Reef Tank Filtration

michael_cb_125 · 04-08-2007, 08:05 PM

I know im gonna be scolded for this but here it goes. I have a 100 gallon tank on its way to being a reef. Everything is in place and the rock is cured. I actually have some SPS and LPS in it already. Water parameters are great and everything has gone very smoothly. About 4 months. My filter is a canister filter. Its rated for tanks up to 160 gals. I also have a refugium, berlin PS. UV sterilizer. Ive been looking at adding a sump, but do I really need to. Im okay now but will i be later. Should I get a Wet dry sump filter, and just use my canister for mechanical/chemical filtration. I need a little help. Thanks.

burning2nd · 04-08-2007, 08:51 PM

i beleave in free flow... you should trap anything at any one point with regular... (every day) cleaning.....

waste brakes down and makes water quility go down the tube,

a skimmer and refgum 2 grow macro, will do you justice....

IMO

michael_cb_125 · 04-08-2007, 10:08 PM

Anyone else have any suggestions?

mps9506 · 04-08-2007, 10:20 PM

If you are going with a full blown reef you will find very little use for a canister filter other than occasionally running carbon. Even then it's easier to throw in a mesh bag and put in the sump. I keep it simple. A sump, filter socks and protein skimming.

sasquatch · 04-08-2007, 10:34 PM

Well Micheal, the cannister is "ok" if you clean it like 2 x a week, as material is trapped there it rots, the chances of algae outbreaks will be elevated, a 100 micron filtersock would be a better choice with a sump, you gain added water volume, space for equipment and a great place to grow macro algae, I think some of your corals need target feeding and this will add quite a bit of excess nutrient. Steve

lcstorc · 04-08-2007, 11:37 PM

A sump with a good skimmer is what you need. Both the wet-dry and the canister filter will be nitrate factories which you cannot have for SPS in particular. Personally I love the ASM skimmers, but get any good skimmer and your reef will be much happier.

sasquatch · 04-08-2007, 11:51 PM

Hey who forgot to scold Micheal lol?

saltwaterfarm · 04-08-2007, 11:59 PM

You know we don't do that here!!! Now harming woods animals, that's a different story, LOL

sasquatch · 04-09-2007, 12:02 AM

Oh I agree!!! note the "small woodland animals" everything over a 1/4 lb is in da bag!

saltwaterfarm · 04-09-2007, 12:07 AM

OK thanks! I feel better now! ROFL....
OK... now WHO'S going to scold the new guy???? Sorry michael... we get a little silly sometimes too!

sasquatch · 04-09-2007, 12:08 AM

You hold him down, Ill scald him

michael_cb_125 · 04-09-2007, 07:53 AM

LOL. Thanks for the help, and the scolding...I needed it.

04-08-2007, 08:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
michael_cb_125 Reef Shark Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Charlotte,NC Posts: 5,600 View Gallery Karma Komment	Reef Tank Filtration I know im gonna be scolded for this but here it goes. I have a 100 gallon tank on its way to being a reef. Everything is in place and the rock is cured. I actually have some SPS and LPS in it already. Water parameters are great and everything has gone very smoothly. About 4 months. My filter is a canister filter. Its rated for tanks up to 160 gals. I also have a refugium, berlin PS. UV sterilizer. Ive been looking at adding a sump, but do I really need to. Im okay now but will i be later. Should I get a Wet dry sump filter, and just use my canister for mechanical/chemical filtration. I need a little help. Thanks. __________________ All Fish are "Semi-Reef Safe"

04-08-2007, 08:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
burning2nd Golden Moray Join Date: May 2006 Location: PA Posts: 2,287 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Reef Tank Filtration i beleave in free flow... you should trap anything at any one point with regular... (every day) cleaning..... waste brakes down and makes water quility go down the tube, a skimmer and refgum 2 grow macro, will do you justice.... IMO __________________ ________________________________________________ 30g, 10g DIY sump w/ mag7 Csr90 over flow. 36" sunpod 2x150 2 Tunze 6020 40 Lb's Live Rock 20 lb's of Ls Aqua C REmora mIxed reef, softies, pora's, clams, 1 Amphiprion ocellaris (hosting GTA) jake the jedi sexy shrimp, and brown bob

