Lets talk about sps filtration.

[reefslugs]

I read the sps forum all the time. Knowing that the sps corals require a low nutrient environment. I rarely read anything about the entire filtration system being used. I would like for people to post here their entire filtration systems. Not just I use zeovit or bio pellets, but the hole system. Basically I'm looking for the perfect filter setup. Here is a list of things that I would like people to report about their filter system.

#1 what size tank

#2 what size sump

#3 what size skimmer by what water filtration can it handle

#4 deep sand bed, little sand bad, no sand bed

#5 any sponges or socks

#6 refugium, no refugium

#7 Media being used and how much

#8 biological method if being used

I would also ask that you post a full tank shot to back up how good your tank is doing.

Here's my story and why I am asking these questions. I have been in the salt water hobby for more than seventeen years. I have had many tanks, always up grading in size. My current tank is a 200 gallon. It has been set up for three years now. It's the worst tank I have tried to maintain. It makes me wish I had my old 110 with the exact system set up. My current tank has a 65 gallon sump. With a Octopus extreme 250 skimmer, handles up to 250g. No sponges or socks. I run two phosband reactors. One with carbon and the other with TLF bio pellets. I also run a Midwest Aquatics sulfur denitrator. In the tank I have a five inch sand bed. Running this filtration system set up, I still have 25ppm nitrates and my sps are not looking good. This is the reason why I am asking about everyones filter system setups.

 

[lolgranny]

What looks bad about your sps? browned out? dull color? pale?

What kind of flow do you have?

What kind of lighting?

Are you feeding you sps?

Im no where near the size tank as yours, but i hope to be once im done with college.
Here is what i have!

40g breeder

20g L sump

NAC-6 skimmer (rated at about 150g, 125-HEAVY load)

no sand bed

I use a sock in my sump, change it out every 2-3days

Have a fuge with a massive ball of cheato, some LR rubble and 6" of sand

0 Media being used, Dosing nothing.

My tank is doing very well, i have no algae, excellent growth in my corals, and good coloration. Granted the colors could be better. I just as of lastnight started feeding (roti / oyster feast) I also want to up the flow in my tank. Im currently running about 3500gph through the display with use of 3koralia+2 and 1koralia#3, plus a mag9.5 as the return.

I do a 10g water change 2x's a month. Have 7 fish which i overfeed and 3 shrimp.

Tank has a 250w MH + 2-65w PC's.

Alk sits at 10, Mg-1350, Ca-420

 

[TheMikey]

#1 what size tank
15 Gallon

#2 what size sump
None

#3 what size skimmer by what water filtration can it handle
Tunze 9002 - Up to 52 gallons

#4 deep sand bed, little sand bad, no sand bed
Little sand bed

#5 any sponges or socks
None - No sump

#6 refugium, no refugium
None.

#7 Media being used and how much
None

#8 biological method if being used
None.

I would also ask that you post a full tank shot to back up how good your tank is doing.

Since I've taken this, I've replaced my Koralia 1s with a Vortech MP10. Amazingly, about a week after I added my vortech, my SPS have coloured up substantially. I think that the "Reefcrest" mode is keeping whatever the SPS is feeding on in the water column longer. My polyps have incredible extension too.

 

[Nanook]

#1 what size tank

1200 gallon mixed reef (stonies-both LPS & SPS, softies)




#2 what size sump

200 gallons





#3 what size skimmer by what water filtration can it handle

Humongous custom GEO recirculating needlewheel/beckett




#4 deep sand bed, little sand bad, no sand bed

Shallow sand bed




#5 any sponges or socks

None, too much work




#6 refugium, no refugium

Useless, IMO, removing it




#7 Media being used and how much

Recommended carbon and GFO amounts




#8 biological method if being used

GEO sulphur denitrator, working like a champ

 

[Nanook]

25ppm nitrates will make SPS brown. Is your denitrator still not tuned in?

 

[Nanook]

Also, getting the "feel" for a larger system takes time. Once you get it down, you will be OK, IMO.

 

[Brian Chong]

#1 what size tank
24x24x20 50 gallons
#2 what size sump
18 gallons
#3 what size skimmer by what water filtration can it handle
SWC 160 Extreme Cone Skimmer. heavy bio load rating is 100 gallons
#4 deep sand bed, little sand bad, no sand bed
1" sand bed for looks
#5 any sponges or socks
No. too much work
#6 refugium, no refugium
Chaeto in the sump
#7 Media being used and how much
I use carbon on a rare basis
#8 biological method if being used
Chaeto

I have 90% sps and I use the heavy import/export method because I really like chalices and have a few favias and 2 acans and planning on getting maybe 2 more really nice acans.

 

[reefslugs]

25ppm nitrates will make SPS brown. Is your denitrator still not tuned in?

Nope! Took it all a part and refilled it with Caribisea sulfur. I tested it tonight and it's at 0 nitrate at a slow drip so I uped the drip. Bio pellets have been in there for three weeks. I have not seen a difference other than a cloudy tank for four days and lost some corals.

 

[Brian Chong]

here are pics

 

[Brian Chong]

 

[reefslugs]

Brian Chong, Thats what I looking for. Your tank is awesome! You should be nominated for tank of the month. But I only see one fish. Thats probable where my tank gets hurt. I love the fish.

What do you mean by, I use the heavy import/export method.

