How Many Filters Are Needed?

[blesum]

I can't seem to find a clear post that answers this really simple question.
There are filter beds, live rock, water filters, protein skimmers, live sand, deep live sand beds, scavenger animals and God knows what else that are commonly used for filtration here by the members.
What do I really need? From what I've gathered and figured out, the best filtration are in this order: Live rock, protein skimmers, deep live sand beds, live sand beds, water filters, filter beds and then scavenger animals. Is that about right?
Can I just get away with the first three in a 120 gal? 100 pounds of live rock (more if needed?), 2 to 4 inches of live sand and a Coralife 220 Super protein skimmer? The less things my class and I need to buy, adjust, fiddle, keep track of or worry about breaking, the better.
-Blesum

 

[dfelton]

I'm also new, but have been told to ONLY have 3/4 to 1 in. max of sand.
I'm going with a wet/dry sump as i've been told they are the easiest to clean and I can hide my protein skimmer (came with it too) and my heater in there, so that they are not handing off the tank.
I was tld that w/ a proper pump on the wet/dry I wouldn't need a power head, but I plan on doing corals, so I'll probably get one anyway.
I'm also doing a 120 gallon and going w/ about 120 lbs. of liverock. I'm pretty sure that inverts are needed to keep algae down, but still trying to figure out how many hermits. Probably do w/ 2 dozon hermits and 10 turbo snails to start.
My biggest questions have been around lighting as I want to do it once and be done w/ and have space issues and venting to deal w/.
Good luck!

 

[oreo12]

Originally Posted by Blesum
.
What do I really need? From what I've gathered and figured out, the best filtration are in this order: Live rock, protein skimmers, deep live sand beds, live sand beds, water filters, filter beds and then scavenger animals. Is that about right?
-Blesum
sounds right to me

 

[blesum]

Originally Posted by dfelton
I'm also new, but have been told to ONLY have 3/4 to 1 in. max of sand.
I'm going with a wet/dry sump as i've been told they are the easiest to clean and I can hide my protein skimmer (came with it too) and my heater in there, so that they are not handing off the tank.
So how much sand? Anybody? I'm supposed to dump a bunch in tomorrow evening...
What's a sump? We really need a sticky post with all the lingo. I was able to discover what RO water stood for and was able to tell another newbie here what that was. So far I think I've figured that a fudge (did I even spell it right?) is another tank connected to the main tank, but used for cleaning/filtering only. I also think I've figured out that a refug is a refugee tank to isolate another animals/items from the main tank. But a sump?? Sounds big if it can house some type of filtration device, a skimmer and a heater.

-Blesum
P.S. The big question still goes unanswered...

 

[dexter]

these are the specs on my 100 gallon i set up about 4 months ago. May help you.
100 gallon closed loop
1-2.5" Live sandbed (4" deep in places)
100# Live rock
20 gallon sump
150-175 gallon rated Nautilis skimmer
440 vho
auto top off of RO/DI water
Cleaning crew (absoutely vital in my opinion)
35-40 turbo astro snails
15 nassarius snails
80-100+ hermits (blus, scarlet, grey legged)
2 brittle stars
1 peppermint shrimp(need 2 more)
1 camelback shrimp
2 coral banded shrimp
8-10 emerald crabs (need 2 more)
2 sally lightfoot
1 cleaner shrimp
1 queen conch
2 sand sifting cucumbers (1 lg, 1 small)
I have had no problems with filtration, live stock health, etc. Invert die off was expected, however, it has been help to about 10-15% between shipping and normal die off of hermits (canabalizm!

)
Hope this helps. Pic attached, as I can never pass up an opportunity to show off my tank!

Dxtr

 

[oreo12]

Originally Posted by Dexter
these are the specs on my 100 gallon i set up about 4 months ago. May help you.
100 gallon closed loop
1-2.5" Live sandbed (4" deep in places)
100# Live rock
20 gallon sump
150-175 gallon rated Nautilis skimmer
440 vho
auto top off of RO/DI water
Cleaning crew (absoutely vital in my opinion)
35-40 turbo astro snails
15 nassarius snails
80-100+ hermits (blus, scarlet, grey legged)
2 brittle stars
1 peppermint shrimp(need 2 more)
1 camelback shrimp
2 coral banded shrimp
8-10 emerald crabs (need 2 more)
2 sally lightfoot
1 cleaner shrimp
1 queen conch
2 sand sifting cucumbers (1 lg, 1 small)
I have had no problems with filtration, live stock health, etc. Invert die off was expected, however, it has been help to about 10-15% between shipping and normal die off of hermits (canabalizm!

)
Hope this helps. Pic attached, as I can never pass up an opportunity to show off my tank!

Dxtr
nice tank

 

[dexter]

Thanks!

Old pic, these's only about 70# of LR in that pic. I have added another 30+# to the right side of the tank since that pic.

Dxtr

 

[wax32]

Sand is the most debated issue in reef keeping some say none and it goes all the way up to 6 inches. I personally like 2 inches. Your plan sounds good for 100 pounds or so of rock. I'd go with 2 inches (but that's me) of sand. And a skimmer. I have no experience with BIG hang on skimmers. I have a EuroReef skimmer in my sump.

