Filter Help needed....

[JoeA]

Hi all,

I have a 55 gallon long fish tank which I would like to make into a saltwater tank. I have been doing research online and am still unsure of the proper filtration to use. I just started checking out sump filters but are they really the nuts?? I know that this hobby is going to be expensive, but I am very excited about trying to maintain a saltwater tank.

The sump setup seems to be very expensive, is there any other means of good filtration.

TIA
Joe

 

[guitarded]

the sump filters that you purchase commercially are expensive. however, there are a couple alternatives... buy used (ebay or something) or DIY. there are a lot of articles on how to do this on this forum. search for posts by sumphead. i am planning on taking a used 15 or 20 gal tank and inserting a couple acrylic baffles in them to make my own wet/dry filter. the cost will be less than emperor 400 i was using in my FW setup. btw, i am also moving from FW to SW. i am currently trying to do all my research. i have a 75gal tank for my SW project.

 

[guitarded]

btw, just to get you started...

http://users.rcn.com/reef101/diysump.html
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/wetdry.htm
http://www.melevsreef.com/what_sump.html

and definitely go here http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=30257&highlight= to read a tutorial with pictures submitted by sumphead!

 

[JoeA]

thanks for your help