	#1
Mike Fishman Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 2	AOI or DIY'ish Looking for opinions. I currently have a Fluval Sea M60 24 gallon. I had to replace the terrible protein skimmer it came with to a nice Tunze unit. The tank is stocked conservatively with a pair of ocellaris clownfish that I have had for 5 years, a yellow clown goby, various inverts, a few trumpet and ricordia corals, and about 10 pounds of live rock. All good and healthy, except of the fact that the tank is a bear to keep clean. I do a decent job with maintenance and water changes each weekend, but by the middle of the week it is already looking kinda crappy. And truth be told, after a couple of years with this set up I am itching for something new. Option One - easy way out: * Innovative Marine Fusion 20 gallon - the stock lighting s/b ok for my low light/medium light corals * All stock except would add their Ghost Skimmer and Spin Stream Nozzles (would probably need to also upgrade the pumps to maintain water flow) Option Two - piecing things together: * ADA 17 or 21 gallon * CPR AquaFuge 2 Hang-on Refugium with Protein Skimmer, Small (http://www.saltwatertogo.com/cpr-aqu...mer-small.html) * EcoTech Marine VorTech QuietDrive Propeller Pumps (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...0&pcatid=30270) * Appropriate lighting led lighting for the tank and refugium Question - as the CPR unit is a combined skimmer and refugium, is further mechanical filtration required given my stocking level? This is actually my main concern - sorry for the long build up, but the devil is in the details! Any help on this will be appreciated. Thanks.