Filtration on aggressive tank

andy51632

Member
What type of filtration do you recommended on an aggressive tank? How many pounds LR per gallon? Do you utilize a wet-dry filter or just live rock and a good skimmer? Is there any reason to have a fuge? What about a DSB?
 

reefstar22

Member
Water volume is your friend. - Have an ecosystem. - Get a protein skimmer.
If you look in the DYI - I posted a thread about my system. - Look at my filtration, I'd say that would be a good fit for you. - My system is EXTREMELY stable. I have an aggressive reef, with corals. - To keep corals and aggressive fish (with there bio load) - Is very tough.
I dont touch my tank.
Best wishes.
 

limitedslip

Member
Im running a wetdry w/ a protien skimmer on my 125, so far, its working perfectly. I should be picking up a UV soon, which will keep the water crystal
. The live rock rule only applys if you have a reef tank, w/ an aggressive tank its not needed. I have no live rock, and about 20lb of base rock (for hiding) in my tank.
depending on the size of your tank depends on your filtration mostly. Sumps are extremely nice for various reasons. The first is being you can hide stuff liek heaters and PS's, and other accessories, making your tank overall look nicer. Another nice advantage of a sump is simply its size, it can take more abuse than hangon filtration, which if you have sumthing like a porcupine puffer or any other extremely messy eater, is like, a goddsend
since you dont have to worry about a lil piece of krill blocking the intake lol. If you are running a small tank (55 or lower). you might be able to get away w/ no sump, but strictly because fish you get for a 55 dont grow large generally, and you are not throwing as much food into the tank.
a fuge, isnt needed, we dont need to create copepods and since aggressive dont generally house coral, you can use just lots of mechanical filtration vs. biological filtration.
More details on what you wanna do for an aggressive would be a great help. like, size and planned stocklist would be a great help for us to give you better advice.
 

reefstar22

Member
I agree.
Just remember that biological filtration will require less maintenance long term vs mechanical. - Its completely personal pref.
He is correct about the live rock statement. - But that will go back to what you want to have in your tank.
 

limitedslip

Member
cost difference wont matter much from mechanical overtime vs. biological at a one time fee. You figure live rock is on average $4-5 a lb. If you use the rule of 1lb per gallon, that already $220 to $275. Figuring you would need a protein skimmer no matter what you did. UV's cost about $125 on average for a small tank (thats a high estimate). Assuming you replace the UV bulb every 6 months to a year, it would take a LLLOOONGGG time before th e cost even reaches that of the live rock.
The real issure for most ppl to use live rock is simply its looks. Live rock looks better than base rock, and the bioligicals do help a bit (not if your eaters are messy though). But some ppl think live rock gives the tank a more natural look. I prefer a big empty tank w/ large fish, so I have no live rock. But if you like the look of liverock, dont get a UV, as UVs kill all bioligicals in the water.
 

reefstar22

Member
Originally Posted by Limitedslip
cost difference wont matter much from mechanical overtime vs. biological at a one time fee. You figure live rock is on average $4-5 a lb. If you use the rule of 1lb per gallon, that already $220 to $275. Figuring you would need a protein skimmer no matter what you did. UV's cost about $125 on average for a small tank (thats a high estimate). Assuming you replace the UV bulb every 6 months to a year, it would take a LLLOOONGGG time before th e cost even reaches that of the live rock.
The real issure for most ppl to use live rock is simply its looks. Live rock looks better than base rock, and the bioligicals do help a bit (not if your eaters are messy though). But some ppl think live rock gives the tank a more natural look. I prefer a big empty tank w/ large fish, so I have no live rock. But if you like the look of liverock, dont get a UV, as UVs kill all bioligicals in the water.

I'm rather tired of hearing your uneducated rants.

I suggest you read a few books on this hobby. I'm not even going to call you out on where your wrong.

fyi, learn how to spell. Might give you atleast some form of creditability.
 

limitedslip

Member
explain what is uneducated about it? after the research I have done (books, web, and people w/ first hand experience), this is what I have come up w/, and what I am currently running on my tank.
 

dstoneburg

Member
Originally Posted by Reefstar22
EDIT:Deleted the post.
For someone who "loves" SWF.com you sure have a different way of expressing yourself. This is a forum dedicated to people sharing their EXPERIENCES. Given some is purly fact, alot of what members suggest or imply is usually what works best for them or others and is generally accepted as correct. If you want purly facts and nothing more or less go get a textbook. While if you disagree with something, instead of making a crude statement, make a credible and valued post outliting why and then throw some facts and or experiences that back it up. Limitedslip has always been very good about helping people and putting them on the right tract, and has outlined his way of running a tank very well through numerous threads, so I must agree if its working for him, then he has the right to share.
 

