I don't recommend a canister filter, but they are
not the end of the world, and they are easy to
remove should you later decide that you don't like
it. Some people like canister filters, but I have
never liked them.

Another advantage of a sump, is that you are able to
put all of you equipment down in the sump, so that
when you look in your reef tank, all you see is the
reef, and nothing else.

But, no you dont' have to have a sump, but for any
large system, it just makes sense to have a sump.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


ONJ wrote on 5/10/2007 10:49 AM:
Ok...I have narrowed down some pieces of equipment to set up my new 55
gallon reef tank.

The things I do know I need and will be getting a

60 to 70lbs live rock
Precision Marine HOT-1 protein skimmer
2 Hydor Koralia circulating units
Proper lighting level for corals and maybe one anemone

Now for the part I don't know. I was considering a canister
filter...someone advised against that.

I thought about a refugium, but my only reason for doing so would be algae
control, but I don't know if I want to mess with all of that.

So besides the live rock, the skimmer, lighting and calcium based sand...is
there anything else?

Would someone recommend a canister filter? Is a refugium a must?

Or will the things I have settled on so far do the trick?