View Full Version : Do I need a filter???
rgmatzke
05-23-2003, 9:16 PM
I have been reading on some posts and I am a little confused. I don't know if it is good to have a filter or not. I use a Filstar with two of the course black filters, two fine black filters then bio media on top of that. I also have a protein skimmer and two power heads in a 45 gallon tank. Is this over kill or should I have a different set up? My sand is creating some red spots all over glass and I also have a green film all over the glass and equipement. I do a 5 gal. water change every 2 weeks and clean all of the glass, just keeps coming back.
The "Berlin" method of marine keeping utilizes a DSB (Deep Sand Bed) and Liverock, combined with vigorous, chaotic circulation. This is a very effective and easy method of keeping a healthy tank.
Hang on back filtration is not required.
Most people that have it just remove the catridges and run it for additional circulation.
VoodooChild
05-26-2003, 11:20 AM
Makes for a good refugium. Throw a chunk of live rock in there and let some caulerpa attach to it. That'll help keep phosphates down (take the top off the filter though).
rgmatzke
05-26-2003, 1:56 PM
I guess I don't understand... I have a filstar canister filter. Let me know. thanks
VoodooChild
05-26-2003, 7:37 PM
Basically, the two powerheads you have are fine. You can do the canister if you want, but it isn't necessary. The problems with filters for saltwater is that there is so much particulate matter in the water that the media in filters clogs up in a couple of days, thus creating a rotting mass that just ups your nitrates, which adds to your algae problem. The red stuff is probably cyano...check your pH. It seems to grow more in lower ph's (<8.0). The green stuff is normal for all tanks. No way getting around it in the end. However, you can try finding cheap R.O. water from your grocery store, which has no phosphates, which is a primary factor in algae growth. Otherwise you can buy some caulerpa algae, which looks like seaweed. It's also an algae, but much prettier and competes with the green stuff on your wall. This may be confusing at first, but in another month you'll be explaining this to somebody. Hang in there.