Filtration for a 55 gallon tank

Ok so i am converting my 55 FW to SW and I dont really know what to do for a filter. A lot people seem to be using refugiums but I dont know anything about them or how they work or how to even add one. My 40 gal SW just has a Fluval canister filter but I think I want to do something different. Can anyone help me out with this.

 

use a protein skimmer.
make sure you get a good one because there are alot of bad ones

 

well a good refuge and sump and live rock are a very good filter for a sw tank. but it tanks time for the refuge to get established. here is a good link for sumps and refuges to start with:
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sumps, Part I by Greg Taylor - Reefkeeping.com

and like sostoudt said A good skimmer also.

no matter what they tell you at the local fish store stay away from the seaclone. just to name one bad skimmer.

 

You can use a canister filter, but it's not the best method. If you do use one, just make sure you clean it often. I would suggest adding a sump. You can put your heaters there, protein skimmer, you can run carbon or GFO (granulated ferric oxide) and you can either have a little section for a refugium or have one on top.

 

I would like to add a sump but even after skimming through that little article Rhorton put up it seems like its complicated and a lot of work. How much would you say it costs to build one or can you just buy one that is easy to install. My tank is not drilled either. I would like to do this but they need a sump for dummys or something to get me to understand how to put one together. How big would a sump have to be for a 55

 

i would say a 20 long is a good size.

a sump is basically a lower tank that equipment is stored in. note this isnt a refugium but you can have a fuge be part of you sump.

to set up a sump you need some way to get water from your DT to it and back again.

if you dont want to drill your tank, you can buy a overflow box they cost atleast 70 dollars new most of the time.
if you drill your tank drill through the back glass, because your bottom glass is tempered in a standard 55. install a bulk head the you can either build a overflow or just use a 90 degree pvc pipe in the tank.

then you need to buy a pump to get water back into the tank.

also you will need some hose or pipe to carry water

thats about it