praterface

Just staring a SW,
plan on Doing FWLR
55gal,
have an old "wisper 30-60" overhang that i used for FW. Will this be enough with the LR or do in need a Wet/dry or canister?

ATP

Do you have a skimmer?

praterface

no i pretty much have everything for a FW set up. by scouring over the forums I've come to the conclusion that I might not even have to buy a W/D filter if I have live rock and some power heads? will this require me to get a P skimmer? Or is that only Coral and reef tanks?

ATP

Live Rock does filter the water, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't remove any nutrients . The protein skimmer removes the nutrients that bad algae needs to live so it helps. A sump would help so you could put more Live Rock in there and your skimmer as well, you could even make a refugim if you would like.

If you want Live Rock, you will need water currents which requires power heads or similar.

You could use any lighting unless you want a reef

Hypnox

The best filter is live rock. Preferably Fiji, Pukani or Marshal Islands. Most HOB filters catch too much gunk and become nitrate factories.

sgould

+1. I'd much rather have LR and a skimmer than an HOB filter. If you do run the HOB, be sure to pull out the cartridge/floss every few days and clean it (in tank water or RO water) for the reason mentioned above.

Mike

This is what I think too

crowbar_420

So I shouldn't use 2 Penguin 350's for my 55 I'm about to start up? Should I be looking for a cannister filter?

Oil_Fan

I have a 20 gallon FOWLR tank and I don't have a skimmer on it. That said, I am pretty good about doing 25% water changes weekly. And the HOB filter I have, I do have to change the filter just about every week as it becomes clogged.