enough???...

thesamm

thesamm

Member
i gotta 90 and this is my current filteration:
a PM (Precision Marine) HOT-1 skimmer :yes:
a emperror400...(ya ya i know)
and 2 maxi-jet 1200's
i really dont think this is gonna be enough, so I want to get a hang on wet/dry...right now im looking at a Amiracle SL-5 which is rated for 55 gal. but with the other filteration i have on the tank existing it should be fine...if i were to get this i would get an emperror 280 instead of the 400....so would the skimmer and 280 on one side, a Amiracle SL-5 on the other, and 2 maijet 1200's be fine...what do u guys think?...any imput is fine
 
liontamer

liontamer

Member
Id get rid of the emperor filter all together to make more outlet-plug room. Also, ud be better off with a real wet-dry, like below that tank, cuz the hang on wont do anything more than skimmer room and some bioballs, which arent really necessary. Id go for a CPR back-pak instead, cuz its kinda the same thing. Ive seen the hang on wet-drys, not worth it. Or any better hang on skimmer if yer not willing to do a real wet dry. You'd be better off iwht a wetdry/ refugium type thing though.
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
At this point (with a 90) I would suggest going to some "real" filtration as well...
Adown belw the tank where you can set up a "real" effective filtration system...
A large sump and a larger Fuge coupled with a killer skimmmer (think Euro reef level) will put you in a position to get and maintain some "healthy" eaters...
Skimp too much on the filtration on an aggressive and your "teetering" on a fine point waiting for a crash...:nope:
There "really isn't" much of anything out there in HOB, that can handle a 90 (and up) aggressive Bioload, I don't care "what" the MFG "claims/ratings" are...
Most are over rated or at least they were rated for a "smaller" fish load, like a Fairy Wrasse, a couple Clowns, and a Gobie...
They are NOT going to handle a 14" Lionfish, or 24" Eel, or 10" Trigger, or whatever...
 
thesamm

thesamm

Member
thanks for the advice...it was just a thought its not like its the only filteration on my tank but i would like to do a wet dry but money is a big issue with me and i wasnt wanting to spend more than 170-200 so what would you guys suggest? :thinking:
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
For that $170-$200 you could set up a good sized sump and even bigger fuge...add a HOB overflow AND bump up your circulation level to keep the oxygenation factor up...
You wouldn't have much left for a skimmer so you would need to save "another chunk" for that, but before you run out and do all this..
How much Live Rock and or Live sand do you have in the tank..?
What I'm getting at is you want to look at the "total" package and address the "weak points first and build up from there..
 
thesamm

thesamm

Member
yea but i really dont want a fuge i wanted to get a wet dry filter....and i got probally 30 pounds of LR in the tank now and i have no idea how much live sand but it it way enough....im gonna be pickin up probally 40 or 50 more pounds LR and im not really in a hurry at the moment because i would rather be patient and do my tank right then rush it and mess up my tank...so what would u suggest as far as a wet dry...not over $180 or around that price...total for every thing i would need to run one on my tank?
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
There's really not much you can get that will handle an "Aggressive" 90 for <$200 "complete" with an adequate pump and all the trimmings...
Unless you DIY or buy used...
I really can't "recommend" anything less than "adaquate"...
 
liontamer

liontamer

Member
The wet dry will help to give u more water flow, water volume, and a place to put a good skimmer. You can do it yer self with a 20 gallon long tank, no big deal. In fact, u can go onto ---- and type in "Refugium", and there is an auction going on that sells u all the fitted parts needed to make a wet dry/refuigium, just checked it out today. ITs cehaper that way, all ud need is an overflow (overflow box and oveflow tube) and then maybe some bioballs, then get a skimmer and a return pump with a return hose. Itll cost u maybe $150 in the end. The tank'll be like $20, the pump will be about $30, the kit is like $5, the overflow will cost u about $40, and then the skimmer... so yea, about that much. OR, you can spend a little more and have a reliable wetdry with all the fixings. Yer choice
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
Checked out the PM skimmer, that should be an OK skimmer (no need to replace at this time)...
I know you have your heart set on a W/D, but why....?
Biological filtration will come from your LR, so you really don't "need" the bioballs...(or the Emperors)
And the DIY "sump" Liontamer mentioned would add water volume and a good bit of circulation...Both good inexpencive additions to your system...
(although I question what kind of pump you can get for $30...?)
And then your half way to adding a fuge..
:D
 
