new reef tank advice

I don't recommend a canister filter, but they are
not the end of the world, and they are easy to
remove should you later decide that you don't like
it. Some people like canister filters, but I have
never liked them.

Another advantage of a sump, is that you are able to
put all of you equipment down in the sump, so that
when you look in your reef tank, all you see is the
reef, and nothing else.

But, no you dont' have to have a sump, but for any
large system, it just makes sense to have a sump.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


ONJ wrote on 5/10/2007 10:49 AM:
Ok...I have narrowed down some pieces of equipment to set up my new 55
gallon reef tank.

The things I do know I need and will be getting a

60 to 70lbs live rock
Precision Marine HOT-1 protein skimmer
2 Hydor Koralia circulating units
Proper lighting level for corals and maybe one anemone

Now for the part I don't know. I was considering a canister
filter...someone advised against that.

I thought about a refugium, but my only reason for doing so would be algae
control, but I don't know if I want to mess with all of that.

So besides the live rock, the skimmer, lighting and calcium based sand...is
there anything else?

Would someone recommend a canister filter? Is a refugium a must?

Or will the things I have settled on so far do the trick?

"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
k.net...
I don't recommend a canister filter, but they are not the end of the world,
and they are easy to remove should you later decide that you don't like it.
Some people like canister filters, but I have never liked them.

Another advantage of a sump, is that you are able to put all of you
equipment down in the sump, so that when you look in your reef tank, all
you see is the reef, and nothing else.

But, no you dont' have to have a sump, but for any large system, it just
makes sense to have a sump.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Well other than getting the equipment out of the way...why else would I go
with a sump?

My plan is a hang on Precision Marine HOT-1 skimmer, live rock, live sand,
hydor koralia #2 circulators(one at first...maybe two)...and that is it.






ONJ wrote on 5/10/2007 10:49 AM:
Ok...I have narrowed down some pieces of equipment to set up my new 55
gallon reef tank.

The things I do know I need and will be getting a

60 to 70lbs live rock
Precision Marine HOT-1 protein skimmer
2 Hydor Koralia circulating units
Proper lighting level for corals and maybe one anemone

Now for the part I don't know. I was considering a canister
filter...someone advised against that.

I thought about a refugium, but my only reason for doing so would be
algae control, but I don't know if I want to mess with all of that.

So besides the live rock, the skimmer, lighting and calcium based
sand...is there anything else?

Would someone recommend a canister filter? Is a refugium a must?

Or will the things I have settled on so far do the trick?

ONJ wrote:

Well other than getting the equipment out of the way...why else would I go
with a sump?

One other reason is that it increases the effective size of the system.

George Patterson
If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
to anything.

The larger the tank, the more practical a sump is,
and the smaller the tank, the less practical a sump
is. Now imagine if you owned a public aquarium sized
tank. I bet you would have a sump then :-)

A 55 gallon tank is not very big, but it is what I
would consider just big enough for a sump, any
smaller, and I would not go with a sump. Since you
already have a tank, I bet it's not predriled with a
built in overflow. If it were with an overflow, I'd
say put a sump down there, but since it's probably
just a plain tank you might want to go with a
canister filter for now, since you like them.

But if you ever upgrade to a bigger tank, then be
sure and get a tank with a built in overflow, and a
sump.


Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


ONJ wrote on 5/15/2007 2:40 PM:
"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
k.net...
I don't recommend a canister filter, but they are not the end of the world,
and they are easy to remove should you later decide that you don't like it.
Some people like canister filters, but I have never liked them.

Another advantage of a sump, is that you are able to put all of you
equipment down in the sump, so that when you look in your reef tank, all
you see is the reef, and nothing else.

But, no you dont' have to have a sump, but for any large system, it just
makes sense to have a sump.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Well other than getting the equipment out of the way...why else would I go
with a sump?

My plan is a hang on Precision Marine HOT-1 skimmer, live rock, live sand,
hydor koralia #2 circulators(one at first...maybe two)...and that is it.