04-08-2007, 10:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
michael_cb_125 Reef Shark Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Charlotte,NC Posts: 5,600 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Reef Tank Filtration Anyone else have any suggestions? __________________ All Fish are "Semi-Reef Safe"

04-08-2007, 10:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally back Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 8,525 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Reef Tank Filtration If you are going with a full blown reef you will find very little use for a canister filter other than occasionally running carbon. Even then it's easier to throw in a mesh bag and put in the sump. I keep it simple. A sump, filter socks and protein skimming. __________________ Mike Reefkeeping Since '99 Help Build Reefpedia Premium Memberships Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

04-08-2007, 10:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,984 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Reef Tank Filtration Well Micheal, the cannister is "ok" if you clean it like 2 x a week, as material is trapped there it rots, the chances of algae outbreaks will be elevated, a 100 micron filtersock would be a better choice with a sump, you gain added water volume, space for equipment and a great place to grow macro algae, I think some of your corals need target feeding and this will add quite a bit of excess nutrient. Steve

04-08-2007, 11:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,437 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Reef Tank Filtration A sump with a good skimmer is what you need. Both the wet-dry and the canister filter will be nitrate factories which you cannot have for SPS in particular. Personally I love the ASM skimmers, but get any good skimmer and your reef will be much happier. __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

04-08-2007, 11:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,984 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Reef Tank Filtration Hey who forgot to scold Micheal lol?

04-08-2007, 11:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
saltwaterfarm Manta Ray Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,222 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Reef Tank Filtration You know we don't do that here!!! Now harming woods animals, that's a different story, LOL __________________ Lisa 90 Gal AGA, DIY Sump/Fuge, Current Outer Orbit 250w MH's with T5's. AquaC Remora Pro Skimmer, RK2.[/font] Purple LTA, pair of Percula Clowns, Clams, Softies, Shrooms, Ricordea, Echinophyllia, Torch, Frogspawn, Blastos, Sponges, Acro, Wellso, the NEW Zoa Mountain, and some more stuff... 3 Gal Sexy Shrimp Pico. 29 Gal Oceanic BioCube, Current Sunpod 150w MH.

04-09-2007, 12:02 AM	#9 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,984 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Reef Tank Filtration Oh I agree!!! note the "small woodland animals" everything over a 1/4 lb is in da bag!

04-09-2007, 12:07 AM	#10 (permalink)
saltwaterfarm Manta Ray Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,222 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Reef Tank Filtration OK thanks! I feel better now! ROFL.... OK... now WHO'S going to scold the new guy???? Sorry michael... we get a little silly sometimes too! __________________ Lisa 90 Gal AGA, DIY Sump/Fuge, Current Outer Orbit 250w MH's with T5's. AquaC Remora Pro Skimmer, RK2.[/font] Purple LTA, pair of Percula Clowns, Clams, Softies, Shrooms, Ricordea, Echinophyllia, Torch, Frogspawn, Blastos, Sponges, Acro, Wellso, the NEW Zoa Mountain, and some more stuff... 3 Gal Sexy Shrimp Pico. 29 Gal Oceanic BioCube, Current Sunpod 150w MH.

04-09-2007, 12:08 AM	#11 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,984 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Reef Tank Filtration You hold him down, Ill scald him

04-09-2007, 07:53 AM	#12 (permalink)
michael_cb_125 Reef Shark Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Charlotte,NC Posts: 5,600 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Reef Tank Filtration LOL. Thanks for the help, and the scolding...I needed it. __________________ All Fish are "Semi-Reef Safe"

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