New 55 setup help

shanet1975 · 09/02/2007, 05:16 AM

Morning....I have a 55 gallon tank I will making a fowlr with soon. I am looking at the CPR bak-pak 2 as my lfs carries this. Would this be sufficient for this? I plan on having about 60 lb's of liverock, about 6 smaller community fish and maybe a couple anenomes. Wuld I also need a filter system as well? Any recommendations on that? I will also be purchasing a powherhead or 2 for more water movement.
Thanks for your help....

Harbour · 09/02/2007, 06:31 AM

I have a 55 reef that has been in operation for about 8 years.

It has never had a sump, refugium etc...

It is truly a bare bones tank, no skimmer (tried a skimmer for a few years and it looks just as good no without it as it did with it)etc... I just have 3 powerheads and do regular water changes.

Do a search on tanks like this ("skimmerless tanks"). A lot of people do them and they work great. They even do this on big tanks. But to each their own.

Harbour

shanet1975 · 09/02/2007, 06:37 AM

Thanks Harbour.....
I am planning on using the hob CPR bak-pak skimmer, but was wondering if I would also need a regulr filter, like an emperor 400 or something like that?
Or the LFS also says I could just use a canister filter (Marineland c360) with a powerhead and that whould be sufficient. But the more I read, people say that a skimmer is needed.
Please help......
Thanks again!!

shanet1975 · 09/02/2007, 08:38 AM

Someone please add some input. I am heading to the lfs this afternoon!!!
Not sure what I'm buying, but would like to get a good start on the stuff I need.
Thanks you in advance...

shanet1975 · 09/02/2007, 09:12 AM

Someone please add some input. I am heading to the lfs this afternoon!!!
Not sure what I'm buying, but would like to get a good start on the stuff I need.
Thanks you in advance...

michaeljames · 09/02/2007, 09:20 AM

no need for the filter, just aggressive skimming and regular water changes. The live rock will act as your filter

BigScott · 09/02/2007, 09:21 AM

i got a 75g , with no skimmer for over 2 years now..

scott

shanet1975 · 09/02/2007, 09:57 AM

Would the bak-pak 2 skimmer be enough to do w/out the filter?
Was the guy at the lfs place correct about being able to use the canister filter instead of the skimmer?
Thanks again...

michaeljames · 09/02/2007, 10:05 AM

dead wrong about replacing a skimmer with a canister...

shanet1975 · 09/02/2007, 10:08 AM

Thank you....Would that bak-pak 2 do the trick. I liked that becuase it is a hob and it kid of resembles a refugium with the build it skimmer. It is rated for up to 55 or 60 gallons (can't remember which one). I have a 55. Would it be OK to only run this?

09/02/2007, 05:16 AM	#1
shanet1975 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N Brookfield MA Posts: 154	New 55 setup help Morning....I have a 55 gallon tank I will making a fowlr with soon. I am looking at the CPR bak-pak 2 as my lfs carries this. Would this be sufficient for this? I plan on having about 60 lb's of liverock, about 6 smaller community fish and maybe a couple anenomes. Wuld I also need a filter system as well? Any recommendations on that? I will also be purchasing a powherhead or 2 for more water movement. Thanks for your help....

09/02/2007, 09:20 AM	#6
michaeljames Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Rochester NY Posts: 737	no need for the filter, just aggressive skimming and regular water changes. The live rock will act as your filter __________________ "This tastes like crap!" "Well here, try it with some selcon and garlic..." Current Tank Info: 180g RR AGA 2 x 250w SE MH 1 x 175 SE MH 2 x 6' Super atinic VHO Iwaki 100 return Reef Octopus Skimmer

09/02/2007, 09:21 AM	#7
BigScott Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: norman , okla Posts: 2,267	i got a 75g , with no skimmer for over 2 years now.. scott __________________ Big ScoTT just stoppin in to say hello.. Current Tank Info: one 40 breeder,40 long sump..t5 lights an a 50 gallon in the works..if i ever get a truck to move it..

09/02/2007, 10:05 AM	#9
michaeljames Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Rochester NY Posts: 737	dead wrong about replacing a skimmer with a canister... __________________ "This tastes like crap!" "Well here, try it with some selcon and garlic..." Current Tank Info: 180g RR AGA 2 x 250w SE MH 1 x 175 SE MH 2 x 6' Super atinic VHO Iwaki 100 return Reef Octopus Skimmer

09/02/2007, 06:31 AM	#2
Harbour Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 311	I have a 55 reef that has been in operation for about 8 years. It has never had a sump, refugium etc... It is truly a bare bones tank, no skimmer (tried a skimmer for a few years and it looks just as good no without it as it did with it)etc... I just have 3 powerheads and do regular water changes. Do a search on tanks like this ("skimmerless tanks"). A lot of people do them and they work great. They even do this on big tanks. But to each their own. Harbour

09/02/2007, 06:37 AM	#3
shanet1975 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N Brookfield MA Posts: 154	Thanks Harbour..... I am planning on using the hob CPR bak-pak skimmer, but was wondering if I would also need a regulr filter, like an emperor 400 or something like that? Or the LFS also says I could just use a canister filter (Marineland c360) with a powerhead and that whould be sufficient. But the more I read, people say that a skimmer is needed. Please help...... Thanks again!!

09/02/2007, 08:38 AM	#4
shanet1975 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N Brookfield MA Posts: 154	Someone please add some input. I am heading to the lfs this afternoon!!! Not sure what I'm buying, but would like to get a good start on the stuff I need. Thanks you in advance...

09/02/2007, 09:12 AM	#5
shanet1975 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N Brookfield MA Posts: 154	Someone please add some input. I am heading to the lfs this afternoon!!! Not sure what I'm buying, but would like to get a good start on the stuff I need. Thanks you in advance...

09/02/2007, 09:57 AM	#8
shanet1975 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N Brookfield MA Posts: 154	Would the bak-pak 2 skimmer be enough to do w/out the filter? Was the guy at the lfs place correct about being able to use the canister filter instead of the skimmer? Thanks again...

09/02/2007, 10:08 AM	#10
shanet1975 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N Brookfield MA Posts: 154	Thank you....Would that bak-pak 2 do the trick. I liked that becuase it is a hob and it kid of resembles a refugium with the build it skimmer. It is rated for up to 55 or 60 gallons (can't remember which one). I have a 55. Would it be OK to only run this?