New to marine

[Jonathan1985]

I am presently wanting to move upto a Marine tank, but I am very confused about the filtration used. I've read all about sumps, and tubs and pumps and everything... but I don't understand.

Say for instance I have a 42" long tank by about 18" tall and 12" deep. I'll have it sat on a metal stand... what do I do for filtration?

Is it a matter of a using an external fluval? the box type with the two tubes? one inlet and one outlet? or is it more complex than that?

Diagrams to help get things through my thick skull would be greatly appreciated

 

[steelhealr]

HI Jonathan...I have a 24G nano cube, so, I don't have a lot of experience with huge tanks and sumps. However, what I can tell you is the following:

1) the main filtration of your soon to be marine tank is live rock. It contains the biologic filter, ie, bacteria needed to break down ammonia and waste

2) Powerheads, unlike FW, circulate the water to and thru the LR for filtration. They also provide current that corals need (if you are going that way). Current brings food to the corals, brings waste away and also in some cases helps keep algae or cyanobacteria from growing on them.

3) External filters can provide the chemical filtration that you need, ie, carbon, resins, phosphate binders...but....compared to FW, you want to avoid things like sponges, beads and bioballs since they build up detritus which form nitrates..much more toxic in a SW tank compared to a FW.

4) A sump is an extra tank that usually sits under the main tank. It adds extra volume, provides an out of the way place for your equipment (eg, skimmer, heater, etc) and some people make this area a refugium, another protected area that can keep animals and plantlife alive but safe ('refuge') from tank inhabitants but provide 'nutrient export' (plants can use nitrates).

Go to amazon.com and buy Paletta's book and Kurtz' books on marine tank startup. You won't regret it. SH