ONJ wrote on 5/10/2007 10:49 AM:
Ok...I have narrowed down some pieces of equipment to set up my new 55
gallon reef tank.

The things I do know I need and will be getting a

60 to 70lbs live rock
Precision Marine HOT-1 protein skimmer
2 Hydor Koralia circulating units
Proper lighting level for corals and maybe one anemone

Now for the part I don't know. I was considering a canister
filter...someone advised against that.

I thought about a refugium, but my only reason for doing so would be
algae control, but I don't know if I want to mess with all of that.

So besides the live rock, the skimmer, lighting and calcium based
sand...is there anything else?

Would someone recommend a canister filter? Is a refugium a must?

Or will the things I have settled on so far do the trick?

Well...I am taking a good look at the sumps now...but I don't want to drill
any holes in my tank.

Is there a sump setup or website you can refer me to that possibly does
sumps without drilling?

"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
link.net...
The larger the tank, the more practical a sump is, and the smaller the
tank, the less practical a sump is. Now imagine if you owned a public
aquarium sized tank. I bet you would have a sump then :-)

A 55 gallon tank is not very big, but it is what I would consider just big
enough for a sump, any smaller, and I would not go with a sump. Since you
already have a tank, I bet it's not predriled with a built in overflow. If
it were with an overflow, I'd say put a sump down there, but since it's
probably just a plain tank you might want to go with a canister filter for
now, since you like them.

But if you ever upgrade to a bigger tank, then be sure and get a tank with
a built in overflow, and a sump.


Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


ONJ wrote on 5/15/2007 2:40 PM:
"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
k.net...
I don't recommend a canister filter, but they are not the end of the
world, and they are easy to remove should you later decide that you
don't like it. Some people like canister filters, but I have never liked
them.

Another advantage of a sump, is that you are able to put all of you
equipment down in the sump, so that when you look in your reef tank, all
you see is the reef, and nothing else.

But, no you dont' have to have a sump, but for any large system, it just
makes sense to have a sump.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Well other than getting the equipment out of the way...why else would I
go with a sump?

My plan is a hang on Precision Marine HOT-1 skimmer, live rock, live
sand, hydor koralia #2 circulators(one at first...maybe two)...and that
is it.





ONJ wrote on 5/10/2007 10:49 AM:
Ok...I have narrowed down some pieces of equipment to set up my new 55
gallon reef tank.

The things I do know I need and will be getting a

60 to 70lbs live rock
Precision Marine HOT-1 protein skimmer
2 Hydor Koralia circulating units
Proper lighting level for corals and maybe one anemone

Now for the part I don't know. I was considering a canister
filter...someone advised against that.

I thought about a refugium, but my only reason for doing so would be
algae control, but I don't know if I want to mess with all of that.

So besides the live rock, the skimmer, lighting and calcium based
sand...is there anything else?

Would someone recommend a canister filter? Is a refugium a must?

Or will the things I have settled on so far do the trick?

ONJ wrote:
Well...I am taking a good look at the sumps now...but I don't want to drill
any holes in my tank.

Is there a sump setup or website you can refer me to that possibly does
sumps without drilling?

You can use an overflow box and a return.

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=CR1511
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=FT0011

I have this on one of my tanks. It works fine. If you keep it clean,
it's not unsightly, but it's really ugly if you allow algae to grow on it.

I just got a 29 gallon that I plan to drill. Wish me luck. :-)

--Kurt

Ok...let me put it this way...because of the research I have been doing, I
like a particular brand of counter current venturi type skimmer that is HO,
but it can be modified to stand alone under the tank cabinet.
That I know I will purchase alone with Hydor Koralia circulator(s).

So, if I get a sump for whatever reason, what purpose will it serve for me.
What would I do with it?
I do have a 15 gallon tank I could use I guess.

"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
k.net...
I don't recommend a canister filter, but they are not the end of the world,
and they are easy to remove should you later decide that you don't like it.
Some people like canister filters, but I have never liked them.

