Filtration for reef set up
- Thread starter SJ-78
- Start date
I have a sump with a fuge, no skimmer. Nothing wrong with running a skimmer on a fuge, but I plan on keeping mechanical filtration to a minimum since I want to maximize my pod population
Heathd;4487283; said:
+1...sumps...wetdrys. VER NICE as borat would say.
That BEING said...I run a 75g mixed reef with a AquaC skimmer, and 3x Koralia powerheads for a "Berlin System". It works great...some would say I am removing the food, but as I was fragging corals last weekend for heath, I picked up a rock, and was greeted by a swarm of copes. So Im happy.
Make sure you have a good mechanical pad before your wet/dry area. They can build up nitrates which are bad for coral tanks if not taken care of with a little more effort. They are still an amazing filtration unit, but a fuge would be best. Sounds like you just need lights and corals 
Your live rock will be 80% of your filtration, then skimmer, then fuge. I recommend 1.5-2 pounds of live rock per gallon.
I would not recommend wet/dry, they can drive up nitrate and phosphate. Most people found that if they pulled out their bioballs the only difference they saw was a reduction in nitrate concentration.
My tank has no mechanical filtration at all. There is not a single pad, prefilter, or anything. I want to keep all that debris moving until all of my filter feeders get to eat it (sponges, scallops, clams, feather dusters, etc.). There is not reason to trap debris in one spot (which will breakdown into nitrate and phosphate) just to have to add even more food to feed things elsewhere (which will also increase nitrate and phosphate concentrations).
I have a 45 gallon display with a ten gallon sump (all that fits in my stand). I have an AquaC skimmer (runs external to the sump). The sump has three sections. The first handles bubbles (only a couple inches wide), the second is refugium, and the last section is for pumps (about 5"). I also have media reactors hangin off the back of my sump (one for carbon and one for GFO for phosphate).
Natural filtration and water changes is the method I prefer.
I would not recommend wet/dry, they can drive up nitrate and phosphate. Most people found that if they pulled out their bioballs the only difference they saw was a reduction in nitrate concentration.
My tank has no mechanical filtration at all. There is not a single pad, prefilter, or anything. I want to keep all that debris moving until all of my filter feeders get to eat it (sponges, scallops, clams, feather dusters, etc.). There is not reason to trap debris in one spot (which will breakdown into nitrate and phosphate) just to have to add even more food to feed things elsewhere (which will also increase nitrate and phosphate concentrations).
I have a 45 gallon display with a ten gallon sump (all that fits in my stand). I have an AquaC skimmer (runs external to the sump). The sump has three sections. The first handles bubbles (only a couple inches wide), the second is refugium, and the last section is for pumps (about 5"). I also have media reactors hangin off the back of my sump (one for carbon and one for GFO for phosphate).
Natural filtration and water changes is the method I prefer.
reptileguy2727;4492226; said:
Reptile guy, I sense that we are going to get along. Good to see another person become active on this side.
It really comes down to working out what works for you. If you get results, and like the schedule you have with your tank...then great! LR is important I think as well...and I always recommend buying at least SOME high grade (non florida farmed) live rock.