I use to have a 77G that ran 2 Fluval Filters and a hang on protein skimmer. Later on I stopped using the Fluvals and bought a Phosban Reactor. The system ran fine. After I upgraded to 90G, I continued the same setup but bought a Euro-Reef RS100 protein skimmer.

so if im understanding right as long as i run the skimmer and the power heads and my live rock is adequate (100 +lbs in a 55) it should be ok? dumb question but ive never looked into a phosban reactor. what do they do and are they very costly?

Phosban reactors are cheap, about $40 @ OA or JL. Use RowaPhos or PhosBan media in it. Low flow through it, 20GPH or so, it absorbs the Phosphates outa the water. I run 50/50 RowaPhos/matrix carbon and it cleared my weater up immensly. Looks crystal clear now.

With a HOB skimmer, like a Aqua C Remora Pro and a Phosban reactor you should be good. Your about the same water volume as me, but have 60Lbs more rock LOL

Everyone has their own type of setup but a good skimmer, live rock, power head and phosban reactor is all I have in my system. I guess a phosban reactor does whatever you put in it. I put Carbon media in mine to remove toxins and it clears up the water. I bought mine for about $50. You would also need a pump (Max Jet 400 maybe?) to push water into your phosban reactor and back out to your tank. If you have a sump, you can tie it into the existing pump.

thanks for the ideas so far guys anymore will be appreciated as well but i think i have an idea to work with. bandit at some point im gonna have to check out your system.

No filter
 

I run two 20 Gallon Nano tanks and a 10G Nano tank without any filters, skimmers, phosphate reactors, sumps or anything. Simply LR and powerheads.
In my 10G: I have 12 pounds of live sand and 14 pounds of LR and one powerhead. The bioload is very small: 1 small damsel, 1 mantis shrimp and a small clean-up crew.
My 20G: Both have approximately 15 pounds of live rock in them. One tank has 1 pair of Naked Clownfish and a Cleaner shrimp and a clean up crew
The other 20G has a pair of clownfish, a sea urchin, a mantis shrimp (inside a critter keeper) and a clean up crew.

I have never had a problem. I only do water changes about 20 percent once a month or so too. Everything is just healthy and happy.

Im no expert though, all I know is that is what works for me. My fish are thriving, corals are growing and there isn't any algae so I have no complaints.

Dude, your more than welcome to come over, sands filthy right now, but. Little bit of a drive for ya, but I'd like to see yours as well. I also want to check out your mustang a little more closely :D I'm a car nut too

I'm running my 45g without any mechanical or "biomedia" filtration but I have a sump with a zeovit reactor in it. Bare bottom too.

If you go filterless make sure you get a turkey baster and frequently (almost daily) blow off your rock. That'll let you siphon the detritus out once a week from the tank bottom. Running bare bottom when running filterless too helps if you don't mind the bare bottom look.