Jim Stime is a good friend of mine...check out his most recent addition to LA Fish Guys

[Scott Sweet]

Yeah sounds like when you got out was very close to when I got in because I definitely see the overlap. I remember having an Aquaclear powerhead in the tank, the need to have closed loops or return manifolds, and yeah my first skimmer was airstone driven Even the pumps on skimmers I do recall the fat pressure pumps, then the super "efficient" Eheim pumps, and even those went the way of the do-do when Sicce and under manufactuers came about (ignoring of course Royal Exclusiv and other super high end stuff).

Closed loops are old school...but still work. I don't have any wires or pumps in my tank . I can add them if needed down the road...

 

[Coral reefer]

I hate wires too. I do use 6 mp40s tho