Low $$ filtration ideas for a 160 gal acryl.

[Toby_H]

A 160 gal tank with a single large fish in it doesn't need a darn wet/dry...

Wet/Dry filtration is a marvelous approach for certain situations, but you guys suggest it for every situation...

For this tank (lightly stocked & lightly decorated) any filtration will work just fine. A couple sponge filters... or a strong canister... or a couple medium canisters... or a couple large HOBs... or a sump... or any combination of the above...

Don't limit yourself to just the wet/dry...

 

[jumpnjoeyz]

sponge filters work great, easy to make, inexpensive to run, easy to clean, would take care of both mechanical and biological filtration

 

[tooth517]

Great advice. Once I actually decide whats going in it I'll update this thread. Any advice on cleaning (scrubbing) caked on filth off acrylic without scratching it up too bad?

 

[JakeH]

I totally agree with nc_nutcase's last post... Everybody suggests wet/dry, whether its needed or not, and most of the time its such a waste of good sump space. If you have a huge bioload & cant get the ammonia zero'd out, then ok, you need a W/D, but otherwise I just dont see the point. I started my DIY sumps as W/D, but have since switched to submerged biomedia (works just as well IMO) & stacked the vertical spaces with mechanical media instead (clean often & there's less waste to process, reducing bioload) & added a few clamp lights loaded with CFL's in order to make a little hi-light refugium section.

With that combo I now have enough plants & algae growing in my sumps to suck up 10-20ppm of nitrate per week & my fish could not be healthier. I know the phosphates are getting used up too, along with some of the hardwater minerals from my South Texas tapwater. All it cost me was $7 for each clamp light, $4 for each 23w CFL bulb, 45 cents each for sheets of plastic knitting mesh (used to make dividers to keep plants out of pump) & $3 for a pack of 4 plastic baskets I use as planters. I probably spent more on the plants & gravel/substrate than I did on everything to build it...