filtration question

[greggnyce]

Among yourselves what filter system do you find to work the best with a reef system?

 

[chemisfun11]

Can you be more specific? Are you talking about RO/DI, biological, mechanical etc.

 

[jnfallon]

Live rock, heavy chaotic flow, aggressive skimming, carbon

 

[greggnyce]

I was refering to wet/dry, canister, and others. Jnfallon I am upgrading to a 90 gal w/ refugium, sump, alot of rock, and a big skimmer.I have been reading alot about corals but I dont see much about filtration sytems so I am just trying to find out what works well for others before I waste a bunch of cash.

 

[vyger]

Far as i know the only filtration is the live rock ...Except for maybe a sponge in the sump to catch particulate matter.

 

[bobbbm]

I use water socks for the entrance of the sump, then a Skimmer and the middle chamber is a refugium with a DSB and some rubble and Macro. the last chamber is clean water hopefully I Think the rule of thumb with a reef is 2 LBS per gallon of live rock.

 

[bobbbm]

Ohh since we are on the subject... How many of you use carbon? How often and where do you put it?

 

[Neurotech]

Greg, The bioballs that some used in wet/drys and the canister filters are counterproductive as they just hold onto too many nutrients and you end up with high nitrates. I still use a canister on my softy tank, since it wasn't drilled, but I took out the foam flter paads and only use it for the flow and as a place to put carbon and phosphate remover media as needed. If you do use a canister that way, it should be cleaned at least once a month.
The main filtration for a reef tank consists of protein skimming and live rock. Some are using a deep sand bed, but some say that it can over time build up too many nitrates. In my new tank, I am going barebottom (no sand) , but have live sand in the sump's refugium. Many swear by adding macroalgae such as chaeto and caulerpa to the refugium, to help export nitrates and maintain a more steady ph.
Boneh

 

[shyland83]

I started with hang on and a biowheel, not really a good option. I agree, live rock, protein skimming, some carbon. 2 lbs of LR per gallon seems a little high to me, I think 1.5 is more than enough but i might be wrong.

I put my carbon in a mesh bag and just hang it on the main drain pipe into my sump so it gets good flow. I think on my new tank i'm going to mix it with the phos media in my phosban reactor.