Filtration for a 55

[clown52]

I currently have a Penguin biowheel 330 on the back of my 45 tall reef tank. I am going to be moving everything into a regular 55 gallon tank. I am wondering if I need to do more for filtration, everything seems fine but when I read about what other people here have it makes me wonder.
This is what I will be running on my 55 once I change tanks.
4' PC, around 5 WPG
Prism protien skimmer
Heater (not sure brand but works fine)
PH x2 (both rotate)
Penguin Biowheel 330 filter (300 gph)
I also have around 90lbs of LR. The sand will have to be mostly new.
So what do you think? New filter system? What do you recomend?
Thanks in advance. :happyfish

 

[johneebego]

I am currently running 2 of the penguin 330's on my 55 gal. seems to be keeping up fine, but i still would like to upgrade in the future. I would say if you got the money, get more filtration.:thinking: but i am a beginner as well, so hopefully more people with experience will get in on this one.

 

[gringoloco]

I would recommend an emperor 400, and a skimmer. If you keep up with filter changes, and tank maintenance you will be fine. An emperor 400 flows 400 gph, so you are in the 7 times an hour mark. With the 330 you are in the 6 mark which is ideal but bigger is always better. Not saying you need a sump or anything. A 400 will do the job, i can vouch for it, because im running one plus a prism skimmer on my reef tank, with fish for a year now without problems.

 

[steveoutla]

I've got the Penguin 330 on my 55g and an Aqua C Remora skimmer and they keep up just fine. If I had it to do all over again I would get a nice wet dry with a sump, but that's just me.

 

[clown52]

Thanks guys, I guess I will stick with what I have then.
That should be enough with the filter, skimmer, and PHs it seems.
(Just wasn't sure how high it needed to be on my "to buy" list.)

 

[steveoutla]

Don't forget the live rock.......best filtration there is!

 

[clown52]

Ya the 90 or so lbs of live rock will be from an established tank. The sand will be new seeded with some LS.

 

[nm reef]

I like keeping my filtration as simple and natural as possible. A decent amount of quality LR...sand if its kept with plenty of micro diversity...a good skimmer...and adaquate circulation. Plus a sump and a refugium. No other mechanical filtration used....

 

[gametime70]

Hello everyone.. I currently have a 55gal tank setup up as freshwater but wanting to switch to Saltwater. I have a Penquin 440 bio-wheel filter and a Magnum 350 canister filter, I am wondering if these are fine for salt water.
I understand about the LR and LS along with protien skimmers and powerheads for circulation, and a good heater, is there anything i am missing or might require to get started? I am reading about the setup and the diffrent species and I might have questions later about those.. LOL thank you very much
Bill....

 

[beth]

Welcome, Gametime,

glad to see you join the forums.
All those equiptment can certainly be used for the SW hobby, however, with Live Rock and Live Sand, you may not have that much need for them. I have learned, though, that whatever you don't have use for now, will come in handy at some point.
Are you going to convert your 55, or just add a new tank?
Have you done much reading?

 

[gametime70]

Thanks for the response Beth...I will be converting the current 55 gallon freshwater tank to a Saltwater tank. I have purchased a setup and user guide fir saltwater tanks and reading posts here and other boards on the internet.
So the Penguin 440 bio-wheel filter along with the 350 Magnum canister filter and a protien skimmer would not be too much? Thnks again for all ya'lls help..

 

[thomas712]

I ran a 55 gallon with 2 maxi jet 1200 power heads, 2 double cartrage whisper power filters and live rock. Unfortunatly I used crushed coarl at the time, no skimmer. Except for the constant nitrate (crushed coral) problem the system was ok.
I think the idea as you and your system evolve is to go the route that NMReef is talking about, getting away from mechanical filtration that may take out planktonic and zooplankton life, getting away from filter pads and floss that capture that type of life robbing a reef tank of its natural processes.
I have a similar setup to NM's and have been weening myself off of bio balls and filter floss, I still have the skimmer thought, an important bit of equipment for any saltwater tank IMO.
Thomas

 

[gametime70]

So the filters I have now might rob the saltwater of the rich nuitrients that the system might need. What is "Plus a sump and a refugium" , that NM Reef is talking about. Thanks all I do appreciate this.