New Guy Info

I was given a 55gal tank with stand and want to turn it into a saltwater aquarium. This will be my first tank and im going to be piecing it together over the next year or so. Im doing this so i can get as much info as i can and make sure im doing it right (also because of moey). I may end up selling it and going for a 75gal for the extra depth though. I intend on making it a FOWLR tank and posssibly adding corals and anemones later. My girlfriend doesnt want to do a sump tank so ive been looking at HOB filters and HOB protein skimmers. I was told that i may not need the Filter due to the LR being a filter, But would it hurt to have that extra filtration setup? Or should i try and talk her into a simple wet/dry filter underneath with a skimmer in it? Any andvice would be great. Like i said im new to this and want to do it right. Also if you can give me info on any other equpipment i should buy. i plan on getting two powerheads in tank 800gpm each for flow, Lights, testing equipment, RO/DI unit. Any advice helps. Thanks in advance

 

First I would set the tank up and test for any copper or other potential harmful minerals that have been seeded into the silicone.
Technically you don't need a sump, a sump is a place to put all your equipment in and hide it. But I'd use a wet/dry sump, put all your stuff in it.

 

I'd go refugium, If that isn't possible, you could do a HOB refugium. I run a Reef Octo BH100 (LOVE IT!) skimmer and an aquaclear 70. I think the filter would be useful to run carbon or phosban so its still probably a good idea to get one.
Link to skimmer:
Reef Octopus BH 100 Hang on Back Protein Skimmer - AquaCave
(don't worry it is a lot more solid looking in person)

HOB Fuge
AQUA-FUGE 2 HANG-ON REFUGIUM Large by CPR Aquatic - AquaCave

Or for (a little) less money the HOB filter...
Hagen AquaClear 70 (300) Power Filter - AquaCave

...and filter/refugium mod basket (you will need a light)
AquaClear 70 Media Basket

 

RODI is a MUST. I got mine from airwaterice (Typhoon III) and it works awesome. You could get one cheaper used though, although you may have to buy new membranes for them. Its been almost a year and the TDS (total dissolved solids) still reads like 2 or 3 ppm (vs 150 in my tap water and 100 from brita with newer filter). I do know that I have a lot of copper in my tap water which would eventually build up in my rocks then leach out and eventually kill everything.. These minerals are a pain to get rid of.. So yeah get an RODI system because the most important element of your tank is obviously the water lol
Aquarium Water | Reverse Osmosis | RODI Water | ReefKeeper Water | TYPHOON III AQUARIUM RODI 75 or 100 GPD

And LR is not always good enough depending on how many fish/corals you have, sand is even better because it has more surface area, but you will get a headache reading all of the conflicting opinions about depth and location of the sandbed. : I would def go with a skimmer. I love mine and its rated up to 75g. I got it for 100 bucks used on craigslist and it was easy to take apart and clean.

AquaMaxx HOB-1 Hang-On-Back Protein Skimmer

Hope that helps