Reef Filtration???

tanqueray

tanqueray

New Member
Okay so ive done alot of researching about reefs. Ive been in the saltwater hobby for about 8 years but have stuck with fowlr setups with maybe a few coral here and there(the easy's like frogs sapwn, hammerheads, things like that) I currently have a 75g with a marine tidepool for filtration(but ive heard that wet/dry are bad because they are nitrate factories), and a cheapy hang on skimmer. Ive been trying to research whats the best filtration methods for a reef tank, which is what i am wanting to get into. And i am still unclear at whats the best way. I guess i am stuck in the old school where mechincal filtraiton is a must. I guess i just dont understand. Ive seen a lot of the DIY sumps and am thinking about doing that. What EXACTLY needs to be in there for the BEST setup. Fuge setup? DSB? Sorry if this sounds confusing, its just that i am so confused at what i need to do. I guess i am just amazed that a lot of the stuff i am reading are people that do no use any type of mechincal filtration and pretty much just rely on a kick ass protien skimmer. Any and all info you guys could give me on this would be greatly appreciated, or even just point me in the right direction for more reading, or even some really good books. Thanks!!
 
natclanwy

natclanwy

Active Member
Your wet dry is fine as long as it is cleaned periodically, but only processes ammonia and nitrite into nitrate. Wet dry systems and other mechanical filters do nothing for nitrate removal except by exporting dietrus before it is converted into ammonia and nitrite by cleaning the filters. There are three basic ways to remove nitrate from your reef tank: water changes, macro algae, anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria are the most difficult to maintain in large enough populations to process all of the nitrate produce in a closed system because they need oxygen deprived areas to survive. I am a strong supporter of DSB's I have one on my tank pretty much everyone in my local reef club runs them and none of us have had any issues arise from the DSB. It is important to educate yourself in the use and maintenance of a DSB though if you want to be successful.
Protein skimmers help with nitrates but I don't think they are a large exporter of materials that will be converted to nitrates at least not on the scale that a DSB or a refugium with macro algae can provide.
I have no mechanical filtration on my tank at all anymore, I did have a canister but I need to replace an o-ring that was leaking and haven't ever got around to it so far I don't see a need to put it back on my tank and its been three months. I use 130lbs of LR, a DSB and refugium with chaeto for my waste processing and I am able to maintain my nitrates and phosphates at zero and I am pretty lax on water changes about 5g a month on my 55g tank with a 29g sump/refugium (70g total water volume) but I have gone several months without a water change when I have been working out of town.
Hopefully I answered some of your questions its getting late and I think I'm just rambling.
 
tanqueray

tanqueray

New Member
Originally Posted by natclanwy
http:///forum/post/2998120
Your wet dry is fine as long as it is cleaned periodically, but only processes ammonia and nitrite into nitrate. Wet dry systems and other mechanical filters do nothing for nitrate removal except by exporting dietrus before it is converted into ammonia and nitrite by cleaning the filters. There are three basic ways to remove nitrate from your reef tank: water changes, macro algae, anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria are the most difficult to maintain in large enough populations to process all of the nitrate produce in a closed system because they need oxygen deprived areas to survive. I am a strong supporter of DSB's I have one on my tank pretty much everyone in my local reef club runs them and none of us have had any issues arise from the DSB. It is important to educate yourself in the use and maintenance of a DSB though if you want to be successful.
Protein skimmers help with nitrates but I don't think they are a large exporter of materials that will be converted to nitrates at least not on the scale that a DSB or a refugium with macro algae can provide.
I have no mechanical filtration on my tank at all anymore, I did have a canister but I need to replace an o-ring that was leaking and haven't ever got around to it so far I don't see a need to put it back on my tank and its been three months. I use 130lbs of LR, a DSB and refugium with chaeto for my waste processing and I am able to maintain my nitrates and phosphates at zero and I am pretty lax on water changes about 5g a month on my 55g tank with a 29g sump/refugium (70g total water volume) but I have gone several months without a water change when I have been working out of town.
Hopefully I answered some of your questions its getting late and I think I'm just rambling.
Thanks so much for all the info you gave me, that did clear up a few issues i was having. I was going to go Wet/drym but after a lot of research(and you) i am gonna do a sump with refugium. On my 75g, what would be a really good size sump to get? I know and heard that bigger is better, but was looking for more of a definite figure. 55g tank?
 
jdl

jdl

Member
Originally Posted by tanqueray
http:///forum/post/2998324
Thanks so much for all the info you gave me, that did clear up a few issues i was having. I was going to go Wet/drym but after a lot of research(and you) i am gonna do a sump with refugium. On my 75g, what would be a really good size sump to get? I know and heard that bigger is better, but was looking for more of a definite figure. 55g tank?
The definite answer is as big as you can fit under your stand which also gives you room to work. If this is not going under your stand, look into rubbermaid stock tanks.
also make sure you buy a good skimmer, it is your best friend for a reef tank.
 
tanqueray

tanqueray

New Member
Originally Posted by JDL
http:///forum/post/2998342
The definite answer is as big as you can fit under your stand which also gives you room to work. If this is not going under your stand, look into rubbermaid stock tanks.
also make sure you buy a good skimmer, it is your best friend for a reef tank.
Its in the wall in my basement, so it doesnt need ot go under the tank. rubbermaid stock tanks huh? Where can i get one of those at?
 
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