Opinions on a 55gal

Well I'm just wanting to get back into this hobby and I've run into my first snag all ready that I'm needing help with. I know I want to set up a reef tank again but talking to different lfs have me more confussed now than I was.

Here is the equipment that I currently have

55 gallon non drilled tank
55 gallon oak stand
Cpr bakpak protien skimmer reef tank version
2 maxijet 1200's
150 lbs still in bag southdown sand (3 bags)

ok I know that's the basics that I should need but all the fish stores are telling me to go bigger and get a tank that's drilled already so I can run a sump underneath they are saying a 55 stand doesn't have the room to hold a sump. My question is what kind of fileration needs to be put on this tank besides the protien skimmer I know a sump gives extra water to support more livestock but not sure what my options are here my tank is not drillable because it has a tempered bottom I'm trying to do this on a budget (baby due in january) and make use of what I already have if possible to get it set up correct. I'm not in a hurry to throw something together I just want it done correct so once it's up it can stay up and running.

 

Drill the tank you have and put a corner overflow into the tank.. problem solved. You drill the rear panel not the bottom no body drill the bottom unless it was ordered with a non tempered bottom. Takes about 5 Min's to drill tank.

 

lots of stores will drill wholes for $7 a hole and i think an over flow box with pluming runs around $35.you can put a 20 gallon sump in the stand but you may have to put it in crooked so it sticks out of the back of the stand.a sump with chaeto or some type of algae will stablize a reef better than anything i know.i peiced my 55 tank together over time.don't get a pond pump like i did,it heats the water to much.i use a plenum in the sand bed.i wrapped plastic window screen around egg crate and covered it with sand.the nitrates seep into the screen where they are robbed of oxygen and light,it reelly helps.i don't think it works with a deep sand bed though.

 

Ziggy do you have a picture of you sump by chance?

 

well yes,i have lots.here
Picture 840 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Picture 796 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
sump on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

So thats a 20 gallon in a 55 stand?

 

no its a 29 gallon.it does'nt look great but it works,and was done with minimal cost.the main tank was reef ready so it did'nt have to do much

 

I am running a 55g reef with no sump or overflow. I use a filter to run carbon, phosphate media etc, I also run my hang on skimmer. Doing a reef with a sump is the best way to go but you can do it without one as many do. I rarely listen to the LFS as they are out there to make a buck, you're better off getting advice from reefers on line.

 

By drilling the tank and using a sump you can put all the stuff that clutters up tank in there. That way when you look in the tank you don't see pickup tubes and cords hanging in the tank. That stuff really makes a tank look cluttered after a while.
Just my opinion.

 

you don't need a sump,true.its just better to have one.i ran without sump for 6yrs.check out the forum on refugiums and research before making up your own mind.i deffinately don't regret using one.weather you use one or not,i would recomend putting a plentum in the sand bed.my daughters 10 gallon would not support fish till i put a plenum in.now i'm adding a sump.