 

[Brian Chong]

hahaha there are so many reefers on here that have way nicer tanks and corals but thanks for the compliment. I have a yellow tang, bartlett's anthias, algae blenny, six-line wrasse, allardii's clown(my favorite clown since it doesnt stay in one place like many other types), cleaner shrimp, dragon face pipefish, a hermit, and a bunch of hitchhiker slugs.
The heavy import/ export is heavy feeding (I feed 4 times daily but I never feed frozen) and using a skimmer that is rated at the least, double the size of your tank and 10% weekly water changes

 

[MammothReefer]

#1 what size tank

65 gallon 36x24x18

#2 what size sump

40 gallon breeder *only keep it half full.

#3 what size skimmer by what water filtration can it handle

SRO Cone XP-2000 rated for 180.

#4 deep sand bed, little sand bad, no sand bed

Just enough to give the rocks something to sit on

#5 any sponges or socks

Intermittently use filters socks depending on wash cycle

#6 refugium, no refugium

NIEN!

#7 Media being used and how much


Rowa, cup and carbon (cup). Was using WM pellets for 5 months or so took them off about 6 or so weeks ago. May return if N+P climb.

#8 biological method if being used
Just LR.

Not sure where WC fits..but 10 gallon water changes every week.. or if I feel brave I do a 15g. once in a while If I head down south I'll bring back some NSW from scripps.

 

[drummereef]

Hey Darrell, hope this helps.

#1 what size tank
180g 72x24x24

#2 what size sump
75g 56x22x14. Running volume 48g.

#3 what size skimmer by what water filtration can it handle
SWC 250A (Askoll Version) - rated at least double tank volume.

#4 deep sand bed, little sand bad, no sand bed
SSB, <1"

#5 any sponges or socks
No. I only use socks when basting live rock.

#6 refugium, no refugium
No.

#7 Media being used and how much
1L Warner Marine EcoBAK Biopellets and BRS Carbon (been experimenting with different amounts of carbon but usually 1/3c per 50g).

#8 biological method if being used
Live Rock and Bio Pellets.

 

[reefslugs]

The reason why I have brought up this topic is because of my failure to keep my larger tank successful. I have not only up graded to a larger tank, but have up graded all the equipment to the latest and greatest as of what I can afford.

Here is a picture of my old 110 gallon.

<a href="http://s214.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/reefsluge/?action=view&current=DSC02235.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/reefsluge/DSC02235.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Here is my tank now.

<a href="http://s214.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/reefsluge/?action=view&current=124.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/reefsluge/124.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Here is my filtration now.

<a href="http://s214.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/reefsluge/?action=view&current=DSC08136.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/reefsluge/DSC08136.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Not being able to keep sps is making my hobby depressing.

 

[zaheda]

Reefslugs, how come I dont see any of those nice sps in the new tank?
Nanook how come does the refugium dont do anything for the system. If properly setup it should help a bit. My friend lost all his fish with the sulphar denitrater when the power went out few hours.

 

[jroovers]

Have you considered that the deep sand bed in your display is possibly the source of your nutrient issues? Based on th info you provided that would be my guess. My last tank was a 55 gallon with a deep sand bed in the display... I had no nutrient issues for the first year or so but then the nitrates began to slowly creep upward.

I don't think I would do a deep sand bed it the display again... better to keep it compartimentalized in the fuge chanmber of a sump or completely seperate in a differnet container IMO. In my 120 I have a DSB in the fuge and about an inch of substrate in the display that I am siphoning regularly.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

#1 what size tank
125g

#2 what size sump
30g

#3 what size skimmer by what water filtration can it handle
ASM G2

#4 deep sand bed, little sand bad, no sand bed
Shallow sand bed

#5 any sponges or socks
I use socks 24/7. I tried to cut back but couldn't take the particles floating in the tank

#6 refugium, no refugium
No, I tried too use chaeto but can't keep it alive

#7 Media being used and how much
GAC

#8 biological method if being used
I dose vodka on a daily bases keeping nitrates and phosphates down


I recently moved to California and had to restart, all the corals are frags, here is the tank about a month ago:
<img src="http://api.photoshop.com/v1.0/accounts/7597f43bc1cf43e59b7b221c6f90495f/assets/f68bb21b62a14e2cbe10fc82cae99434" width="1239" height="313"/>

 

[jroovers]

I guess I should post my details too...

#1 what size tank

120 gallon

#2 what size sump

40 gallon

#3 what size skimmer by what water filtration can it handle

Mesh/recirc modded ASM G3

#4 deep sand bed, little sand bad, no sand bed

1" SSB in display, 6" DSB in refugium in sump

#5 any sponges or socks

Socks on both drains (one to skimmer area and one to refug in sump)

#6 refugium, no refugium

Refug with DSB, live rock

#7 Media being used and how much

Carbon/GFO, Biopellets (~350 to 400 ml)

#8 biological method if being used

Probiotic with Carbon Dosing/MB7

I shoud add that I had problems with nutrient levels and recently did a huge clean-up of my sump and display, and implemented filter socks. Now I think I have too few nutrients, but am on the way back to colouring things back up. I don't have a recent FTS.

 

[reefjunkie42]

if my tank is 187 gal and my sump is 55 gal. what skimmer should i get, id like to stick with Reef octo , but am open to recommendations.
SRO 3000 sss
SRO 5000 sss