need a litte advice

[grovey]

I'm upgrading my whole set up next month and would like some ideas as to what filtration to go with, without spending a small fortune i'm not sure what is best for my setup
75 gal and i'm going for a total reef setup
let me know which is best brands of filter system and which type also should i go with a sterilizer and refuge tank if so what size tank should i use

 

[midwest reefer]

First off, no steralizer. Their not good for reefs.
For biological filtration I would use a DSB and maybe put a undergravel filter without the tubes and pump obviously or a piece of egg crate under the sand. Also a good amount of LR. Stay away from bioballs and things of that nature, Im finding out the hardway how they are bad and a pain to remove.
A refugium would be good. You can make them on your own or buy ones such as eco system or I believe CPR makes one as well. My dad and I both use eco systems and they work great, but Ive realized it would have been much cheaper to make one out of a rubbermaid bucket, or a small tank.
Lastly a sump with a good skimmer. You can make a sump pretty easily as well. As for skimmers theres lots out there. Most people here reccomend euro-reef.

 

[dburr]

Live rock, live sand(with NOTHING under the sand)and a good skimmer in the biggest sump?refuge you can stuff under the tank. This can be another tank or any rubbermaid container.

 

[grovey]

so for a refuge tank you just get some LR a filter for it and a water pump and run it into the other tank via tubing into what just dump off into tank? i would really like a refuge

 

[dburr]

A skimmer. Is that what you mean by filter?
You need a overflow. it works by syphone, tubing, a tank(maybe baffles)and a pump to bring the water up and dumped into your tank. Then some macro algae.

 

[striper]

were do you get macro algae

 

[nm reef]

I've got all my assorted macro algaes from fellow reefkeepers...locally and via shipments.

 

[grovey]

so would this work
obviously with the bigges tank or other tank type box What would make a good sturdy setup

 

[grovey]

also what kind of lighting should be kept on a refugiam are we talking PC VHO or just a nice 10,000 K flouro

 

[grovey]

sorry this may work better

 

[nitram]

I dont know if this is the best setup or not but here is how my setup is set up. I have a overflow box that runs down to my refuge that is split up into 3 sections. I have a 10 gal sump area with a skimmer in the sump, then to a 30 gal refuge area then a 10 gal return section with a pump in it to return to tank. i have a DSB and 80lbs LR and 60 lbs base rock 4 power heads with filter attachments for movment, I have a 3X175 watt MH and 4X96 watt PC lighting system On the way,and thats it. I would like to add some kind of good filter someday but everyone here says I dont need on I think it is good to have the skimmer before the refuge though, not for sure though.