PrOtEiN sKiMmEr AnD fIlTrAtIoN

hopkins6

hopkins6

Member
Why do people have sumps and are they better than hang on stuff? How does this sound for a 55 reef, a protein skimmer, and one of those emperer filters with 2 bio wheels. And are uv sterilizers bad for reef tanks? Just want to get the right stuff. and what are the dimensions for your 55 gallon? And is their a filter out their that goes in a sump that is not a wet/dry filter cause they cost too much for my 14 year old wallet. Would you recommend getting a sump over hang on stuff. thanks so000000 much.
:jumping: :jumping: :jumping: :joy:
 
masala4080

masala4080

Member
How important is a protein skimmer to a reef tank?
- Protien skimmers are one of the most, if not the most crucial peice of equiptment in a saltwater tank-
Why do people have sumps and are they better than hang on stuff?
- People have sumps to eliminate most of the clutter in the main tank. By creating a seperate tank or area you can put most, if not all equiptment in there. Including heaters, filters, protien skimmers, ect.-
How does this sound for a 55 reef, back pack hang on filter (has built in skimmer), and one of those emperer filters with 2 bio wheels.
- This sounds ok...to some extent. The Bak Pak by CPR will work fine, but since reef tanks require great water conditions, and as well as create a big amount of Bioload, more filtration may be needed. Refugiums are very benifitial. Do a search on this site and check out Refugiums and how to make a Sump/Fuge in one.-
And are uv sterilizers bad for reef tanks? Just want to get the right stuff.
- I havn't used one myself, but people say it has its pros and cons. People say even though it does take out some bad stuff that is in your water, it can also take out benifitial stuff as well. Also, they do not kill parasites..like ich, which has been a big misconception about them-
and what are the dimensions for your 55 gallon?
- I don't have one, but I believe a common size is 48"x13"x20"-
thanks so000000 much.
- Sure, no problem!:)-
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
I'd have to 2nd the importance of a protein skimmer...Even in a FO tank they are still important believe it or not... That is one area I wouldn't skimp on... Alot of people have different opinions on skimmer choices though... Alot of people will recommend Euro, ASM, Berlin, AquaC, etc... Depends on your wallet as you said, but don't skimp...
A sump can be as simple as an extra tank lying around or even at the Dollar Store, Big Lots, Walmart you can get rubbermaid containers that you can use as a simple sump setup....We all know what you mean about the prices of wet/dry and acrylic sumps....
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
UV sterilizers are debateable, but personally have never used them so I really can't comment... I would say that this would be a back burner item as far as setup... Alot of people will say they will kill more bad than good, but everything has it's drawbacks though it seems....I would recommend a good quaranting system rather than relying on a UV sterilizer all together...but it would serve it's purpose though
 
snipe

snipe

Active Member
55 gallon tanks dont really need a sump and there to small underneat to really fit one unless it was like 7 gallons or less. I wouldnt really worry to mutch about them if you wanted one then that would be ok but you may get like a hang on back refurgium or a hang on back sump. A refugerium or sump would really out do a hang in filter by far.
 
sankysyuck

sankysyuck

Member
If I were you, I wouldn't buy a UV sterilizer. It's just more money for something that isn't crucial for success in your tank. I started this fish hobby when I was about 12 years old (I'm 15 now) and now I have a 60 gallon Discus/freshwater stingray tank, and in that, I use a UV sterilizer. It's great, id recommend it for people with large FRESHwater aquariums. It kills a lot of bacteria and prevents many diseases. I've heard that it does kill a lot of good bacteria, but I think this is a misconception. It must be good to use, since most respectable and large fish stores use them in most of there tanks. Plus, it’s kept my discus and stingray alive for almost 3 years. It doesn't kill ick from your tank, but it does help prevent it. I also have a 50 gallon saltwater non-reef tank and I do not use a UV. I don't see the need, I've got a protein skimmer, and plenty of filtration, I'm not going to spend $100 on something that’s not too important.
P.S. I also have a 55 gallon tank and it is 36" x 17" x 18", nice and wide for my freshwater stingray only tank!
 
hopkins6

hopkins6

Member
so i shouldn't get a sump. fine with me. but will the hang on stuff really look ugly or is it not that noticable cause i won't have a conopy.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
IMHO I would opt for a sump no matter what.... don't agree with the theory that it's to small to fit one underneath... Anything is possible just depends how creative your are!!!!I don't think you would be happy in the long run with a hang on the back sump or refugium......
The big question is how handy are you?? You could make a sump/fuge easily from acrylic to fit nicely under that tank!!!!
 
snipe

snipe

Active Member
don't agree with the theory that it's to small to fit one underneath
No it really isnt unless you do what I said go with a small tank or a bowfront 10 gallon "kinda up there for a 10 gallon tank". A 10 gallon is just 2 wide to fit in an already setup tank. The only way to get it in there is to put it in through the back of the stand and even then it would be cramped.
Here is a pic of my tank. The stuff in there dotnt look bad but hey you may not like it so here is a pic for you.
 
snipe

snipe

Active Member
I have lace rock with around 10lbs of live rock. It is about 2 and half to 3 months old it is around 85 lbs of rock. My lace rock is seeding really fast from my live rock.
 
hopkins6

hopkins6

Member
You snipe, what you got for filtration and skimmer and do you have a sump? The back looks nice.
Is there a filter out their that goes in a sump that is not a wet/dry?
 
hopkins6

hopkins6

Member
You snipe, what you got for filtration and skimmer and do you have a sump? The back looks nice.
Is there a filter out their that goes in a sump that is not a wet/dry?
 
jonny bolt

jonny bolt

Member
An Emperor or Penguin 350 will be fine for your 55g. My friend has 2 55's, 1 with 2 Penguin 200's, and the other has the Penguin 350. They work fine, the tanks are beautiful. You dont really need a sump with a 55 in my opinion. If you plan on a reef tank or plan on stocking the maximum amount of fish you can in a 55g, a protein skimmer will be needed. Get a SeaClone or sumthing. For your intial "cycling", you dont really need a protein skimmer. But after you add corals and/or fish, more wastes will accumulate, and thats equals heavier bio-load, so do yourself a favor before you reach that point and get the best skimmer you can afford.
Never used a UV sterilizer, so I cant help you there. But I see no need for one with the setup you are planning.
Are you going to be using live rock and live sand? If so, these are the best natural filters, and will aid your hang filter with filtration.
 
snipe

snipe

Active Member
what you got for filtration and skimmer and do you have a sump? The back looks nice.
I have a penguine 330 and a jebo 180 protein skimmer "that I need to empty :rolleyes: "
Is there a filter out their that goes in a sump that is not a wet/dry?[
You can put any kinda filter you want to hang on the sump. Like you could take my penguine 330 and just shorten the tube that sucks the water up and hang it on right on the sump. Its just that sumps are needed for bigger tanks. Most "EVERYONE" dont use a sump or wet/dry for a 55 gallon tank. Now a refurgium is diffrent if you want to keep like manderin gobies or something like that then there needed to help produce little creatures that the manderin eats. If you dont have it he will eat all the bugs in the tank and starve. They also remove nitrates really well. I am planning on putting one on my tank and removing my penquine 330. Im just gonna use a hangon refurgium that is around 18"'s I dont think I can fit a bigger one on my tank.
On the sump/wet/dry thing there just not really needed for small tanks but you could have one if you wanted.
 
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