gruve
New Member
Hi all, I've been researching saltwater aquariums for about 2 weeks straight now in hopes of getting launched in this awesome hobbie. I'm going to post a few of these "Gruve Wants To Know" posts in hopes of getting good info on the various systems involved in keeping a nice reef setup.
I've got a pretty big technical and science background so I do want to do this right in that I'll be able to experiment with different varieties of verts/inverts, corals, clams, anemones, etc. I don't necessarily need to be able to host ALL species, but keeping a good range would be ideal.
So On To...
--Gruve Wants To Know -- Reef Filtration --
So I want to start a 75-90gal reef setup, maybe not all at once, but gradually build to a full reef and would like to start off in such a way that allows me to have as many options open as possible.
I'm leaning toward a NON drilled sump setup, but could be persuaded otherwise to like a canister or something of that sort.
I plan on having LR/LS right away and then introduce some janitors to do upkeep. I'm not quite sure what the best option for filtration is. My parameters are:
1. that the system not be noisey - the one a the LFS is a kent rocking thing and when I openned the stand to look at it, first thing i noticed over all the barking dogs and what not was the knocking of the rocking filter inside.
2. that the system be as easily maintained as possible - some people ive read use bio bags or socks in their systems that need to be emptied every few days. I'd like to eliminate this kind of work so I can focus on other things in the system upkeep. Why create more work when a different choice or a few extra bucks could save you the hassle?
3. I'm pretty much against drilling holes in the glass of my aquarium, so I want to avoid that if possible
4. Well, basically I want to make sure I have that aquarium "trickle" sound, do sumps eliminate this?
Really i'd like the Best, Easiest option (I can pretty much build or setup anything I think, by easy I mean low hassle).
What I have in mind is an in tank overflow which flows to a hanging collection and down into a sump of some sort. I know I need a protein skimmer in there so I was looking at Urchin, Reef Devil, and Aqua Medic. Any input on which would best fit my needs?
Also, I've seen prefilters and fuges mentioned, but havent come across a lot of info on these. I wonder what else I need besides the protein skimmer and the LR/LS in the tank?
WHERE THE HECK DO YOU GET THE SUMP FROM?? heh maybe thats a dumb question but what do you make it out of or get it from? How many gallons should it be? I was thinking either some sort of cheap plastic container from walmart or maybe a cheapy 10 gallon tank?
I'm guessing I'd get the water back up from the sump to the tank with a pump which would basically dictate the rate of water flow through the filtration system - water pumped in = water overflowing and falling down into the sump.
How by the way does the water get from the overflow over the side into the hanging collection before falling down into the sump? I'd think a siphon might work unless theres a small pump or something, I'd be worried about water levels dropping and the siphon failing.
So I guess, If you experts were going to design sort of a nice, easy sump system without drilling, what parts/filters would you use, I guess what pump(s), and DEFINITELY how many GPH needs to flow through the filtration system...
---Keep an eye out for "Gruve Wants to Know" - I know there are a lot of us just starting off and I really hope this answers a lot of peoples questions. THANKS FOR ANY INFO!!
I've got a pretty big technical and science background so I do want to do this right in that I'll be able to experiment with different varieties of verts/inverts, corals, clams, anemones, etc. I don't necessarily need to be able to host ALL species, but keeping a good range would be ideal.
So On To...
--Gruve Wants To Know -- Reef Filtration --
So I want to start a 75-90gal reef setup, maybe not all at once, but gradually build to a full reef and would like to start off in such a way that allows me to have as many options open as possible.
I'm leaning toward a NON drilled sump setup, but could be persuaded otherwise to like a canister or something of that sort.
I plan on having LR/LS right away and then introduce some janitors to do upkeep. I'm not quite sure what the best option for filtration is. My parameters are:
1. that the system not be noisey - the one a the LFS is a kent rocking thing and when I openned the stand to look at it, first thing i noticed over all the barking dogs and what not was the knocking of the rocking filter inside.
2. that the system be as easily maintained as possible - some people ive read use bio bags or socks in their systems that need to be emptied every few days. I'd like to eliminate this kind of work so I can focus on other things in the system upkeep. Why create more work when a different choice or a few extra bucks could save you the hassle?
3. I'm pretty much against drilling holes in the glass of my aquarium, so I want to avoid that if possible
4. Well, basically I want to make sure I have that aquarium "trickle" sound, do sumps eliminate this?
Really i'd like the Best, Easiest option (I can pretty much build or setup anything I think, by easy I mean low hassle).
What I have in mind is an in tank overflow which flows to a hanging collection and down into a sump of some sort. I know I need a protein skimmer in there so I was looking at Urchin, Reef Devil, and Aqua Medic. Any input on which would best fit my needs?
Also, I've seen prefilters and fuges mentioned, but havent come across a lot of info on these. I wonder what else I need besides the protein skimmer and the LR/LS in the tank?
WHERE THE HECK DO YOU GET THE SUMP FROM?? heh maybe thats a dumb question but what do you make it out of or get it from? How many gallons should it be? I was thinking either some sort of cheap plastic container from walmart or maybe a cheapy 10 gallon tank?
I'm guessing I'd get the water back up from the sump to the tank with a pump which would basically dictate the rate of water flow through the filtration system - water pumped in = water overflowing and falling down into the sump.
How by the way does the water get from the overflow over the side into the hanging collection before falling down into the sump? I'd think a siphon might work unless theres a small pump or something, I'd be worried about water levels dropping and the siphon failing.
So I guess, If you experts were going to design sort of a nice, easy sump system without drilling, what parts/filters would you use, I guess what pump(s), and DEFINITELY how many GPH needs to flow through the filtration system...
---Keep an eye out for "Gruve Wants to Know" - I know there are a lot of us just starting off and I really hope this answers a lot of peoples questions. THANKS FOR ANY INFO!!
