What's the best filter combination for aFOWLR tank?

[Recife]

From a separate thread, I decided I will add a sump to my 125gal tank where I will put the skimmer.
What other filtration mechanism would you recommend? I have a canister filter, but I read that it's best to have biological filtration with live rock/sand and algae in the sump. Which is best?

 

[NCreefwannabe]

having the algae, sand and some LR in sump is a ton better than the canister or using bioballs.

 

[Fred_J]

That is assuming that you have plenty of live rock and sand in the display. Putting it in the sump is akin to creating a refugium, which you may need depending on the fish you keep. Mostly mandarins.

Fred

 

[Avi]

With a marine tank it's always "best" to have a sump with a good quality protein skimmer plumbed, either in or outside of it, and a good amount of live rock....IMO at least a pound per gallon. Even better, to also have macro-algae growing under good lighting in the sump as a refugium. But that's a method that's more critical to a reef, with coral. You seem to have made your decisions to basically set up a reef and just not have coral. It should work just fine for you even without any additional filtration.

On the other hand, since it's fish only, if you wanted some more filtration because you want to add a good number of fish, you can use a canister with no problems. Any increased nitrate level that might be generated by that would very unlikely have any effect on the fish in the tank.

 

[ledford1]

You could use the cannister for running carbon, you don't have to have it for mechanical filtration.

LR and a hefty skimmer are the heart of the filtration. Use plenty of LR (1-1.5 lbs per gallon). What you don't put in the display tank, put down in the sump. You can't have too much LR for bio-filtration. Also, put a nice (and perhaps even oversized) skimmer in your sump. It's great to catch the gunk before it breaks down in your tank.

You could set up a fuge, throw macro algae in there, add a UV, PhosBan, etc, but this is all supplemental and not actually necessary.

Good luck.

 

[Lakeside518]

LR in the display 1 to 1 1/2 lbs per gal
A refuge is always nice algae, LR and snails in sump.

Could use canister filter for carbon and polish the water.

It is always a good idea to have a UV light prevent parasites in your system.

You can use BioBalls in a FOWLR. As you have prolly already read, they will raise you nitrates. Reefs are more sensitive to such things then a FOWLR. You will always need to do your water changes no matter if you have a Fuge sump or BioBall sump.

Key is water tests. Always check. More often at 1st till things get settled.

 

[Recife]

Thanks all for the replies.

So there are specific lighting requirements for the algae in the refugium?
I'm trying to keep my costs down now (especially since it's a 125gal tank!), but I don't want to skip anything that will compromise my system later.

 

[XeniaMania]

All well designed refugium could save you alot. You can get a refugium sump that starts off with a protein skimmer, then flows over a media tray, then entering into the area where the macroalgae/sand/rock are, then returned back to the main tank. My system, the water entering the sump flows through a micron bag, my Urchin Skimmer is in the same chamber, then it flows thru some live rock approx 2"x2" pieces forming a barrier, then into my refugium which has a Chaetomorpha (Brillo Algae, secondary particle filtration, I just pull out the foremost section when there's too much) barrier, then Caluerpa before returning to the main tank. I have sponges that have grown in my tank in my rock barrier as well since they don't need light, just organics. I not only save the cost of filter media, but also the energy for running those pumps. I'd prefer spending energy on creating motion in my main tank, so I let gravity do most of my work.

 

[Fred_J]

Mevlev's website has a very good article about using a very cheap light from home depot for the refuge(less than $10.).
Fred