best all in one filtraction system?

[fanatic]

I am sutting down one of my tabks because I didn't have the right equiptment for it. I am trying to spiff it up but don't know were to start. Does anyone know of a all in one filtraction system that would be great on a 29 gallon reef?
Thanks, Fanatic

 

[jester]

What are you looking to do? I'd dsay an Emporer 400. 6 way filtration. Really stable, quiet and efficient.

 

[broomer5]

In my opinion for a 29 gallon tank - 40 pounds of live rock, 5" deep living sand bed, good protein skimmer or refugium, decent clean-up crew and a low bioload is a hard to beat winning combination for filtering a reef tank !

 

[byrself]

yeah, broomers pretty right on with that analogy. my only answer for best all in one filtration sys has to be live rock and dsb. with enough of that, and plenty of circulation, you can't beat it imo. everything else you add to that is just supplemental imo.
i don't currently use a dsb, but i'm seriously considering it on my next setup. also a refugium with macroalgae seems like a winning setup to me also. good luck, hth

 

[jester]

DSB and LR are for sure the best ways to go. But in a 29 ga tank, by the time you figgure out the displacement of water with all the sand and rock, he'll have no room and only about 10-15 gallons of water left. Not to mention no money to buy a few fish. Just my opinion though.

 

[byrself]

a reef tank needs at least a lb of rock per gallon imo, so if it's a reef tank you are trying to shoot for, that's a good basis for the filtration. the emperor and even the skilter (which i use) are good supplemental filters, but the basis of biofiltration should be in the live rock and substrate imo. every one has different opinions, of course, but the question being best all in one filtration sys, the only "real" answer is live rock imo. the skilter models have a built in protein skimmer, which is another plus if you don't already have a skimmer. it's basic in design, but for a small tank or with an oversized filter it should suffice. i would recommend the 400 though for your size tank. it's best to over size a bit for whatever you get.
the emperor is a good choice if you like the ideas of the wet/dry setups. my roomate started his 55 with an emperor and a skilter 400 (which is where my skilter comes from =), and he had no proba with this setup. he eventually moved to a tidepool wet/dry sump. there are lots of choices you can go with. filters are basically all the same, just try to buy one for a size rated at least double your tank size for best results. just my opinion though, good luck and happy reefing!!

 

[ironreef]

25% tank volumne is enough for any biofilter in any sw tank. 1lb gallon rule is for ppl who want a rock wall. But for a biofilter that much isn't needed especially with the sand. You can have enough surface area with just sand and no lr. So depending on what you keep= reef /fowlr a few lbs of LR and sand cycle would create a good bio-filter better than any biowheel. I would either add a large alga tank or a good protien skimmer for export. As for all in one filters I don't like them. Seems more are crapp except for lifereef but they relly aren't all in one .everything is separate but built to fit. It's cheaer to diy. But you didn't say if you were going with a sump?? That would be the best

 

[wamp]

You could even go with one of Those EcoSystems.... I personally have no experience but have seen them in action at a LFS. I like the idea but you can DIY much cheaper.. All it is is a refigium in a nice clean setup..
LR is almost a must however... I do not have 1lb per gallon and my tank is running strong... I like a light rock tank with encrusting corals on everything though..
Good Luck