filtration

[schwa6970]

just starting to shop around for equipment to set up reef in 50 gal tank and cant seem to lock down what kind of filtration i need some say lr with protein skimmer some say wet/dry with skimmer i have it figured out that i need a skimmer and lr and some live sand found some live rock holding tank sludge on xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx that seems highly recomended just cant seem to figure out do i or dont i need anything but live rock and a skimmer.thinking of putting an external 20 gal tank under main with just some sand and skimmer and letting the live rock do its job :help:

 

[grubsnaek]

go with live sand, live rock. how much of each should you get. about 1 to 2 pounds per gallon. on the sand if you want to go DSB then you add more sand.
deff on the skimmer. you must have one.
if you feel like going all out then you can add a UV sterilizer.(extra security)
some water movement through powerheads.
with the 20 gallon tank set up a sump.
you could have the skimmer, heaters, fuge,UV sterilizer, and return pump all in the 20 gallon. thats if you set up a sump.
if you went this route it would be alot easier on you and much better upgrade than most people start off with. most people upgrade to their tanks with this set up after months of running.
i went the high road bought the better things and just have a sick tank. thats only if its in your budget.
hope this helped.

 

[aztec reef]

well if your going reef, You can't go wrong with at least 1.5lbs of lr per gallon, a high quality proteing skimmer and if you want sand to do its job you got to have at least 4"sand bed, otherwise it will only be for loooks.and if you are one of those people that dont like the look of deep bed .then thats were setting up a sump comes in to play, meaning that you can have the sump as your deep sand bed.