I agree with Dave 100% and just to elaborate more it also comes down to what type of tank you want. What are its characteristics? What type of animals are you trying to support? Easy fish and corals or more challenging ones? For example, will it be SPS only, LPS only, Softy only or a mixed reef? There's a big difference in each of these setups and each come with there own set of challenges. Do you love a tank full of fish or just a few with corals being the predominate attraction? And while you may have success with one type of filtration, product or technique, your tank may respond indifferently or negatively to another. That said there are definitely some gadgets, theories, products, etc. that are snake oil and are completely unnecessary and others that are extremely effective.
From my experience and research I can describe a little bit of my plans for my 310. Some things will be utilized and hopefully others won't, but I'd rather have and not need than need and not have. Often times going back and changing something is difficult. Especially when it comes to plumbing. So for example, I have a 9 port manifold on a dedicated pump. I don't want a situation where down the road if I want to add something it means redoing my plumbing or adding more pumps and clutter to my sump. For me I want to incorporate diversity in not only the life of my tank but the different zones that are present on a natural reef. So the manifold feeds the following... Cryptic Refugium, Macro Algae Refugium, Remote Deep Sand Bed, UV, Carbon Reactor, GFO Reactor, Bio Pellet Reactor, Calcium Reactor and a Frag Tank. I'll also have an automatic batch water changer that replaces 3 gallons per day with filtered natural sea water (Benefits of living next to the Gulf). I want to keep a challenging mixed reef, with some challenging animals so I'll also have an automatic artemia hatch and feeder hooked to the system. Hopefully I won't need the carbon, GFO or bio pellets, but if I do, they are on the ready. I suspect I will need them though as I love a tank full of fish and will be feeding heavily.
Like I said, ultimately it comes down to the type of tank you want to have. Is it going to be something like Peter's magnificent creation (RIP)? With the experienced eye, this picture alone shows some rather challenging and difficult to keep species. Or something simple and easy that won't require much intervention for it to thrive. Like the second picture of a very nice large soft coral tank I randomly pulled off the internet.
Knowing what you want your reef to be will dictate how it's setup and the different products you may utilize.
From my experience and research I can describe a little bit of my plans for my 310. Some things will be utilized and hopefully others won't, but I'd rather have and not need than need and not have. Often times going back and changing something is difficult. Especially when it comes to plumbing. So for example, I have a 9 port manifold on a dedicated pump. I don't want a situation where down the road if I want to add something it means redoing my plumbing or adding more pumps and clutter to my sump. For me I want to incorporate diversity in not only the life of my tank but the different zones that are present on a natural reef. So the manifold feeds the following... Cryptic Refugium, Macro Algae Refugium, Remote Deep Sand Bed, UV, Carbon Reactor, GFO Reactor, Bio Pellet Reactor, Calcium Reactor and a Frag Tank. I'll also have an automatic batch water changer that replaces 3 gallons per day with filtered natural sea water (Benefits of living next to the Gulf). I want to keep a challenging mixed reef, with some challenging animals so I'll also have an automatic artemia hatch and feeder hooked to the system. Hopefully I won't need the carbon, GFO or bio pellets, but if I do, they are on the ready. I suspect I will need them though as I love a tank full of fish and will be feeding heavily.
Like I said, ultimately it comes down to the type of tank you want to have. Is it going to be something like Peter's magnificent creation (RIP)? With the experienced eye, this picture alone shows some rather challenging and difficult to keep species. Or something simple and easy that won't require much intervention for it to thrive. Like the second picture of a very nice large soft coral tank I randomly pulled off the internet.
Knowing what you want your reef to be will dictate how it's setup and the different products you may utilize.
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