Another advantage of a sump, is that you are able to put all of you
equipment down in the sump, so that when you look in your reef tank, all
you see is the reef, and nothing else.

But, no you dont' have to have a sump, but for any large system, it just
makes sense to have a sump.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


ONJ wrote on 5/10/2007 10:49 AM:
Ok...I have narrowed down some pieces of equipment to set up my new 55
gallon reef tank.

The things I do know I need and will be getting a

60 to 70lbs live rock
Precision Marine HOT-1 protein skimmer
2 Hydor Koralia circulating units
Proper lighting level for corals and maybe one anemone

Now for the part I don't know. I was considering a canister
filter...someone advised against that.

I thought about a refugium, but my only reason for doing so would be
algae control, but I don't know if I want to mess with all of that.

So besides the live rock, the skimmer, lighting and calcium based
sand...is there anything else?

Would someone recommend a canister filter? Is a refugium a must?

Or will the things I have settled on so far do the trick?

ONJ wrote:
So, if I get a sump for whatever reason, what purpose will it serve for me.
What would I do with it?
I do have a 15 gallon tank I could use I guess.

Try it without and see how it goes.

I think the advantages a

1) Place to hide all the equipment.
2) Usually have a Surface skimmer - prevent an oily film from collecting
on surface of tank.
3) Wet/Dry setup with bio balls or similar.
4) coarse filtration on the return
5) Increase effective volume.
6) Possible refugium partition.

I think sumps got started because of the wet/dry filter systems. These
need space for water to dribble over the bioballs which is inherently a
gravity type system. To prevent floods, it was engineered as under the
tank with enough volume to avoid overflow if the return pump turns off
(power failures, etc.). You could also do this above the tank with a
single pump, or even a two pump system if you don't mind the risk of a
flood if the return pump stops and the other keeps going.

I had a wet/dry filter until I ditched the bioballs (too much nitrates),
but I still use a sump for all my heaters, skimmer, reactors, etc and to
create flow from the return pump. I also have some coarse filter
material in the return that catches loose hair algae and uneaten Nori.

Is it required? Not at all.

--Kurt

Depending on your stand, you might not even be able
to get a 15 gallon tank under it. 55 gallon tanks
are so narrow.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


ONJ wrote on 5/15/2007 3:37 PM:
Ok...let me put it this way...because of the research I have been doing, I
like a particular brand of counter current venturi type skimmer that is HO,
but it can be modified to stand alone under the tank cabinet.
That I know I will purchase alone with Hydor Koralia circulator(s).

So, if I get a sump for whatever reason, what purpose will it serve for me.
What would I do with it?
I do have a 15 gallon tank I could use I guess.

"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
k.net...
I don't recommend a canister filter, but they are not the end of the world,
and they are easy to remove should you later decide that you don't like it.
Some people like canister filters, but I have never liked them.

Another advantage of a sump, is that you are able to put all of you
equipment down in the sump, so that when you look in your reef tank, all
you see is the reef, and nothing else.

But, no you dont' have to have a sump, but for any large system, it just
makes sense to have a sump.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


ONJ wrote on 5/10/2007 10:49 AM:
Ok...I have narrowed down some pieces of equipment to set up my new 55
gallon reef tank.

The things I do know I need and will be getting a

60 to 70lbs live rock
Precision Marine HOT-1 protein skimmer
2 Hydor Koralia circulating units
Proper lighting level for corals and maybe one anemone

Now for the part I don't know. I was considering a canister
filter...someone advised against that.

I thought about a refugium, but my only reason for doing so would be
algae control, but I don't know if I want to mess with all of that.

So besides the live rock, the skimmer, lighting and calcium based
sand...is there anything else?

Would someone recommend a canister filter? Is a refugium a must?

Or will the things I have settled on so far do the trick?

If you put a few rocks in the sand, not is a problem, but if you start stacking rocks the top of the sand, this is not a good thing. On the contrary the bedrock of the glass, and the surrounding sand this, then live rock at the top of the stack bedrock. Otherwise, you will have an avalanche things began to dig under the rock.