Ok, BIG thread.

The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an interest in aquariums or fish keeping!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
See posts with no answers
Ok, I just got back from my LFS. They have some really neat fish that I want to buy. They also sell alot of LR and LS too! I asked him what filter he reccomends and he said a wet/dry filter with a sump. I am going to research those now. I am also currently reading my enw book I bought from my LFS also! I am really excited now! But what filter would you reccomend? Even is it isnt a wet/dry. The filter that got the gave you the best performance. I was looking at the Magnum and the Eheim wet/dry systems. I saw the other ones but they are also exspensive. Basically I am looking to sepnd no more than $200.00 on a filter. I want the best for that price.
 
Right now I am looking into these filters:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=3639&N=2004+22777

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=3595&N=2004+22777

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=3601&N=2004+22777

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=11356&N=2004+22777

Do all of these come with everything needed? Like pumps and filter media and all? Are there any better filters out there? Which is the best of these, you think? Thanks!
 
is this going to be a reef tank?
I would skip the filter.. get a good skimmer.. get a nice pump for a closed loop.. a sump... plenty of LR.. the heater and other accesories and call it a day.. Again.. I dont think the filter is nessisary, Id put that money twoard a better skimmer.. JMHO though..
 
LOL.. thats the link I gave you on the previous page.. :p yea its been getting good reviews..
other skimmers I would consider ASM G2 or G3 (the G3 is just margainly more expensive so I would go for it)
dont waste your money on live sand.. I would get half liverock and half baserock.. 2lb per gallon total.. 1lb/gal live 1lb/gal baserock and get some playsand (Southdown being the popular but dificult to find brand) some use Yard Right brand.. both are Uber cheap and get the job done.. :p
 
Wait, what is baserock? I know what LR is but never heard of BR? So are you SURE that I should skip the Fluval, and get a good skimmer in it's place? Wouldnt a filter be better though? I am just really confused/stuck
 
I am just really confused/stuck

This is such a common condition for beginners.....just be patient, everything will come together eventually. Keep asking questions, no matter how silly you may think they are, and follow the wonderful advice you'll get on this forum!
Click to expand...
 
I think I am going to get a Fluval filter unless somone tells me otherwise. I am pretty sure I have everything else set! Should I get 60 pounds of LR and 50 pounds of LS? Thanks!
 
I think I am going to get a Fluval filter

I have a fluval 304 running on my 75, but just for circulation: there's nothing in it anymore. Your best bet for filtration, as has already been stated, is live rock. If your tank is 50-55, then 75-100 pounds of rock might work best, depending on your budget.

Live sand, don't waste your money IMO. Buy playsand, let it become live over time. Mine surely did!!
Click to expand...
 
Well... if I can get a filter, what should it be besides the 80 pounds of LR? Is the Fluval good? What about the Magnum? Or should I just get a really nice protein skimmer. I just cant see how LR can do a better filtration job that a filter!nPlease explain, also what filter I should get on the side.
 
skip the magnuim and get a really good skimmer..
base rock is dryed out LR.. its MUCH cheaper.. it becomes live rock when you keep it with live rock long enough..
 
Oh sweet! I think I saw some at my LFS in a box. Even when I am cycling the tank, I will only need a good skimmer? I just really dont feel right about having no filter, but I amb sure you know what you are doing. It just feels so weird to me. Will the skimmer also filter a little?

EDIT* I found this Skimmer http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=8185&N=2004+113771+22741 The 1000 Multi with everything included. Is there any better ones for the price? Also, the link you gave me http://www.ah-supply.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1192 it is the G2 but it is all I can spend. Let me know which you think is better! Both come with everything needed right?
 
I have a fluval 304 and while it's done the job so far for my freshwater tank I wouldn't put it anywhere near my reef tank. You want your filter (if you are using one) to turn over the size of your tank at least 10 times per hour, 15-20 if you are running a reef tank. A fluval won't come close to that, even though they say they're good for 65-100 gallon tanks. They only cycle a 55 gallon tank 4-5 times an hour or so - not nearly good enough. It has a lot of benefits to it, like being able to hold a lot of filter media (carbon, filters, peat moss, those bio-ball thingies) for my freshwater tank. But unless I've been sniffing too much glue you don't need any of that for a reef tank. Also, they are a fussy filter that are notorious for having seal problems or otherwise buggering up. I'd strongly recommeding steering clear of the fluval. Hang-On-Back filters are just fine, and much cheaper.

What I did was get as good a protein skimmer as I could (Aqua C Remora) and am using the AquaClear 110 for my filtration. When setting up a reef tank I have been led to believe that you want your water to be as clean and protein-free as possible, so I slurged on a really good skimmer AND the filter. Using the aforementioned powerheads to filter water over and through live rock will be great for the filtration needs. Listen to greenmaji, no matter how bone your question he's still a ton of help. And keep asking questions! Just look how much better off you are now than a few days ago...

Try this:

http://www.animalworldnetwork.com/aq5pofi110v.html

and this:

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_protein_skimmers_aquac_remora_pro.asp?CartId=
 
if you asked some of these questions seperately you would have gotten alot more responces.. Im clueless what hasnt been answered well.. :(

the skimmer is a mechanical filter.. if that helps..
it also removes stuff that a normal mechanical filter cant.. disolved fatty mediums/protines..
 
About the same price? Are you drunk? The link I had up there has a great skimmer at $70 cheaper. Think of it this way...that's a lot of beer!

Whichever skimmer you find, make sure it's a good make that hopefully 90% of certified fish geeks would recommend. Nothing is lamer than buying cheaper equipment and having to replace it with something you should have purchased in the first place.
 
I think I am going to buy the G3 that greenmanji showed me. So, I am not going to need a filter. Only the Skimmer and powerheads for crculation, and LR for filtration. All the LR is going to be like $200.00! I think maybe I will buy a kind of cheap filter anways.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

L
I got my first sw molly yestersay!
2
Replies
21
Views
935
Andy Sager
Andy Sager
ChiTownRomeo
Reef tank with cracking brace. Should I worry?
Replies
3
Views
233
Andy Sager
Andy Sager
B
brown algae annoying
Replies
3
Views
532
bulatz
B
T
White Growths
Replies
10
Views
149
Andy Sager
Andy Sager
evil Nick
Ruby dragonette - feeding observation
Replies
5
Views
472
Andy Sager
Andy Sager

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom