Need Help Please.

[jnastix]

I just returned home from Iraq a week ago. My tank is in shambles. All of my fish are dead and my coral is almost all gone. There is green algae everywhere. I am doing a massive water change to help bring all the levels back to normal. I did have somebody looking after the tank, but apparently they didn't do that well. I have a 55 gallon glass tank. I need to change my skimmer, upgrade from a canister filter to a sump, and purchase new lights. I understand that a sump is not an ideal filtration system so please don't jump on me about that. I have an extra 15 gallon aquarium laying around that I would like to convert into a sump; will that be large enough to use? I am going to follow Perry's sump setup diagram from this site; anyone used that or have any other reccomendations. I will obviously need an overflow box, a pump and a new protein skimmer. Any reccomendations? I appreciate any help.

[jamiep]

[welcome]
If you tanks in such a state, would it be feesable to strip your tank and get it drilled? Drilling and overflow is better than running an overflow box IMO.

What rating of gallons is your protein skimmer for? It is possible to use HOB skimmers in your sump, I myself do the same!

Have you thought about plumping yet?

[meco65]

First.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b86/meco65/welcome1.gif
Sorry for your loss.
here is a good link for skimmers.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/pet_supplies.cfm?c=3578+4392&ref=3969&subref=AA&cm_mmc=LiveAquaria_DFS_Links-_-Fish_Supplies-_-LiveAquaria_Gen_Page-_-Protein_Skimmers
And a 15 gal sump is ok any size will help, might be a little cramped but should work.
For pumps.
http://liveaquaria.com/general/general.cfm?general_pagesid=216

[jnastix]

Thanks for the advice. I have a HOB skimmer right now and it is horrible (Prism). It's my understanding that HOB skimmers are not the best either. Would stripping the tank and having it drilled be a good idea? I understand that overflow boxes are not the best, but, I don't have a huge reserve of $$ at this point.