Need Filtration Help

[lunchboxman]

Hello All,
I'm setting up a 75 gallon tank and need advice on what filtration to use. My local store advised me to use a canister filter and someone else advised me to us a trickle down filter with an overflow box and sump pump. I plan on using a good amount of live rock to begin and plan to add some coral down the road. As far as fish, when I add them I just plan to stay small with what best fits a reef set up. I do plan on using snails and crabs as cleaners. What do you advise for this set up?

 

[geoj]

A must have IMHO is a skimmer. For a 75g tank I think going with a in sump skimmer would be the best thing. So going with a 75g reef ready tank ( a tank drilled with overflow) and a big sump with a good skimmer like a Super Reef Octopus CONE Protein Skimmer

 

[geoj]

I would also down the road use a Media Reactor filter instead of the canister filter. One like Phosban Reactor to run chemical media.

 

[flower]

They both have pros and cons
Canister is the easiest to install and the quietest to run, but a once a month job to maintain. It holds all kinds of different media and a super plus is the spray bar, to move surface water and free up the power heads for keeping the rocks nice and clean and the coral happy. Without a spray bar you will need to aim the power heads at the surface to move that...It traps you with a HOB skimmer, a HUGE grief because I have yet to find a good one that doesn't spew microbubbles or skim right.
Sumps, wet/dry filters...they are great for adding refugiums, and equipment is hidden like skimmers (microbubbles are trapped to not enter the main tank), heaters and ATOs, it also adds extra water volume and require the least amount of maintenance.
...I have used both and both work great to keep the tank pristine. I prefer the sump system...because of the skimmer.
I rigged a power head with a PVC pipe..drilled some holes in it, and made my own spray bar, That allows the rest of my power heads to do something besides agitate the surface water...If I want to run media in the sump, I attach a mesh bag to the overflow hose so water runs through it.

 

[lunchboxman]

I figured the skimmer would be best, thanks for the assurance! Appreciate the help.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by lunchboxman http:///t/387461/need-filtration-help#post_3409664
I figured the skimmer would be best, thanks for the assurance! Appreciate the help.
YAY!!! That's what we are here for..to help each other. I love the in sump Octopus 1000..I have that on the 90g...I have a Tunz nano on my 30g that is also a great skimmer, so both of those brands I know are good.
The power head with PVC is real helpful...you only need one cheap little maxijet to really move the surface nice....If you do it...the less holes, the stronger the jet spray to move the water, more is not better in that case at least. Make sure the end cap is good and tight.
A sump sounds like a creek with water running all the time ( I like the sound..some don't). A canister runs silent.