hi everyone im making the big jump from all fish to reef. My local store has been good so far got a jbj 150 watt hqi light for 200 bucks but he was telling me i need to change filtration. I have a 42 gallon oceanic hex tank with a fluval 304 on it. he is telling me to run a reef to go with an eheim 2227 wet dry filter. Other then the small wet/dry part on the side of the eheim i don't see any difference in filters especially nothing worth 200+ bucks. So is my fluval ok also if it is what filtration chemicals should i put in the 3 baskets. I would assume charcole in one and some kind of nitrate remover in the second? Any advice ,recommendations, or explanations are welcome also i can post pictures if needed
Filter confusion
- Thread starter mikediamo
- Start date
As opposed to another canister, I suggest a sump. You'll need a hang-on overflow as well. I think youll be happier with such a setup, since it will give you many more options as far as skimmers go, as well as potential refugium space. A canister filter will be more trouble than it's worth on a reef.
i don't have much room in cabinet for sump and outside cabinet is out the question since i have 2 toddlers. The cabinet is locked but if its outside the kids will get into it
I bet you could fit a sump in the stand. It may not be easy, but it is definitely possible. It doesn't even have to be completely rigid. Rubbermaid containers work great as sumps and can contort and flex a bit to fit in.
I wouldn't spend money for a wetdry... Since you already have the fluval, I'd prob. use it for extra water volume/circulation (running empty).
i was told not to use ceramic pieces because of the live rock sand but what about the nitrate and active charcole in the basket
If anything, I'd probably use activated carbon in the basket. Only problem is, you'll have to clean it out often enough. You don't really want any mechanical filtration that will gather up gunk in containers. If you know you'll dedicated yourself in cleaning it out once a week, then go for it. If you see yourself getting lazy (as I am), run it empty to avoid potential problems later.
no im very anal about routines i have a tracker on the pc and a little box that alarms to let me know when to change. My fish tanks were so self sustaining that my cluless on fish wife was able to take care of it for 6 months when i was overseas. Im just trying to make it foolproof as possible and economic. But from the responses so far it sounds like the fluvial will be good for now then when i can save the money buy the ehiem 2227 or be bold and build a sump out a 5.5 gallon aquarium
I'd skip the eheim all together... use the fluval. Seeing how you're consistant with maintenance, you can also put a sponge in there. Save the money you would spend on the eheim. With less money than you would pay for it, you can purchase a decent tank and turn it into a sump/fuge. If you have space, go for something bigger than a 5.5 gallon.
Even if you go with a 10g, (which you can get used for prob. 20$ or less), then you'd need to purchase some glass baffles, a return pump, and some plumbing accessories. When/if you decide to do this, let me know the size tank you'll be converting into a sump and I'll gladly sketch out a plan with dimensions for a standard (but common) sump/fuge setup.
Even if you go with a 10g, (which you can get used for prob. 20$ or less), then you'd need to purchase some glass baffles, a return pump, and some plumbing accessories. When/if you decide to do this, let me know the size tank you'll be converting into a sump and I'll gladly sketch out a plan with dimensions for a standard (but common) sump/fuge setup.
thank you so much right now i have 2 tanks. One is set up for all fish.36.25 gallon hex It has the fluval 304 a protein skimmer an it has served me well. Someone gave me a 42 oceanic hex and a beautiful stand. This is the one im making a reef. I just resealed it and am water testing it now. I saved up and just got the jbj 150 hqi light for 200 bucks new. I was going to put the fluval and skimmer on it to get the reef started pending the verdict of this post. Then once reef is set up eather swap the 304 for the ehiem 2227 or a custom built sump. The closest thing that looks like it will fit in the stand is a 5.5 gallon if i put it outside stand kids will get into it. so it has to be in the cabinet. I am engineering savi so i can build a sump with pexiglass or get a bin that would fit but knowing flowpaths and substraits would be my big issue and space for each chamber. i can post pictures of the setup if needed