Need some explaining :P

[NickHawk]

Hey, Ive been in the hobby for awhile (4 years) but most of that has been with just a fish and liverock tank. I have recently decided to upgrade to a 108 gallon system and aim for a full blown reef aquarium. My setup is planned like this: 108 gallon with 40 gallon sump, I have a fluval FX5 as filtration with a protein skimmer.
As of now I am yet to design a lighting system. I was wondering what your views on this system are as well as additional information the may help me. I also would like someone to explain to me the use of refugiums and the production phytoplanton and rotifers, I have no clue what these are and what purpose they serve. Also, if anyone could help me with the lighting system that would be great also!

 

[Carl_in_Florida]

The search button is going to be your friend.

The canister filter will be more of a detriment than a friend. The rock will do the filtration. Your goal is going to be more water movement than the canister filter can give.

Lots of choices on lighting.

phyto and rotifiers will only matter if you get livestock that needs them.

Carl

 

[paulfromero]

Hi,

I just got a FX5. I dont believe they are widely available in the U.S. yet, so I feel like an early adopter. It is a real big cannister filter....It runs 607 gph!! In any case, while I may be lazy, the cannisters I run hold chemi-pure, which advertises that you dont need water changes. After 8 months, I have a happy tank with no water changes, skimmer, or sump. Just my tank...I hope this example helps in your planning.

Paul

 

[doodoobrown]

you will find that many dont use canister filters for reef tanks. if you do use it you will definately need more than that for flow. take all of the stuff out of it for starters. as far as lighting goes it really depends on what kind of corals you plan on keeping. softies like zoas, leathers, shrooms etc. dont require as much as sps. if you are keeping the later you will need a mh setup. if you are keeping softies you can go with vho, pc or t5s. or you can go with a combo and keep whatever. my personal favorite is mh and vho. if you keep sps you will need to have lots and lots of flow. softies dont require as much. figure out what you want first and better suggestions can be made.

 

[bertoni]

Personally, I wouldn't skip water changes just because of Chemi-Pure. I probably wouldn't use the product except possibly in emergency situations.

A refugium is really just a separate tank plumbed into the system. This tank is used to grow macroalgae or small animals that couldn't survive in the main tank. Harvesting the macroalge removes nutrients from the tank, and the small animals can provide food for various animals.

Lighting choices depend on the animals that you want to keep. What are the dimensions of the tank in question?

 

[paulfromero]

Hi,

I am not recommending a cannister only setup for sps. Just my tank happens to run OK with them. Its mostly fish and softies. There is also a big Iwaki closed loop for main circulation. I would recommend a commercial sump setup; mine was home made, and I killed more fish due to its numerous hiccups than any other reason. That was part of the learning curve, I guess, but still unfortunate, to say the least.

Good luck!!

Paul

 

[PatMayo]

paulfromero,
I think you are playing with danger. Doing no water changes more than likely will result in bad things happening. Maybe not today or tomorrow but I think the clock is ticking.

I use Chemi-Pure as well and still do water changes weekly. It's much better for your tank and the longevity of the tank and it's inhabitants.

Regards,

Pat

 

[Teremei]

yeah I'm deffinatly with the group on water changes. Your tank uses up many elements that need to be replenished. Most salt brands are good having important elements that help to restock the tank with these elements, more than just "cleaning" the water.

 

[jdieck]

I would not recomend canister filtration or any kind of mechanical filtration at all just a good oversized skimmer and good water flow will do.
Reef creatures feed out of plankton in the water column mechanical filtration removes much of it so you will be forced to feed them creating a potential for additional nutrinets addition which the filter will just convert into Nitrates resulting in undesirable algae growth.
Water changes IMO are a must and get ready for continued Calcium and Alkalinity supplementation.
40 gal sump will be OK, if possible I would recomend an external pump.
For lighting on a 180 a combo of 3 250 watters with T-5 or VHO supplementation would be my choice.

 

[dots]

Please read up on Belin Method, probably the most popular.

What kind of "reef" do you want to end up with? That is your answer to you mirad of equipment choices. And don't kid yourself, you will want a bigger tank. I was just realizing today myself that a bigger tank lends to the ability to have more biodiversity. I am already running out of room in my four month old 75gal

 

[oyam123]

soft corals= VHO
SPS= MH
clams....MH
anemone =VHO or MH
Can is good for running carbon.....thats about it.
spend on skimmer and lights
good luck

 

[AllenFord_SC]

Ok Nick since no one every really answered your question:

Rotifers: Tiny multicellular animals that are generally cultured to feed new fish fry. They are great food sources that contain HUFA (Highly Unsaturated Fatty Acids) which are benificial to newly hatched fry. They are cultured using the second thing you asked about, phytoplankton also reffered to as "green water". You can find many great article on these two items here on RC and RK magazine.

Since everyone already argued about the canister filter I will stay away from that.