65 gallon filtration

[frozenapple22]

Ok so I am planning on re-doing my filtration system within the next month or two. I am planning to go almost all marineland.

I am planning to go with the marineland sump skimmer and canister filter.

here they are:

model 2
rated 75 galloons
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3579+19052&pcatid=19052


rated 100 gallons
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=18985&rel=1


C-360 rated 100 gallons
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3579+16744&pcatid=16744



wondering if anyone has had any experience with any of these products any info would help.

 

[redfishsc]

I have no experience with any of those products (although the skimmer looks interesting!).

However, I would like to comment on their use.

1) The bio-wheel in the sump is about useless except for oxygenating the water. Yes, it will work GREAT as a biofilter, but your live rock will work just as well. The problem with biowheels, bioballs, etc... is that they eventually develop a lot of schmeg on them which degrades, contributing to nitrate buildup. So, you clean it well.... and kill off the bacterial colony.... and potentially causing a tank cycled (ie, ammonia bomb).
---- besides that, if you have a power outage, any portion of the wheel that is out of the water stands a big chance of drying and dying, which would be very bad news.


2) As for the canister filter, it's probably a very good one. You have to be very cautious with canister filters though, since they can also become neglected nitrate factories. If you let it go long without cleaning it, it will develop the same buildup (except a LOT quicker) and elevate your nitrates.



My opinion: buy the biggest sump you can afford that doesn't have all the bio-ball/bio-wheel widgets (www.melevsreef.com ftw!)--- put your mechanical and chemical filtration in there as well.

Then, skip the canister filter and just use a regular water pump to circulate the water.


And buy the biggest skimmer you can afford.


That's it--- sump w/filter media, big skimmer, and circulation pump--- that's exactly what I run on my 20g (slightly smaller scale )

 

[redfishsc]

btw, when I say to put the mech/chem filtration in the sump, the water has to actively pass through it, most commercially made sumps have a place for such things (or can be easily modded for it).

 

[t4zalews]

get a euro-reef rs80 skimmer...I have it on my 65 and it works like a beast. Great bang for the buck