Marine tank, how it works thread?

[The Zigman]

Has anyone ever put together a thread explaining how a marine tank works and what the components of a marine system do?

For example,
theory of operation..
Whats a refugium?
Whats a sump?
what does a skimmer do?

What are the very basic essentials needed to operate a marine tank?

I have a 37 gal tank I will be tearing down to expand on a shrimp breeding project. it is a tall tank with a morrored back, and I think it would make a noce small reef tank sometime. Just looking to learn the basics here, trying to find it in one centralized thread..

Thanks

 

[Amphiprion]

Good idea, but an extensive one. Sometimes, though, delving into the "basics" is more complicated than the synthesis. This will involve very broad topics mixed with very specific ones--there are also conflicts as far as methodology, necessity, etc. are concerned. I'd like to see how the thread progresses and see how the marine community on AC as a whole formulates an idea of marine fish/reefkeeping on a general consensus.

 

[The Zigman]

Well how about an overview, say...
water from the display tank enters the sump,
then goes to the fuge,
and the skimmer does...

I have seen info on each component, but not much on how the components intermingle and work together.

 

[Amphiprion]

Yes, but that again adds a new level of complication, since there are various setups which, in turn, vary on what components may or may not interact. Maybe it would be a better idea for people to describe how their own particular setups work (or even didn't work). I think if we centralized it that way, it may be more understandable and practical for people starting up or wondering how on earth all the pieces fit together.

 

[Cheech]

I have to look around, but there are a few logs on reef setup builds on here.

if there isn't one already, we should totally setup an article of sorts...

As Amphi said, there are so many ways to setup a reef tank...


We can try to look at tha basics, and talk about what a reef tank needs to work (not in terms of equipment but more in terms of water quality & chemistry,etc) and from that, people can work out their own "design"...

 

[geekpryde]

This is only a walkthru, but it helped me start to contemplate what is required and also to decipher some of the terms:

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums...arting-your-first-fo-fowlr-marine-system.html

Hope it helps.