Berlin system

[ads_sar]

Hi, has anyone had any experiance using a berlin system ie. live rock and a good skimmer? I am in the process of setting up a new system and have new used this approach. If anyone has a good or bad experiances with it please let me know.
Thanks!

 

[hillk]

that is what I do and I put a fuge on there as well with chaeto and it works great. No bio balls just a sock, skimmer, and fuge. I also just started using this stuff called Biohome, which IS a sock filled with the stuff about the size of your fist is equal to having a 5 gallon bucket of bio balls

 

[ads_sar]

sounds good, what skimmer are you using? How heavy is your stocking? i have heard that using a berlin system limits your stocking levels?

 

[SDguy]

Classic Berlin systems would often end up with high nitrates and possibly phosphates. I had one in 1989 This can be overcome a couple ways. A remote deep sand bed (DSB) in a bucket, for example.

They have been somewhat modified of late into the bare bottom (BB) systems, which included a very powerful skimmer (usually skimming wet - often becketts are favored in this application) and a tremendous amount of flow in the tank with the idea that detritus and whatnot never settles, but is swept into the skimmer and removed. This is the headline version....for more indepth info, look up BB systems.

 

[ads_sar]

Did you have success when using your system in 89? What is your ideal set up, i am trying to get a broad view of all systems before i set up the new tank.

 

[SDguy]

My old berlin system had major faults. Live rock in one big pile...major dead spots in terms of water flow. Overall very little flow in the tank. Inefficient skimmer. Too much feeding. Results: lots of algae but also lots of very happy corals that like nutrient rich water - mushrooms, colt coral, toadstools, etc.

My ideal setup? Not sure yet. My previous tank had a DSB. I was very happy with the tank. But acros didn't do too well. My new tank has more acros. It's currently BB, but not sure what I'm going to do about sand yet. One thing I did know...I love lots of fish, so I got a really good sized skimmer for the tank.

hth

 

[ads_sar]

Thanks for the info!

So far i am thinking of setting up my new tank using the following;

50 gal cube tank
25 kg fiji live rock
2 canistor filters with mech filtration to avoid conflit with the LR, any ideas i was thinking carbon?
Arcadia single pendant halides, as the tank is a cube its only 30 inch wide.
Deltec MC skimmer
Four good powerheads for circulation
A light sprinkling of live sand on the bottom.

I would have to use a sump to house the equipment but i dont fancy drilling an assembled tank!

What do you think? Any feedback would be much appreciated!

 

[hawaiianwargod]

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[welcome]

 

[SDguy]

Reconsider the canister filters. They need to be cleaned frequently.

No sump?

Perhaps a bit less live rock, depending on density. I know from experience, starting out with too much rock ends up with not enough room for coral growth.