lennon
Member
I am currently getting ready for a 75 gallon, 4ft x 18" tank.
I was researching different filtering systems and think I may go with the ecosystem...BUT then I contacted the company because I wanted to do a 2" sandbed and they said the following::
EcoSystem is excellent for fish only setup as it provides a healthy
environment unsurpassed by other setups allowing you to keep fish that
are vibrant and healthy. Furthermore you can have more bioload than in
a Berlin or wet/dry setup as the filtering capacity is much higher with
a properly set up EcoSystem.
Now concerning the substrate bed (this aspect of your tank is quite
important to an EcoSystem so I always emphasize this detail). Having
2-3" is NOT recommended not so much as the filter will not work properly
- rather it is basically setting up for failure as the deep sand bed
will negatively compromise your setup leading to failure.
A substrate bed is essentially a NUTRIENT SINK (or plainly putting it
your tank's trash can). Debris will slowing work its way into this
layer due to gravity and then bacteria will colonize that bed. With
time, bacteria will produce more of its own bioload than it filters out
and when the substrate bed does get saturated with this organic.the
biotoxin will slowly be released into the water -leading to an imbalance
in the water levels --- resulting usually in poor water quality, reduced
health of animals and more apparent is outcontrollable growth of
nuisance algae (such as hair algae) or cyanobacteria (red slime algae).
However if you do want to have a substrate bed (for aesthestic purposes
- as there is no filtration/biological benefits to a substrate bed)-
here are some advice for you to avoid the inherent dangers of this
element.
1. -set up your live rock directly onto the bottom of the tank
and distribute the substrate around the live rock.
This will allow you to have NO "dead space" where live rock sits
on stagnant substrate bed which may result in deadly bacteria
colonies.
2. since you have a substrate bed you now must incorporate the
following maintenance routine for the long term well being of your
tank (meaning if
you do NOT keep it clean...your tank will slowly break down after
1-2 years)
-if the substrate bed is less 1/2" deep then you need to vacuum
siphon once every 2 weeks ( 1x/week in tanks smaller than 30 gallons)
-if the substrate bed is less 1/4" deep then you need to vacuum
siphon once every month ( 1x/2 weeks in tanks smaller than 30 gallons)
I heed you to listen to this advice b/c if you do not...then don't be
upset when I remind you how I told you so when and if you ever call
explaining how things were going so well however after a year into the
setup you have problems...b/c truly it is your fault not the any
shortcoming of the EcoSystem!
Adding Miracle Mud into a container will not give you an EcoSystem.
Much research, time, effort has been put into the design of our sump in
order to ensure success. However we do understand people wanting to
save money so I have attached the diagram of our sump. Look it over
and if and only if you think it is possible to alter your current sump
into something similar to our sump -- then you can try to make your own
EcoSystem. Otherwise it is advisable to purchase an EcoSystem unit and
follow the specific intructions of setting up a new tank or converting
over an existing tank.
Let me know if you have further questions.
Anyone with this system agree??
I am so confused as to what to do and wonder if the benefit is worth it.
Plus, I thought in the pictures of his tank the inventor...he has a high sandbed...
I was researching different filtering systems and think I may go with the ecosystem...BUT then I contacted the company because I wanted to do a 2" sandbed and they said the following::
EcoSystem is excellent for fish only setup as it provides a healthy
environment unsurpassed by other setups allowing you to keep fish that
are vibrant and healthy. Furthermore you can have more bioload than in
a Berlin or wet/dry setup as the filtering capacity is much higher with
a properly set up EcoSystem.
Now concerning the substrate bed (this aspect of your tank is quite
important to an EcoSystem so I always emphasize this detail). Having
2-3" is NOT recommended not so much as the filter will not work properly
- rather it is basically setting up for failure as the deep sand bed
will negatively compromise your setup leading to failure.
A substrate bed is essentially a NUTRIENT SINK (or plainly putting it
your tank's trash can). Debris will slowing work its way into this
layer due to gravity and then bacteria will colonize that bed. With
time, bacteria will produce more of its own bioload than it filters out
and when the substrate bed does get saturated with this organic.the
biotoxin will slowly be released into the water -leading to an imbalance
in the water levels --- resulting usually in poor water quality, reduced
health of animals and more apparent is outcontrollable growth of
nuisance algae (such as hair algae) or cyanobacteria (red slime algae).
However if you do want to have a substrate bed (for aesthestic purposes
- as there is no filtration/biological benefits to a substrate bed)-
here are some advice for you to avoid the inherent dangers of this
element.
1. -set up your live rock directly onto the bottom of the tank
and distribute the substrate around the live rock.
This will allow you to have NO "dead space" where live rock sits
on stagnant substrate bed which may result in deadly bacteria
colonies.
2. since you have a substrate bed you now must incorporate the
following maintenance routine for the long term well being of your
tank (meaning if
you do NOT keep it clean...your tank will slowly break down after
1-2 years)
-if the substrate bed is less 1/2" deep then you need to vacuum
siphon once every 2 weeks ( 1x/week in tanks smaller than 30 gallons)
-if the substrate bed is less 1/4" deep then you need to vacuum
siphon once every month ( 1x/2 weeks in tanks smaller than 30 gallons)
I heed you to listen to this advice b/c if you do not...then don't be
upset when I remind you how I told you so when and if you ever call
explaining how things were going so well however after a year into the
setup you have problems...b/c truly it is your fault not the any
shortcoming of the EcoSystem!
Adding Miracle Mud into a container will not give you an EcoSystem.
Much research, time, effort has been put into the design of our sump in
order to ensure success. However we do understand people wanting to
save money so I have attached the diagram of our sump. Look it over
and if and only if you think it is possible to alter your current sump
into something similar to our sump -- then you can try to make your own
EcoSystem. Otherwise it is advisable to purchase an EcoSystem unit and
follow the specific intructions of setting up a new tank or converting
over an existing tank.
Let me know if you have further questions.
Anyone with this system agree??
I am so confused as to what to do and wonder if the benefit is worth it.
Plus, I thought in the pictures of his tank the inventor...he has a high sandbed...