The Sump
A sump is another tank connected via plumbing to house your various gear. Search the board and you will find TONS of info.
Here is a rough diagram of mine, including a closed loop I have for more circulation:

The Schematic

 

[maeistero]

:thinking: wax are you spending more time here than on your tank? shame on you! i couldn't believe your post count compared to me!! i... must... help... more....
i personally would stay away from a deep sand bed (DSB). i think it holds too much as i don't see much sifting going lower than 3". 2" looks low in my tanks i personally think because the front inch or so is covered anyways. i like to see my sandsifters! i would put a skimmer&heater in a sump rather than go with wet/dry. closed loop systems are a lot cheaper than powerheads, but consider plumbing that may leak vs looking at powerheads in your tank.
i would say this order is my h o : ro, lr, ls (or extreme filtration w/o), skimmer, water movement, and big clean-up crew.

 

[oreo12]

nice post on that sump that is what I like to see verry detailed .

 

[1911_guy]

WAX32, chiller...ha
that stinks if you had to run a chiller. what was your temp before you invested into that thing?
What Euro-reef skimmer are you running? I have the CS6-2, finally got my plumbing fixed last weekend so my skimmer hasn't settled in yet. Can you tell me anything about yours(skimmer), maybe some tips I could use? Thanks

 

[agent707]

Originally Posted by Blesum
So how much sand? Anybody? I'm supposed to dump a bunch in tomorrow evening...
What's a sump? We really need a sticky post with all the lingo. I was able to discover what RO water stood for and was able to tell another newbie here what that was. So far I think I've figured that a fudge (did I even spell it right?) is another tank connected to the main tank, but used for cleaning/filtering only. I also think I've figured out that a refug is a refugee tank to isolate another animals/items from the main tank. But a sump?? Sounds big if it can house some type of filtration device, a skimmer and a heater.

-Blesum
P.S. The big question still goes unanswered...
Sounds like to me you don't have very much patience. You will not find the "one answer", as there isn't "one answer".
You know the old saying... "There's 20 ways to skin a ___"
Same applies to the aquarium setup also.
Be patient. Just make a decision on what to go with and stick with it. There's no need to loose sleep over it. From what you're "already guessing"... you'll do fine and have a good aquarium. Which is a lot better then I did starting out.
I made one, and only one mistake when I set my aquarium up. I had not looked at this forum. You've already made it passed that. So you shouldn't worry. ***)

 

[symon]

Originally Posted by Blesum
I can't seem to find a clear post that answers this really simple question.
There are filter beds, live rock, water filters, protein skimmers, live sand, deep live sand beds, scavenger animals and God knows what else that are commonly used for filtration here by the members.
What do I really need? From what I've gathered and figured out, the best filtration are in this order: Live rock, protein skimmers, deep live sand beds, live sand beds, water filters, filter beds and then scavenger animals. Is that about right?
Can I just get away with the first three in a 120 gal? 100 pounds of live rock (more if needed?), 2 to 4 inches of live sand and a Coralife 220 Super protein skimmer? The less things my class and I need to buy, adjust, fiddle, keep track of or worry about breaking, the better.
-Blesum
One thing for sure , is that you ask 10 people and get 10 differant answers!
But here's my 2 cents worth, I would keep things as simple as possible for starters, if i where doing a 120 ( simply) I would do about 1.5 - 2" of sand, 100 lbs of live rock, 3-4 1200 maxi jets and a good skimmer! You want to use RO water to mix your salt into, 1.024. You will need to let is cycle for about a month, you can put a cocktail shrimp in there to get the cycle going. Just toss it in and let it decay!
Keep an eye on the water, you will want to test for ammonia, nitrates and nitrites
You will see your water readings spike and then drop to 0, thats when you know you have cycled your tank.
Once you have cycled , You can put together a good cleaning crew
Look at this site they sell some nice cleaning crews, also it will give you an idea as to what you should be looking for locally. Once you have added your cleaning crew, give it a couple of weeks, Because you will probably see your water readings spike a little, give it time to adjust to the new Bioload, An then you can start Looking into adding something pretty to look at !
Patience, Patience and still more patience!
I do hope this helps, I Personally had the same issues when i fist started my tank, so much information out there it was hard to decide what to do! I have had to redo my tank to some degree , i went with Crushed coral , do not go with Crushed coral! I have since changed it out to a sand substrate, Much nicer and water is more stable!
Oh yea almost forgot, A refugium (fuge for short) is a way of filtering your tank without having everything hanging in your display tank, It's very nice, But if you don't have the room , well it's just not needed!
A skimmer not only removes some nasty stuff from your tank but also helps to mix some oxygen into your water, Power Heads keep that water moving, Most saltwater critters like a current!
Man i just realized, I have gone on and on, sorry for the windbaginess! Anyhow, like i said before , You can find many Opinions here, and they will all work!
SO in parting let me add, If any of the experts have something to add , Please do !