Help.... Setting Up My First Tank

[woody111]

I am currently planning converting my 150 Litre tropical tank into a saltwater aquarium. The one thing i am really unsure about is the type of filtration i should use. I do not want corals so after reading up on the subject and making a few posts on this site i was under the impression i could get rid of my current external filter (with sponges and ceramic rings) and simply rely on live rock and good water circulation. However i have just come from my LFS where the man advised me "live rock is not that important in a fish only tank" and i should "stick with my current external filter (sponges and ceramic rings)".
I know LFS advise is not that reliable and seems the opposite advise of what i have been told so far but know i am really confused.

CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP

THANKS

 

[Colin_T]

A lot of people use live rock to filter their tank when it is full of corals. The rock acts as the base for the corals to sit on as well as filtering the water. It isn't necessary to have rock in a tank with corals or fish but you can have it in both. For a fish only tank I would use an external power filter, particularly considering you already have one. Put some noodles/ ceramic beads, and sponges in it. Put some rock in the tank as well because it will make the tank look more natural. But don't get carried away, you don't need too much rock to make it look nice.
Rock has the disadvantage that it displaces the water. If you have lots of rock in the tank you will lose a lot of the tank's water volume, and the smaller volume of water will be less stable.

 

[littleme1969]

Live rock is good for filtration, but at 150ltrs I would also recomend some other type of filtration or you will soon get a build up of rubbish in your tank water. As you already have an external filter use that. remove all sponges/other media and replace with live rock rubble and filter matt/floss. Keeping stuff in your external filter for long periods of time can cause a nitrate build up. So best to use filter floss to clean the water and this can be thrown away and replaced at every change/clean of the filter. Its also good to have a bag of carbon in their too as this will help absorb anything that is not wanted. Again change regular.