reefstar22

Member
well dstone,
lets start. - I have a close friend worked for a public aquarium. - he wasn't a head guy or the smartest guy there, but he has taken be behind the scenes to meet many important people in the industry. I've seen first hand how they filter there systems and how they make them stable.
Such comments as "LIVE ROCKS IS FOR LOOKS" is the biggest load of horse manure I have EVER read on this site. Secondly when he states " UV WILL HURT YOUR LIVE ROCK" is another load of horse manure.
This person has been educated in correctly and is passing off his false information as fact. - I would suggest instead of encouraging him you should correct him. - Being that this is an ONLINE forum for people to express and share there interests it is in the INTEREST of the community to correct people from sharing incorrect information.

If you are going to set up an aggressive tank that is stable and suitable for long term use you are going to do the following things.
QT before the animals are placed in the display.
UV run on the tank to insure free floating bacteria is contained and held to a minimum. - Nothing is 100%
Live Rock - in the display or in another location is crucial to insure that biological balance is maintained.
DSB - You should run one in ANOTHER location separate from the main display because aggressive fish have a tendency to move sand/dig holes.
Skimmer - Running a Solid skimmer will insure the major amounts of waste are removed properly.
Now that my rant is over, I hope you take time as well to read a few books. - Just because someone SOUNDS like they know what they're talking about doesn't mean they KNOW what they're talking about.
 

reefstar22

Member
MAIN DISPLAY - LIVE ROCK
FILTER - UV
I wonder how they co-exist? - Because according to limited its not possible. - My tank has been stable for several years with NO spikes, NO crashes , NO problems period. - Not to mention its a REEF tank with sensitive corals and AGGRESSIVE fish. - Funny how there HEAVY bio-load doesn't effect ANYTHING. - Why? BECAUSE IT WAS SET UP BY PROFESSIONALS.
Anthony Calfo would roll over in his bed if he read this thread.

 

limitedslip

Member
Originally Posted by Reefstar22
well dstone,
lets start. - I have a close friend worked for a public aquarium. - he wasn't a head guy or the smartest guy there, but he has taken be behind the scenes to meet many important people in the industry. I've seen first hand how they filter there systems and how they make them stable.
Such comments as "LIVE ROCKS IS FOR LOOKS" is the biggest load of horse manure I have EVER read on this site. Secondly when he states " UV WILL HURT YOUR LIVE ROCK" is another load of horse manure.
This person has been educated in correctly and is passing off his false information as fact. - I would suggest instead of encouraging him you should correct him. - Being that this is an ONLINE forum for people to express and share there interests it is in the INTEREST of the community to correct people from sharing incorrect information.

If you are going to set up an aggressive tank that is stable and suitable for long term use you are going to do the following things.
QT before the animals are placed in the display.
UV run on the tank to insure free floating bacteria is contained and held to a minimum. - Nothing is 100%
Live Rock - in the display or in another location is crucial to insure that biological balance is maintained.
DSB - You should run one in ANOTHER location separate from the main display because aggressive fish have a tendency to move sand/dig holes.
Skimmer - Running a Solid skimmer will insure the major amounts of waste are removed properly.
Now that my rant is over, I hope you take time as well to read a few books. - Just because someone SOUNDS like they know what they're talking about doesn't mean they KNOW what they're talking about.

My info comes from a few sources as well, one of the sources that happens to be a problem w/ live rock is, well, somone who has experienced it first hand. I understand that live rock is a good thing to have. BUT IT IS NOT NEEDED OF AN AGGRESSIVE.
I did not ever say one word about you overloading your bioload ever did I? I never said anything about problems with your tank coexisting did I? see, now you are just making problems outa thin air. I have a hammer coral in my aggressive, simply because it wasnt doing good in my reef, and so far, it is doing great. I do not know your stocklist, I do not konw your set up, and I do know what else you are running? and did I EVER ONCE MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT YOUR TANK? no. I think you just want to show off and go off topic. He is asking a question about filtration, I assume he is new to aggressive. If he wasnt, he would have stated a little bit more about what he wants, since he is stating a basic question, you give him a simple answer, if he requests more, you give him more, etc. You dont need to confuse people, you just need to teach them what they need to know, and when they need to know more, you explain it more.
QT tank is alway a good idea, I too have one, but that was never brought up. So I never mentioned it. The question I believe was filtration, not, How do I set up an aggressive. So where ur mind came up w/ that, I do not know

