is this good filtration for a 55 gal?
- Thread starter hp65
- Start date
eg_hatch
Member
Canister filters arent really good..Because they dont provide enough air/water mixture so good bacteria can grow..Alot of people are going with the natural method now.. live rock ,a deep sand bed..and, if u want, a refugium which is a place for macroalgaes, or a xenia farm(do some research on that).. either of those will eat up your phosphate,nitrate and nitrite levels..
nm reef
Active Member
The filtration mentioned above may be adaquate for lightly stocked fish only systems...but there are many more methods to consider. Most hobbyists use a more natural filtration that relys on biological methods instead of mechanical methods. I'd suggest some research on the benefits of using live rock and live sand as a primary filtration source. Skimmers and refugiums can also be of benefit. The amount and type of circulation will depend on what you intend to keep...a few powerheads may work for smaller fish only systems...but if you intend to keep corals then serious consideration needs to be given to random/chaotic circulation.:thinking:
hp65
Member
well I do have about 50 pounds of live rock as well and I was thinking about building a sump but i don't have very much room under my stand and I don't want to have a sump put in the open as I have birds and I don't want them trowing stuff in there but do you think i could build a sump good enough fo a 55 gallon that would be roughly 11"w 12"d and 16"h
msd2
Active Member
Originally posted by hp65
well I do have about 50 pounds of live rock as well and I was thinking about building a sump but i don't have very much room under my stand and I don't want to have a sump put in the open as I have birds and I don't want them trowing stuff in there but do you think i could build a sump good enough fo a 55 gallon that would be roughly 11"w 12"d and 16"h
If you can I would make it wider, say 18 or at least 16. I say this because if you want to add a skimmer in the future it will give you room. Also some room to grow for additional filtration if you so desire. I found out the hard way myself. My first sump was 14x9x16 which is just too small to fit my new skimmer so im using it as a fuge now. I was a pennywise and a pound foolish.
thedraven
Member
Something to consider (if you wanna go the canister route) is the Magnum 350 with the large Bio Wheels. Although its not as cosmetically pleasing, this would provide you with excellent mechanical and bio filtration. I think the majority or people here use wet/dry filters however... I would probably do the same if wasnt for my three slippery ferrets (they would probably get into the sump and drown). Im setting up a reef 72 gal and will probably run two mag 350s (with one bio wheel). Keep in mind live rock is also a form of bio filtration.