Filtration

[sacramonel]

I have decided on a 75 gallon FOWLR tank. Due to financial constraints I have decided to use a 70/30% mix of Live Rock/ Base Rock along with 50/50 mix of live sand. My question regards the mechanical filtration. I was thinking of using a hang on filter (IE Emperor Model) with bio wheels. This is, of course, along with a protein skimmer.

Does anyone believe that this is an incorrect set-up? Does anyone know of a better mechanical and chemical filter? Would a canister filter be better?

Thank you.

 

[Aquascaper]

How much actual live rock will you be adding?

 

[sacramonel]

I planned on using 45-50 lbs of live rock.

 

[Aquascaper]

If you can get the total upto 75lbs + then I would not bother with the additional filtration, especially a Biowheel as they produce copious amounts of Nitrate, as long as the tank has adequate water flow the live rock will provide all the filtration you need.

 

[SkiFletch]

If you can get the total upto 75lbs + then I would not bother with the additional filtration, especially a Biowheel as they produce copious amounts of Nitrate, as long as the tank has adequate water flow the live rock will provide all the filtration you need.

Agreed, ditch the filter and get more LR instead. Also, dont waste your $$ on live sand. Sand becomes live very quickly with enough LR present in the tank.

 

[crazyelece]

My belief in regards to a FOWLR is a little differnt than the majority of people you will ask. While I agree that the more live rock you add the better off you will be. I also like mechanical filtration on a FOWLR setup. Reason being, if anything happens nitrate is much better than ammonia. However if you add mechanical filtration - water changes will not be optional. The other reason I like mech filtration is it gives you a place to add stuff like carbon or phosphate absorbers.

As far as HOB vs canister, the only real difference is looks. A canister isn't as intrusive as a HOB would be.

 

[nate9]

i am sort of confused now, i thought that you needed the big 200$ wet/dry filters fro saltwater. are you aloud to use biowheels and what not? Also are you saying that if he got 75lbs of Live rock he doesnt need a filter at all, just a protein skimmer?

 

[nate9]

anyone?

 

[SkiFletch]

Also are you saying that if he got 75lbs of Live rock he doesnt need a filter at all, just a protein skimmer?

Correct. Enough LR and a decently sized cleanup crew and you dont have to worry about mech filtration. I'm proving that right now as I dont even have my sump running but my clowns are doing just fine with only LR as filtration (no mech or wet/dry at all). I've got no NH4, NO2, or NO3 whatsoever. Spent my money on LR as opposed to expensive wet/dry filters. In truth there are MANY ways to tackle filtration in a larger SW setup. Some use LR only, some mechanical only, and still others with a mix of the two, so every filtration system is different. What we can almoast all agree upon is that for a tank that size, a skimmer should be employed to eliminate lots of airborne toxins that find their way into the water.

The general rule of thumb is that mechanical filters provide no anaerobic zones and no way to convert Nitrate (NO3) into N2 gas and as such when used alone they can be nitrate factories, especially depending on how many fish you have and how much you feed them. Using mechanical filtration only will REQUIRE frequent water changes to keep Nitrate levels under control.

LR on the other hand has anaerobic zones (no O2) where bacteria live that convert nitrates to N2 gas. It is also porous and capable of filtering most particles out of the water with enoughflow around the tank. Its downfall though is that its expensive

Some people however can get away without LR and mech only. The way they process nitrates is usually through a deep sand bed to create that O2 depleated zone. This can be dangerous because deep sand beds can also create pockets of cyanide and if disturbed by fish... Well you get the idea. The dangers to using one is of course why few people here will reccomend using them in the display tank. In a static sump, thats another story, but not as a primary means of dentrification in the display tank.

In the end, you have to make the decision, but I prefer the natural method of LR. If its good enough for reefs of the ocean, its good enough for my aquarium

 

[crazyelece]

The reason most of us employ the use of trickle filters (wet/dry filters) is for more than just filtration. They are a great way to oxygenate the water. Salt water is harder to oxygenate so any help in that dept is a plus. Also it is a great place to hide other equipment like heaters and protien skimmers. So yes IMO a trickle filter is better than a HOB or canister. But it is not neccesary.

 

[nate9]

so canister and HOB filters can cuse high nittires and wet/drys wont. ok. would you have to use a hang over back protein skimmer or could you get the best of both by having no mechanical filtration but have a sump just for protein so you get the oxygenation and the live rock?

 

[SkiFletch]

Your protein skimmer can me mounted anywhere in the system that you want. Its physical location means little other than usually aesthetic purposes. You also of course want to locate it somewhere where the collection cup is convenient to reach Other than that, as long as its frothing in the system somewhere, its doing its job

 

[crazyelece]

wet/dry trickle filters can also produce lots of nitrates, this is why most of us fill them up with live rock instead and employ refugiums if we can.

Another bonus with putting the protien skimmer in a sump is the ability to keep the micro bubbles out of the display to help it look cleaner.