My snowflake moray has outgrown his current tank and I will soon be moving him into a standard 55 I recently acquired from another WAMAS member. I am planning to go with a FOWLER-type setup; the current idea is to put eggcrate on the bottom (to protect the glass against any damage from the rock), cover that with about 2.5" or so of live sand (to, among other things, bury the 2" PVC pipe tunnel for the eel to enjoy) and then add on the order of 30-60 pounds of live rock. My question is, what, if any, additional filtration/water quality management will I need? He's been doing fine for the past year in a tank with HOB canister filter and HOB 'fuge; however, those need to remain in place for the corals that will be staying behind. Additionally, I will probably also add one or two tankmates, and am considering something like a puffer, medium-sized tang or trigger -- i.e., something large enough that the eel won't go after it -- and since this will be a FOWLR, "reef-safe" isn't a constraint.
So the options would seem to be:
1) powerheads for good flow and a clean-up crew only;
2) another canister filter and/or 'fuge (preferable HOB like the current setup); or
3) an overflow box and sump/'fuge (we have a couple 20-30 gallon tanks in the garage the would probably work). I'm not planning on using a skimmer at this time.
Anything other than powerheads would require additional purchases, and we're trying to keep that to a minimum; BUT the fish comes first. I also have low-end lighting that should be adequate for a FOWLR (although if anyone would happen to have a ballast for a 48" ODYSSEA twin T5HO, please let me know).
Again, the primary question is, what is required to manage water quality in the tank described? Secondarily, I'm open to suggestion as to additional inhabitants that would go well with the moray in the tank described. Thanks!