Any crazy ideas for a 5.5 gallon HOB skimmer and fuge?

[Botev01]

So I am looking at setting up a 5.5 gallon office nano (standard 16X8X10). I am planning to build a wooden base and hood for the tank and am still debating the lighting (either CF retrofits with LED moonlights or a full on LED array).

 

This will be a desktop tank. Therefore, my main limitations are size/space (no room for a sump and can’t really go bigger than the 5.5 gallon) rather than price. In an ideal world, I would like to have both a skimmer and fuge on the tank…so here are my current options for hardware:

 

(1) I am thinking about getting a small CPR HOB refugium (http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~category~CPR_AquaFuge_2_Hang_on_Refugium__Small_Saltwater_Aquarium_S

upplies_Refugiums_Hang_On~vendor~CPR~SearchStr~refugium+hob~action~view~idProduc

t

~CR1721~idCategory~FIRFEB.html). However, if I get that fuge, then I have no other room on the back of the tank for a skimmer or anything else.

 

(2) An alternative would be to get BOTH an Aqua C Remora Nano (http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_AquariumPage~PageAlias~protein_skimmers_aquac_nano_remora.html) and add a Aqua Clear DIY fuge to sit along side it on the back of the tank.

 

(3) The third option would be to get the CPR HOB fuge and try to cram a Tunze 9002 (http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~action~view~idProduct~TZ5311~idCategory~FIPSISVSUH~category~Up_to_10

0_Gallons-Venturi-In_Sump_Skimmers-Protein_Skimmers-Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies~vendor~.html) inside of it. Anyone tried anything this silly before? It seems as though it would fit and leave a small Cheato area but the skimmer might interrupt the operations of the fuge.

 

(4) Any other great ideas anyone might have?

 

Thanks in advance