thesamm

thesamm

Member
hey thanks for all the info....im gonna do some reserch and ill post what ive found in about 4 days or so thanks
 
thesamm

thesamm

Member
aight...i think this is what i am gonna do... get another PM HOT-1 skimmer and sell the emperror 400 and get 2 emperror 280s (just for more water flow) and have my power heads so does this sound fine:
a HOT-1 skimmer in each corner, a emperror 280 on each side of the skimmers and my 2 maxi-jet 1200s???
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
I'll tell you what....(maybe I "shouldn't " tell you this...:thinking: )
On my "first" tank I ran an Emperor 400, full reverse flow UGF and CC, and a couple powerheads with a POS skimmer...
Worked for "a while"...When the fish grew and Bioload increased...(6 months or so :rolleyes: ) I HAD TO get something better going to keep everybody "healthy"...
You can up grade now... or you will be doing it later...:yes:
But as the saying goes..."Your Tank...Your Choice..."
 
thesamm

thesamm

Member
im gonna sell the emperror400 and just forget that... so im thinking that u are gettin a sump....if thats the case then i can do that...but i wanna know exactly what u would recomend....i might be able to squeeze a lil more $$$$ out cause its christmas and all...
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
Let's start with the "total" package....
A Large Sump with a Larger Fuge coupled with a Killer Skimmer...
Adaquate Live Rock and High Flow in the tank...
So let's look again at what you have...what you can "get by" with...
And what you should Add/Upgade to bring this together...
You have a 90 gallon tank...your minimum "Goal Flow" (in the tank) should be around 900 to 1000 gph...
So the first two things to look at are LR and flow...
You don't need 2lbs/gallon like the reef guys...70-80lbs should do it...(as long as you have a ssb and a large Fuge with Macros for malnutrient export...)
For flow, a good bit can come from your sump return...So look for a HOB overflow that will do 600 to700gph (preferably 700)
The sump and fuge can be built from Rubber Maid tubs, or if you can get your hands on a "cheap" 55 gallon tank that would be a killer start...
The PM HOT skimmer should work for now (upgrade when you have "extra" cash)
And get a nice pump like a Mag 9.5...A few bucks for PVC or Spa Flex (for lines) a "cheap" set of lights for the fuge...and some glass or acrylic (glass is "free" or cheap) panels for "baffles" in the sump/fuge and your on your way...
Add a little more rock and keep your powerheads and you should be good to go for a year or so...(+skimmer up grade)
:yes:
 
thesamm

thesamm

Member
alright well i am getting a sump...(talked to the parents) i was gonna lay off on the fuge for a year or so...then upgrade to one then is that ok?
right now i am looking at a 30L tank with these skimmers as my top choices...euroreef ES5-3, RS6-1,or RS6-2 for the euro reef catigory, and i am also looking at a PM ES100
so now my question is...what do u think of those skimmers in a 30L sump and will i be fine if i upgrade and add a fuge a lil down the road?
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
I think your on the right road here...adding a sump will increase total water volume and Flow in tank if you get the right overflow/pump combo...That and a few more rock and you have an excellect start...
Think about the RS6-2, you have a 90, your adding 30 with the sump (120) and another 30-40 (150-160) with the fuge, so the larger skimmer is in order if your going Aggressive...
With the sump and flow and rock set up, it won't take much at all to add on the fuge...When your ready, let me know I'll send you some Macros...:yes:
 
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