Filter Media or No Filter Media

[AH-99P]

Hello,

I am setting up a marine aquarium... my current setup includes a biolife filter

This passes through:

1) Foam, 2) Carbon, 3) Biomax Media, 4) Drip Tray Filtration

I've heard mixed advise over the use of the media... some say to take it out completely... some say to use it - What do you think?

Is this a good filter setup - or should i be looking at something else?

The tank is 35G and will eventually contain LR.

Please advise...

 

[OrionGirl]

I'd remova all the media, and rely on sufficient amounts of live rock for biological filtration, just using the power filter for water movement. The ability to add carbon is a good thing, but not required for most setups. Foam will eventually become clogged with encrusting organisms, which you then have to kill when you replace the foam, or deal with the restricted and eventually stopped water flow. Or, you have to rinse it out each week to prevent their development, which is a lot of maintenance for minimal return. BioMax, if completely submerged, is okay, but really not needed, and it too must be rinsed often or it will be covered with encrusting critters. Drip trays are, IMO, very bad--they trap solid wastes away from your detrivores, but still within the water flow, meaning they can produce a lot of nitrates. Not good.

 

[AH-99P]

To be fair it doesnt sound as if it fits this purpose very well?

With the media missing in the middle chamber, the noise of the aquarium is about 10x louder... what do people suggest to use in terms of pumping water around... is a filter actually needed when i'll have live rock?

Many thanks.

 

[mysis]

You really only need a protein skimmer, but you can run a cannister filter with crushed coral, but it would need to be cleaned weekly, so nitrates do not build up.

 

[AH-99P]

So a skimmer over a filter... but what should i use to pump the water around?

Sorry for the newbie questions - just want to do this right..!

 

[OrionGirl]

Powerheads are a better way to create water movement. They come in a variety of sizes, so you can pick and choose to get different levels of current throughout the tank, preventing dead spots where debris can collect.

And yes, power filters really aren't the best option in a SW setup. Many people have them around, so run them for extra current, but they aren't the best for this, in most setups.