Filter ?

[lmaniotis35]

the tank i inherited also came with a hang on biowheel filter. Is this useful in a sw tank or not needed.

again i am planning on utilizing a mixture of live sand and crushed coral, live rock, an EHEIM 2217 canister filter a protein skimmer and a wavemaker with a couple of powerheds (as advised by others)

 

[jimdogg187]

Over time the bio wheel will become so cultured with nitrifying bacteria, that it will create too much nitrate. Nitrate is not a big deal in fresh water tanks; however, you will find that nitrate will cause problems in your sw tank. Your best form of bio filtration will grow in your live rock. So if you use enough live rock, 1lb per gallon, you will not need a bio wheel or and canister filter. Using the canister w/o media for circulation (etc) is a good idea, however. IMO.

 

[lmaniotis35]

thanks for the info..so just to get it straight the sole purpose of the canister filter minus media is solely for water circulation?

plus i have been doing some research and am considering the following:

red sea prizm delux hang on protein skimmer

red sea wavemaster pro wave maker

eheim power heads (how many should i use?)

has anyone had any experience with these items? or can anyone recommend any other names to research

thank you

 

[impur]

The red sea skimmer is very noisy and hard to adjust. You will be constantly adjusting it and the noise will drive you nuts.

The canister will provide some nice water circulation as well as increase the total volume of water.

Start off with 1 or 2 PH and go from there. If it seems you need more current, get another. Of course this all depends on what types of corals you plan to keep.

The most important part of a successful reef system is lighting. What are you going to use to light the tank?

 

[soma]

Also, if you can, try to use ALL live sand. Crushed coral tends to trap nitrates.

 

[Great Lakes]

Also, if you can, try to use ALL live sand. Crushed coral tends to trap nitrates.

Heavens no!

This would cost a fortune. Just buy the substrate you are most happy with and add just one bag of live sand after all parameters have stabilized. It will seed the plain stuff you started out with.

For the powerheads. Look around for a package deal on powerheads and a wave timer powerstrip. I got one of the powerstrips and three MaxiJets for about a hundred bucks.

And Yeah, the Prizms are noisy and cranky.

GL

 

[soma]

Also, if you can, try to use ALL live sand. Crushed coral tends to trap nitrates.

Heavens no!

This would cost a fortune. Just buy the substrate you are most happy with and add just one bag of live sand after all parameters have stabilized. It will seed the plain stuff you started out with.

For the powerheads. Look around for a package deal on powerheads and a wave timer powerstrip. I got one of the powerstrips and three MaxiJets for about a hundred bucks.

And Yeah, the Prizms are noisy and cranky.

GL

Maybe you shouldn't get into the saltwater hobby if you don't have the money to take optimum care of your fish/corals in the first place, then?

 

[impur]

I think the point being made is that if you do not have to spend the extra money, why would you? You can use a bag of southdown sand, at $8-10 for a 50 lbs bag, and seed it with 1 cup of sand from another reefer's tank and after a few months have the equivelant of three 20 lbs bags of live sand that run $25-40 PER BAG!! Just simple economics my friend.

 

[soma]

I think the point being made is that if you do not have to spend the extra money, why would you? You can use a bag of southdown sand, at $8-10 for a 50 lbs bag, and seed it with 1 cup of sand from another reefer's tank and after a few months have the equivelant of three 20 lbs bags of live sand that run $25-40 PER BAG!! Just simple economics my friend.

You sure can use southdown sand. My original point was that aragonite/crushed coral tends to trap nitrates.