A few Newbie questions (very long)

[BoomerD]

I have kept fresh & marine fish since the early 70's but got out of the hobby about 8 yrs. ago due to time constraints. I'm about to take the plunge again, but I have some questions before I start shelling out $$$.
First, my intended set-up.
48"x18" 90 gallon tank on a "shorty" stand. only 18" height under the tank. Low rise canopy with 3.5" clearance between tank & canopy for lights. Currently 1 48" NO fluorescent.
I want to start off with a FOWLR set-up. I plan on about 4" of Southdown sand, (I have 200 lbs.) and about 100 lbs. of live rock.
Due, in part, to the height restrictions under the tank, I probably won't go with a sump, ( She STILL remembers "The Great Flood of 91") so the majority of my equipment will have to be hang-on the back type.
.
1) Recommendations for a GOOD skimmer.
2)Do I have to upgrade the lighting for the live rock? If I end up going with a "reef" set-up, I will upgrade the lighting to an Ice Cap 4 tube VHO system, (no room for MH)but do I need more light just for the rock? If so, how much?
3) Wet-Dry filtration? Just nitrate factories? Or would an Amiracle SL-15 hang on filter be appropriate for FO? What about a canister?
4) Circulation. I currently have a Magnum 350, a Fluval 303, and an Aqua Clear 500 back filter left from the old days, would any of these be useful for circulation? The Magnum for carbon flitration?
5) What about adding on 1 or 2 of the corner overflows to "hide" a pump in for a closed loop for circulation?

I've been doing a lot of research before getting back into the hobby, and as you can imagine, both equipment & philosophies about keeping fish have changed a great deal. It seems eveywhere I turn, I get different ideas & recommendations. I want to do this right the first time. Not only because buying new equipment & fish get expensive, but because it's the right thing to do for the animals in our care.
The last marine tank I had, (70 gal.) I kept an Imperator angel for 4 yrs. (along with several other fish), giving him away to a friend when I left the hobby, and a 20 gallon micro reef with BTA & sebae clowns, a small 6 line (watermelon) wrasse. Kept that tank for 2+ yrs. with the only loss being a Pyschedelic Mandarin(?)
Thanks in advance.

[Chuck S]

Hello Boomer,

This is an interesting question. I personally would run a sump and get on my hands and knees and beg the wife. Let her help you construct it. It makes things real easy and hides all the equipment. The height is not a problem if you use a rubbermaid tub etc breeder tank which is lower. I know enough about the sump /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Okay as far as the rock and light. This is a matter of opinion and personal observation. You will definately not allow any coral to survive with a 40watt bulb. It is here and there whether corraline algae(the good stuff) will grow with that. Most fish only with rock that are lit with only a 40watt bulb end up looking like big giant green algae rocks. I would take it in stages personally. You could upgrade in stages. You will most likely upgrade to 4-6 VHO bulbs over top this tank in full operation. I would say start with 2 then. This would give you enough light to make the corraline grow( it does prefer good but lower light). When you are ready to start to a coral tank add more lighting. You can search for Fulham Ballasts they are rather cheap electronic ballast that works great I know Jen's Saltwater has them but you might find a hardware store that does. The fulham home page has dealer listing.

The skimmer is an easy one to a degree. This is why I meantioned a sump. For that size tank there is no skimmer that I would recommend. I mean you could try the Aqua-C Remora but I have no experience with that. The Aqua-C or ETS skimmers or a Turbofloater would be all good sump skimmers.

[BoomerD]

Thanks for your reply. With the limited height I have to work with, most of the good skimmers won't fit, sump or no sump. I've written to a couple of the manufacturers and they say that a skimmer that short would be a waste of $$$ and would not work well. I have a CPR Bak-Pak 2 and had thought about 1 of the other good hang-on's for primary skimming. I've seen a couple of the green rock tanks you refer to. That's one of the things i want to avoid. i'll have to find an electronic VHO ballast locally for starters.
Thanks

[Chuck S]

The remora would work as a hang on the back and thats a good one. I still would go with a sump and place a hang on skimmer there.