What is the largest tank that you would consider using a naturalfiltration system on

I'm getting curious....having got the 15 gall nano tank up and running
and my main issue being algae but very little else (I come from a
freshwater tropical backgroud and algae is always an issue that needs to
be beaten) I'm starting to wonder about the high tech stuff....

From some reading I've done it should, in theory, be possible to set up
a larger tank using just sand and live rock as a filtration system in
the same way I have with my Nano tank - I hasten to add that the protein
skimmer has proved to be a necessity....from other reading I have seen
it suggested that using a conventional filter system promotes nitrates
which is far more of an issue in a marine tank than a freshwater -
afterall in a freshwater I can just throw in more and more plants to
swallow these up....

So, back to the question....what is the max size tank anyone would
suggest for a filtration system based on Live Rock and a good protein
skimmer?

TIA
Gill

Gill Passman wrote:

So, back to the question....what is the max size tank anyone would
suggest for a filtration system based on Live Rock and a good protein
skimmer?

I don't think there's an upper limit on this.

George Patterson
Those who do not study History are doomed to repeat it. Those who DO
study History are doomed to watch every one else repeat it.

George Patterson wrote:
Gill Passman wrote:

So, back to the question....what is the max size tank anyone would
suggest for a filtration system based on Live Rock and a good protein
skimmer?


I don't think there's an upper limit on this.

George Patterson
Those who do not study History are doomed to repeat it. Those who DO
study History are doomed to watch every one else repeat it.


OK...so what is the minimum equipment that you would put in a tank with
Live Rock, Sand, Power Heads and Protein Simmer - thinking either 55 gal
or maybe 135g...depends which freshwater tank I decide to
sacrifice....of course, I understand the need for better lighting than
you would have in a freshwater planted tank.....

Just curious still....

Gill

Gill Passman wrote:

OK...so what is the minimum equipment that you would put in a tank with
Live Rock, Sand, Power Heads and Protein Simmer - thinking either 55 gal
or maybe 135g...depends which freshwater tank I decide to
sacrifice....of course, I understand the need for better lighting than
you would have in a freshwater planted tank.....

Minimum, you say? Ok. A good skimmer. One to two pounds of live rock per gallon
of capacity (some varieties are denser than others, and you need more pounds of
those). About one inch of "dead" sand in the bottom. Some sort of pump that
turns the water in the tank over at least 15 times an hour (powerheads are
acceptable, though inefficient). Two adequate submersible heaters. A GFCI outlet
on the electrical supply. An electronic thermometer.

The lighting depends on the animals you wish to keep. If you stick with fish and
invertebrates, the fluorescents you are probably using for freshwater will be
adequate. Get into soft corals, and you will need high output fluorescents with
actinics and about twice as many of them. Get into hard corals, and you'll need
to add metal halides.

For example. I'm slowly converting my 125 gallon from a fish-only tank to a reef
tank. I've retired most of my dead coral and replaced my crushed coral substrate
with Caribbean sand. I have about 140 pounds of live rock and a fair amount of
dead coral (which is slowly becoming live). I have two 250 watt submersible
heaters and a mediocre skimmer made by "Amiracle." I just added a Tunze 6060 for
water circulation and retired my old Fluval cannister, powerheads, and the U/V
sterilizer. I also have an Eheim wet/dry filter and expect to retain it, despite
advice to the contrary (if you're going reef, you should not be buying one of
these). I have an electronic thermometer, a GFCI, and a tungsten safety ground
probe. I had moonlights over half the tank, but they developed a short and died.
I have two double-tube 36" standard fluorescents.

I intend to replace the stand to give me room for a sump (which I may not put
in) and for cosmetic reasons and improve the lighting to the point that I can
keep soft corals.

George Patterson
Those who do not study History are doomed to repeat it. Those who DO
study History are doomed to watch every one else repeat it.

The minimum equipment would be good lighting, and good
water flow.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Gill Passman wrote on 11/15/2006 3:52 PM:
George Patterson wrote:
Gill Passman wrote:

So, back to the question....what is the max size tank anyone would
suggest for a filtration system based on Live Rock and a good protein
skimmer?


I don't think there's an upper limit on this.

George Patterson
Those who do not study History are doomed to repeat it. Those who DO
study History are doomed to watch every one else repeat it.


OK...so what is the minimum equipment that you would put in a tank with
Live Rock, Sand, Power Heads and Protein Simmer - thinking either 55 gal
or maybe 135g...depends which freshwater tank I decide to
sacrifice....of course, I understand the need for better lighting than
you would have in a freshwater planted tank.....

Just curious still....

Gill

Hi..

The minimum equipment would be good lighting, and good
water flow.

And possibly an efficient cooler..?

--
cu
Marco

Marco Schwarz wrote:
Hi..


The minimum equipment would be good lighting, and good
water flow.


And possibly an efficient cooler..?

Hmmm....I can already see how heat is going to become an issue next
summer with the 15gall Nano.....I'm thinking of adding some fans into
the hood to aid the cooling (probably computer fans but possibly
something a bit more sophisticated) - hubby will do that - it's more his
type of thing....

So we are looking at a decent pump (I have some fluval externals lying
around - including a brand new 304), good lighting, a good skimmer and
possibly a cooler, two heaters (I already run with two heaters in my
largest freshwater because I was convinced by the arguements and
benefits of doing this)....Oh and lots of live rock....sounds feasible
although the cooler will greatly add to the cost....other stuff such as
decent thermometers, test kits etc and a good back for lifting the RO
water containers - LOL....

Certainly could be a viable project for next spring.....once I've
finished making my mistakes on the "cheaper" Nano tank - oh, and found a
space for another large tank...

Thanks guys
Gill