to sump or not to sump? please help sorry newbie questions

[wolleylabel]

i recently setup a new tank and i got it all for free and i wanted to run a reef tank here are the specs

-55 gallon built in wet in dry system
-CPR BackPak skimmer
-2 powerheads
-70lbs. live rock
-50lbs. live sand

i had it running for about a month now and i have just a grouper swimming around somewhere haha...

my question is, is this sufficient enought to run a reef tank. should i rip out the built in wet and dry system and run a sump/refug for it... or should i just keep this setup going or is it better to run a reef..

 

[ChrisRD]

Hi and :welcome:

Sounds like you have plenty of rock and sand for biological filtration, so any plastic media in the wet/dry area will just be redundant IMO. Also, Bakpak is a bit undersized for a 55 gallon tank IMO, unless you're going to stay with a light bioload. If you could fit a nice in-sump skimmer in that area after removing the wet/dry, IMO that would be your best bet.

With some decent lighting, your setup would be fine for use as a reef (minus the grouper, which will probably need a larger tank in the future anyway). As to whether it's better to stay FO or go to a reef - well, that's definitely an opinion thing. They both have their pluses and minuses IMO...

HTH

 

[wolleylabel]

thanks for the greeting and for the reply...so i should rip out the wet and dry system and build a sump for it? if the wet and dry system can handle pretty heavy loads of corals and fish i dont want to go through of ripping it out of my tank...but if its more beneficiary to rip it out and build a sump/fuge then i will go ahead and do that...thanks for the comments

i have alot of light for the tank already...imma bum and i got all this hand me downs but there pretty nice hand me downs...
i got a:
-t5 acitnic blue forgot what wattage...
-helios 2 55w marine blue fluoresent
-and a jali 95w mix acitnic with daylight

i would think that is sufficient...but then again i am a newbie at this..i want to mixed tank fishes and corals...and i need a someone to just head in the right direction thanks...been reading on books and they never give you a clear answers to my questions...thanks alot guys

 

[ChrisRD]

Sorry, I don't think I worded that well. I didn't mean to imply that you should take the wet/dry apart. What I was trying to say is that you shouldn't need the plastic media that's in the wet dry with all that rock/sand in the system. If you remove the media - you still have a nice sump. If you need a better skimmer down-the-road (which you may, depending on how you stock the tank), you might be able to remove the plastic media (bioballs, etc.) and make room for an in-sump skimmer.

It sounds like you have enough light to keep some LPS and soft corals. If you want to add corals to your setup, I recommend letting the tank age a bit more - let it run for another month. Meanwhile you can research what corals and reef-safe fish you're interested in keeping. You haven't mentioned what species grouper you have in there, but most likely you'll have to fine him another home if you're going that route (reef).

 

[Sub-Mariner]

He's right about the bakpak being to small. You can upgrade the bakpak using an airstone and a pump to generate more micro bubbles to increase the skimmate. I have mine on a 29 gallon and it barely does the job.

 

[wolleylabel]

i took your advice and picked up a new skimmer only cost me the gas to put in the car to drive to the LFS...i got a Prizm Pro delux the 300gal one doubt it can handle 300gallons....crap is this enough for my 55gal...ive been reading some bad things about this skimmer how its noisy and not efficient...so should i just get rid of both my backpak2 and my new prizm pro and go for remora or a euroreef? or run both of it? i also have a viaaqua multi skimmer sitting under my sink in the bathroom is this any better then the others i have

and a lil update for you guys i got a
-yellow tang
-blue tang
-clown
-flame angel
blue tang and flame angel was a gift and i know my tank is to small for 2 tangs but it looks pretty haha there all swimming around happily and eating fine except the clown

just wanted to say thanks for your time and help!! this is a great community and a addicting hobby