Filter Question

[tboone]

I have a 55+ tank that I have been using for fish only for a year or two now and would like to get into corals. I have about 75 lbs of LR, over live sand and am using two Emperor filters and a Berlin turbo HOB skimmer. I have held off on corals until I could get better lighting.
My question concerns filters. I would like to get away from the hang on back filters just for aesthetic reasons, but my tank is not reef ready and I can't afford to start over there. Are any of the canister filters viable options that I could mount in the cabinet? If so, are there recommendations for brand and type? What about the Eheim Wet/Dry system? I know its not a canister, but is an enclosed wet/dry system and looks interesting.
Thanks very much.
Tim

 

[slick]

Why not just add more ls to get a 4-6 inch DSB. You already have 75lbs of lr in a 55g so you have plenty there. With your rock and a DSB plus your skimmer you should be fine. You could also just ad a small fuge under your tank to help.

 

[tboone]

Thanks, Slick. That is sort of what I was thinking but I'm still learning about reef tanks and didn't know what kind of filters I should keep. I will have a few fish and inverts in the tank as well. Not sure if that makes a difference on whether to run some type of mechanical filtration or not. Thanks again for your help.
Tim

 

[slick]

You should be alright as long as you don't overload the tank. Plus you can run a small bio wheel filter on the fuge if you want.