Nooby Filtration Question

B

BayouBeard

New member
Ok...so I'm confused about the best way to filter my 75g tank. I'm planning on doing a fish only tank with either live rock or dry base rock seeded with a small amount of live rock. I have no room for a sump or refugium.

My initial plan was to buy 80lbs of dry base rock with 10 pounds of live rock and use an FX5 canister filter for everything (mechanical/biological/chemical) until the live rock took over...at which point I would use the FX5 for mechanical and chemical only to remove detritus and waste as well as polish the water. Would this scenario work? (This is what I would really like to do)

If that won't work...I could buy 90lbs of live rock for all my biological filtration and then an Eheim 2217 filled with filter floss to remove detritus and waste as well as polish the water. The filter floss would just be trashed and replaced when needed.

I'm on a budget of about $400 for the rock and filtration combined.
 
I think your first idea was good, the fx5 is rated for a 400gal system and it has good turn over for a 75 gal. FO will work great IMO. Let your tank cycle and the 10lbs of life rock should sead the 70-80lbs of dry rock over time with fun little critters. If u later set up the can for polishing with a carbon that will help. If u get worried about high nitrates a hob skimmer with a intake surface skimmer would help the bio load. Or u could run a spray bar to help break the surface oils up from the fish and junk. It's too bad u don't have room for a sump, but good luck my friend
 
ReefCoastie...you have no idea how much you've just helped me out! I've got plenty of experience with freshwater planted and fish only aquariums and the FX5 worked wonders for those setups. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why the FX5 wouldn't work just as good on a saltwater FO setup. I do plan on adding a powerhead or two to give surface aggitation but had no idea that could take the place of an HOB skimmer...that's AWESOME! My aquarium is going in the living room and needs to be as close to the wall as possible so this is great news! Everywhere I turned...I would get the same response...stay away from the canister filter. I didn't understand why it wouldn't work.
 
I'm still in the process of finishing up my DIY stand (Polyurethane). I was building it for an African Cichlid setup and didn't bother to think about a sump. The stand has center braces on both front and rear so getting a sump in would be next to impossible...plus my tank (also bought for the A. Cichlid setup) is not drilled for a sump. I did however buy 80lbs of aragonite reef sand...so not all is a loss...lol. Thanks again!
 
Fo tanks are not as picky as a reef, keep up on water changes and carbon , you should do fine. I'm not sure if you can put GFO in a bag but if you can it will help to keep you away from hair algae and cleaning the glass as much. Now the surface agitation will not replace a skimmer, but it will replace a surface skimming intake. I'm sorry if that came out wrong. But if u keep up on WC and not over feeding you should not need one
 
I started just like you with fresh water and then moved my tank to salt. My tank was not drilled too, so I went with a hob surface skimmer intake to my sump. I went the reef route but FO a can will do my friend
 
Love to see some photos when your setting it up ! Oh and whatever you do stay with Fish only, a can is like the devil in the reef world lol
 
Would small pieces of live rock work in the FX5 for biological filtration? Could I still use the biological filtration of the FX5 in conjuction with the live rock in the tank when all 90lbs are seeded (or would I need to)?
 
IMO I don't think you would need to plus bio ball are like man made rocks. I think the rock is where it's at. Most Fo tanks just have sand and small amount of rock. Your fish should be happy
 
Definitely will be posting pictures of the setup process...stay tuned! I really appreciate all your help. I thought that saltwater was all but within reach...now I see the light at the end of the tunnel..literally made my day!
 
I use bulk reef a lot , I mean ALOT lol so I trust them. They have a very nice selection on dry rock so u can make anything on your mind plus they have vid on how to aquascape a tank if u have never done this. Also you can request shapes and stuff when ordering. I would go to a trusted lfs for the live rock but get your system set up before u place the live rock in, like heat and flow
 
Yeah...definitely will have the system setup and cycling before any live rock goes in. I've got some researching to do. Thanks again for your help...I'll keep you posted.
 
Lol...there'll definitely be more quesions...you can count on it. One quick one as a matter of fact. How much base rock would I need to get a good sized aquascape for my 75g tank. I want it to look pretty filled out but not necessarily stuffed either. I'm thinking around 80lbs maybe??
 
Go with the 70lbs and look at a lot of tanks on google to get some lay out ideas, print them out. place the rocks in the tank with no water. No water just makes life easy plus your going to Change your mind a million times lol
 
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