Filter Choice???

[a&m aggie 04']

I am about to start a 55 Gallon FO (plan to go to Reef in about 6 months). I am for sure getting a Protein Skimmer but cant decide on what kind of filter. I know a sump would be good, but can i start with maybe a Emperor or a Penguin and later upgrade to a Trickle?? Im going to have LS and LR.

 

[dirtybilge]

I would buy an eheim canister look at the 2215 and 2217 would both work well on your tank.
ED

 

[coolperson]

that would be good what dirty said but what kind of filter were u talking about POWER, CANISTER, WET DRY, i would go for a Aqua Clear 300, or 500 if u were going to get a power but tell me what kind of filter would u want

 

[a&m aggie 04']

Im probably going to build a sump but was just wondering if a powerfilter would be okay ?????

 

[coolperson]

like i said before a power filter would work great with a reef tank and like i said a AQUA CLEAR 300 or 500 would be the best out of all the power filters out there but for a reef tank you would absoulutly need a protein but yes a power would be fine

 

[fshhub]

no need for a conventional filter at all,
just use a skimmer and a dsb with lr, great biological filter as well as decoration and shelter and food for hte fishes
that is all i use and works great, IMO, you cannot beat a natural bio filter, and is less maintenance

 

[a&m aggie 04']

thanks guys,
if i start out with only 45lbs of live rock, would that be okay or could i just use a Power filter until i get more?????

 

[fshhub]

start off with 45 lbs if you like, then if you add more later, andthere are fish in the tank, then only add well cured live rock to the system, in smaller amounts,
yes that would be fisn, and also i would reccommend tha dsb too, but i would skip on the canister, only add some powerheads

 

[a&m aggie 04']

yeah im going to have at least 4" LS.
thanks ya'll

 

[karlas]

most people that have filters and go with the right amount of lr,ls eventually removing the filter or filter media and just use it for circulation. the lr,ls will serve as the main source of your filtration. they hold the bacteria to break down wast to amm, nitrite, to nitrate. and a dsb holds anerobic zones to turn nitrate to nitrogen gas which is released from the tank
this is one reason outside filtration is not really needed if set up correctly
<a href="http://sps.reefkeepers.org/LiveRockFAQ.htm" target="_blank">lr faq</a>
<a href="http://www.reefkeepers.org/faq/cache/33.html" target="_blank">dsb faq</a>
for the price though you could go with the emporer and use that until the sb gets established then use it for carbon and surface agitation. this is what we did and now no filters are used