Most people who I have met, and dealt w/, and alot of info I have read in books states that UV kills free floatin bacteria. And 2 people i know have had problems w/ UV and live rock. So I was sharing the information I LEARNED from expereince. not from a book. If you feel the information I have gathered is different from alot that other people have experienced, just state it,dont try to discredit everything i say.
If you believe I was wrong on the subject, you simply had to correct me and say, this isnt true because X wouldnt cause X because of X. not be a total douche about the sitation, maybe my experience differs from you, doesnt mean your better than anyone else in any way shape or form.
I mentioned a skimmer as well, so why you are trying to act like you are better than everyone else w/ information.
I do not know, maybe you just need to get some stress of you, its funny how people take stuff seriuos over the internet lol, im just here to have fun and share my knowledge, If you have a problem w/ that, apparently, you are the only one
.
I am just sharing the knowledge I have learned, and experienced while I set up my tank, not professionals.
Everything w/ saltwater is trial and error for anyone who starts out. and well, aiming them in the right direction is key.
you gave me a good laugh reefer lol. It always amuses me when people go nuts on the internet. Good job.lol, you made my day.
 

dstoneburg

Member
Reefer, I feel like you completly missed the point of my post. We are here to share our experiences, and instead of just flat out telling someone are the un-educated, make a educated response. Tell them why you disagree and give them some reasons. Don't just tell them they are stupid and need to read more books, help educate them. We are here to learn. BTW After reading many of your post's, step off the high horse bro, its kind of annoying.
 

reefstar22

Member
Limited,
I am going to get worked up. You have made several comments in the past week or so in MY threads and other threads i've read that are incorrect. So I called you out on it. Another person stood up for you, because of your reputation. If your responses were educated and helpful I would not have done so.
I think giving the OP incorrect information is going to hurt him in the long term. - Before you give advice remember. - Practice doesn't make perfect. PERFECT practice makes perfect.
Just because you've experienced something doesn't mean you've experianced it correctly.
 

reefstar22

Member
Originally Posted by ophiura
Name calling and disruptive posts are not welcome on this site.

We respect your place as a MOD. - However, you having such a roll IMO obligates you to correct members when they are giving out incorrect information. - Such comments as limited as made calling me a "douche" should be corrected before calling out for terms like " Un-educated "
 

limitedslip

Member
im done trying to reason with you, lol, its like beating a dead horse, no matter what anyone says, you always have to be right in your eyes. as dstoneburg said, get off you high horse, and just enjoy the hobby.
 

andy51632

Member
Wow, alot of different views.
I am not new to saltwater but I am wanting to setup my first large tank(180 to 240gal). I am not forsure whether to go with a aggressive setup where I have alot of different choices on fish or go with a reef setup where my choices are limited.
Right now I have a 90gal that I have been fooling around with for a year. I have got alot of basics down, like proper maintenance, water testing, salt mixing, researching before buying.
I understand that a reef setup is going to be alot more expensive than an aggressive FO setup. Doing the research on how much more expensive it will be.
One more question, What do you think I will enjoy more a reef tank or a Fish Only aggressive setup and why?
Thanks for all the responses.
 

dstoneburg

Member
Originally Posted by Reefstar22
We respect your place as a MOD. - However, you having such a roll IMO obligates you to correct members when they are giving out incorrect information. - Such comments as limited as made calling me a "douche" should be corrected before calling out for terms like " Un-educated "

You seem to enjoy confrontation, so Ill make this my post to you. Your calling out everyone, even the mods. The entire point I was making, is make your posts constructive. Dont call someone out and tell them they are un-educated. instead educate them with what you believe is right, and maybe that will spark a lively debate and bring out many positive and correct ways to advance this hobby.
 

dstoneburg

Member
Originally Posted by andy51632
Wow, alot of different views.
I am not new to saltwater but I am wanting to setup my first large tank(180 to 240gal). I am not forsure whether to go with a aggressive setup where I have alot of different choices on fish or go with a reef setup where my choices are limited.
Right now I have a 90gal that I have been fooling around with for a year. I have got alot of basics down, like proper maintenance, water testing, salt mixing, researching before buying.
I understand that a reef setup is going to be alot more expensive than an aggressive FO setup. Doing the research on how much more expensive it will be.
One more question, What do you think I will enjoy more a reef tank or a Fish Only aggressive setup and why?
Thanks for all the responses.

I recently switched from a 90g reef to FOWLR. I think its like comparing chocolate to vanilla. It depends on what you like. I like FOWLR because its SOOOO much cheaper, much easier to handle and I myself enjoy fish more then inverts. I like the idea of being able to slack on some things if need be. I like being able to go on vacation and not worry about losing $3000 in livestock. While some of these are to the extreme, a reef tank is almost like a child, Very needy. Reef's take alot of time - money - dedication. Almost like a second job some would say. So I myself want to keep this as a hobby and for me a hobby can't take up too much of my time, as I have little left already. :p
 
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