[customdusty]

I am setting up my first tank, 65 gallon with 100 lbs live rock and had purchased a Fluval 405 canister filter and was advised that this may not be the best choice. I am very limited with space and do not think a sump/refugium set-up is possible. (A canister filter is going to be a tight fit as it is.) I was told that with the amount of live rock that I have, that I may be ok with just a protein skimmer...

So herein lie my questions...

I obviously don't want to be wasting money on a canister filter if it is not going to be of much benefit . I can still return the Fluval to the LFS and need to do so quickly if necessary. Should I return this filter and go a different route?

Going to the protein skimmer, I believe my only option is a hang on type because I will not have a sump... Is this true? (I have been eyeing the AquaC Remora)

Next, what do I do about getting adequate water movement in the tank? I figured the canister filter would be able to do a lot of that, but without, what do you suggest?

Is there any type of interfacing with the powerheads, pumps, and the protein skimmer?

And most importantly, will I have adequate filtration?

I'm not trying to do things the cheap way, I just don't want to be wastefully redundant.

[msbdiving]

Of course the sump would be ideal but if you are unable to go that route the protein skimmer and live rock would be the next best option for you. 1.5-2 lbs per gallon plus sand should give you plenty for biological filtration. The protein skimmer that you are looking at is one that I plan on getting when my prizm goes down for the count. Been going for about a year just fine, however the skimmate is a bit on the watery side. To adjust for the flow in the tank just put in a few powerheads and you should be fine. What sive pump are you looking at for the aqua-c skimmer?

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Take the canister back and get a skimmer,with live rock and sand doing the biological filtration and the skimmer doing the mechanical thats all you need.The aqua c has a good reputation.
I think the hydor karalia recirculation pumps are just about the best for the money.They are very low wattage with good flow,and you can get the flow deflectors for great irratic water movement.I am doing a 65 and my plan is to use 3 of them 2 #2's one on each end of the tank and a #1 in the back center.For soft coral a flow rate of 20x the tank volume is recomended.For sps 30x is recomended and some might say minimum.
There can be interface between the recirculation pumps called wave makers. My personal opinion of them is they are a giant waste of money(I am sure some will take issue with that lol)the flow deflectors will give perfect irratic flow.
With 100 pounds of live rock,a 4 inch sand bed and a skimmer rated for a little larger than your tank volume you will have the best filtration posable without having a fuge.
Wastefully redundant is the perfect term for using a canister and a skimmer on the same tank.If I use that line in the future do I have to pay royalties? lol

[customdusty]

Thank you, makes sense now. Wastefully redundant is a registered trademark of Customdusty Saltwater Newb Aquariums LLC. haha.

I'm an engineer by trade and often end up applying much of what I do on my projects at work to the ones at home. I'm a nerd, what can I say?

So now for another newb question... I can only have a HOT skimmer without the sump/fuge? Then, with my pumps/and powerheads, they do or do not interface with the skimmer (in-line) or otherwise?

Thanks again!

[NATIVEVAMAN]

There once was a skimmer that went inside the tank.Its popularity was right up there with hangovers and the back door trots lol.So yeah your stuck with hot.Skimmer pumps only pump water into the skimmer and it flows out by gravity.so the only flow you get from one of those is when it dumps back in the tank.

[customdusty]

Gotcha... Makes sense. Thank you.