n00b alert!.. 54G sump-less setup..

[Myka]

No problem. A few suggestions if you'd like....

That is one big @$$ heater (about 4.5 wpg you have). If that heater gets stuck on (it happens more often than you'd like to know), you're in big trouble! I would suggest you use two smaller heaters. Two 100w heaters should be plenty.

When you add rock, clear the sand to the side, and place the rocks on the glass. Make sure they are stable with no sand surrounding them first. Then flatten the sand out around them. You will likely get a fish or two that like to dig. If you put your rocks ON your sand, and they dig it out, your fish will get squished, and there will be a rock slide. Personally, I don't add sand until the cycle is almost over since the cycling rock will slough a lot of detritus.

Go for the Deltec skimmer. It is 10x the skimmer in comparison to a Remora.