filtration on a planted tank?

[clown fanatic]

i had been toying with the thought of setting up a planted SW tank and i was just curious as to what most of you use as filtration. idk if there would be much use for a fuge. would you set up a sump and use bio-balls? i thought i read somewhere that bioballs would produce nitrates ina liquid form, and wouldnt that be good for plants?

well let me know

thanks

 

[Samala]

I think we've tossed this idea around before in the macro forum on the use of bioballs. It isnt a terrible idea, IMO, but I dont know if anyone has attempted it yet. You would definitely want a lot of biological filtration for a SH tank, and keep the flow in the tank to a low velocity. You still want good turnover though to prevent any other troubles like hypoxia.

I believe more than a few SH keepers use canisters on their tanks along with some LR and macroalgae and this situation works out well. Hopefully a few of them will pop up for you. On small SH tanks I've just run filter attachments to powerheads.

>Sarah

 

[BruceW]

I am running the cpr cyclone biofilter on my seagrass tank. It has the biobale instead of bioballs. I am not sure if this is the best set up but with regular cleaning it seems to work well. Check out the before and after pics here http://forum.seahorse.org/index.php?showtopic=28381

The main drawback to the cpr is the cost. Mine ended up being just under $600 with all the tubing and return pump.

Bruce