jasonharris
Aquarium Advice Newbie
Hi. I have been around a couple of my larger LFS. We don't have too many that have a decent range of fish equipment and expertise.
What I have found is a little confusing in the filter area. Bear in mind that I have decided to start this hobby with a 150 gallon tank with some fish and soft corals so I will have only flouros.
For this setup I have had the filtering suggested in this manner from LFS 1. Either a canister filter OR a trickle filter with bio media and sump. This LFS said that you wouldnt really have a sump and a canister filter insted of a trickle filter.
Second LFS only suggested a sump with a trickle filter and bio media. They also said that as an addition I may want to add a canister filter to this and take the opportunity to up a UV light in series with the canister filter flow.
With both stores it was clear that I wanted to hide the protein skimmer in a sump and both agreed though store 1 had this idea that if you had a sump you would have trickle not canister.
A little confusion has come when I surf the net and this site where posters don't seem too keen on the trickle filter with bio media yet my LFS seem to run with this setup?
Also in one LFS I saw the overflow as normal, I.e. a partition in the corner lower than the water level. In the second LFS they did not have the partition but had a PVC pipe going from the bottom of the tank to ner the top just under the water level. It had a pvc cap on it with holes drilled for the water and presumable to stop larger objects from entering. Is this a common alternative? Does it seem to work well?
Another question.. How does this sound for filling the bottom of the tank. This was a suggestion from LFS 2. I ask because it is very expensive.
70KG dead sand - 25kg = $125
100-125kg dead coral $12.40 per kg
5 kg live sand $11.50 kg
20kg live rock $27 kg
Speraking of expensive, I have realised that I will also need a chiller for my 150 gallon tank None of this has put me off but it does all add up. Wish I earned USD, the old new zealand dollar isnt all that good
Thanks,
Jason
What I have found is a little confusing in the filter area. Bear in mind that I have decided to start this hobby with a 150 gallon tank with some fish and soft corals so I will have only flouros.
For this setup I have had the filtering suggested in this manner from LFS 1. Either a canister filter OR a trickle filter with bio media and sump. This LFS said that you wouldnt really have a sump and a canister filter insted of a trickle filter.
Second LFS only suggested a sump with a trickle filter and bio media. They also said that as an addition I may want to add a canister filter to this and take the opportunity to up a UV light in series with the canister filter flow.
With both stores it was clear that I wanted to hide the protein skimmer in a sump and both agreed though store 1 had this idea that if you had a sump you would have trickle not canister.
A little confusion has come when I surf the net and this site where posters don't seem too keen on the trickle filter with bio media yet my LFS seem to run with this setup?
Also in one LFS I saw the overflow as normal, I.e. a partition in the corner lower than the water level. In the second LFS they did not have the partition but had a PVC pipe going from the bottom of the tank to ner the top just under the water level. It had a pvc cap on it with holes drilled for the water and presumable to stop larger objects from entering. Is this a common alternative? Does it seem to work well?
Another question.. How does this sound for filling the bottom of the tank. This was a suggestion from LFS 2. I ask because it is very expensive.
70KG dead sand - 25kg = $125
100-125kg dead coral $12.40 per kg
5 kg live sand $11.50 kg
20kg live rock $27 kg
Speraking of expensive, I have realised that I will also need a chiller for my 150 gallon tank None of this has put me off but it does all add up. Wish I earned USD, the old new zealand dollar isnt all that good
Thanks,
Jason