Which filter would you choose?

[clocksta]

Hey there guys and gals!
I'm sure most of you read through my thread from last week or so, but if not, I will be working on getting my 55 gal led set up for my first SW tank. I am starting to work on the $$ and will be starting to buy things next week. Not 100% sure yet on how I am going to go filter wise. I was thinking about using the filter that the kit came with, as well as a canister (mag 350, xp2, xp3, 305, 405?? who knows!?) BUT! Would it be worthy to try a wet/dry? And what am I looking at as far as costs to make/buy a wet/dry set up? The tank will be a FOWLR as I do not trust myself with coral just yet. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated!
Thank you!
-Ryan
--Also, please explain the reason behind your recommendation to help me understand

 

[calbert0]

Dont do a wet dry... research nitrate factories because without continuous maintenance that's what a wet/dry will turn in to.
Set up a sump (either bought or homemade) that accommodates a refugium with deep sand bed and macro algae, a section for a skimmer and a section for your return pump.
Do some thread searching, the information and the pictures are there.

 

[clocksta]

I have done a lot of searching and can't seem to find an easy way of building a sump.
-Ryan

 

[aquaknight]

A wet/dry is like 90% of the work to setup as a more traditional sump. You still have to setup an overflow, and figure out the return pump. The main difference is that you usually have to install the dividers yourself in the sump, instead of buying a nearly ready-to-go wet/dry. Costs are actually very similar between them. If building the dividers is an issue, look into possibly finding a sump built locally, have your LFS build it for you, or any glass shop could probably do it too.
Because you mentioned that the plan was for a FOWLR, I was going to lean and recommend the wet/dry, but because the tank is only a 55gal, the possible fish selection is generally somewhat limited, so the overall bioload isn't going to be that potentially high with proper stocking. So a traditional sump with in-sump skimmer and refugium, is likely the better alternative.

 

[al&burke]

Hey Ryan, I am about a year into this hobby, had FW tanks since I was a kid, did the turn over to SW because my 9 year old liked SW fish, colors and corals. I went and bought a 65 gallon tank built the stand bought a Fluval FX5 canister filter and Coral Life PS. Set everything up then about a month or two into it I found this site. I wish i found it before I started. Everything was running OK with the canister filter however my nitrates would never be low. So recently I started my 65 reef upgrade to a sump fuge set up. I wish I did it right from the start sumps/fuges are really not that hard to build, Flower on this site even built one from a 30 gallon tank for her horse tank. There is a lot of information on sumps in this site if you need help there are a lot of people that will help you with return pumps, protein skimmers, fuges, lights, etc. You just have to decide on a tank and what you want to put in it, right now you say FOWLR but believe me once you start to see what is out there for corals you will want some. Once you get your tank and stand let me know I can help you out with a drawing for your sump/fuge if that is the route you choose, I don't think you will be disappointed. God Luck, Al

 

[beth]

Are you setting up a live rock or reef system? Go with more natural filters, and less mechancial filters.

 

[gemmy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Al&Burke http:///forum/thread/384134/which-filter-would-you-choose#post_3364313
Hey Ryan, I am about a year into this hobby, had FW tanks since I was a kid, did the turn over to SW because my 9 year old liked SW fish, colors and corals. I went and bought a 65 gallon tank built the stand bought a Fluval FX5 canister filter and Coral Life PS. Set everything up then about a month or two into it I found this site. I wish i found it before I started. Everything was running OK with the canister filter however my nitrates would never be low. So recently I started my 65 reef upgrade to a sump fuge set up. I wish I did it right from the start sumps/fuges are really not that hard to build, Flower on this site even built one from a 30 gallon tank for her horse tank. There is a lot of information on sumps in this site if you need help there are a lot of people that will help you with return pumps, protein skimmers, fuges, lights, etc. You just have to decide on a tank and what you want to put in it, right now you say FOWLR but believe me once you start to see what is out there for corals you will want some. Once you get your tank and stand let me know I can help you out with a drawing for your sump/fuge if that is the route you choose, I don't think you will be disappointed. God Luck, Al
+1. You will find that people on here are very patient and will help you pretty much every step along the way.

 

[florida joe]

Quote:
Dont do a wet dry... research nitrate factories because without continuous maintenance that's what a wet/dry will turn in to.
Can you elaborate on what you mean by continuous maintenance?

 

[clocksta]

I have the tank, and will be purchasing my stand probably this week (just a 55 gal iron stand) I am set on FOWLR, i would like coral but don't trust myself yet, nor do I have money for the extra lighting. I will save coral for my next tank which will be larger, more like 125gal. As far as stocking, the tank will most likely consist of 1 of each; Clownfish, Royal Gramma, Blue Reef Chromis, Blue Saphire Damsel. Something around that, still working on looking into the stocking of the tank 8 )
-Ryan