Help with my tank filter (The big picture)

[Brisc0]

Hello everyone,

I have a 105g tank that im trying to keep as "Natural" as possible. The filter components consist of the following, I would like to know what all of you think about the decisions I have made and what your would add/change/remove from the system.

105G Display with:
160lbs LR
100lbs carib sea special reef grade aragonite (4" deep)
4 Maxijet 1200 PHs on a wavemaker for added circulation

20G sump with:
DoubleHelix 18W UV
Seaclone 100
10G reefugium with calurpa and miracle mud.

I fell pretty comfortable with this setup, but I am fairly new to the trade, and thought it would be interesting to see what everyone thinks about the system as a whole.

 

[saltcreep1025]

everything sounds great except you may want a better skimmer than that IMO

HTH
rosstifer

 

[Biggen]

I definitely agree with rossv about the Seaclone. It won't be able to handle a tank that size. Heck, I had it on my 40 gallon for about a month before I finally threw it in the trash. Go with an appropriate sized Aqua C. Much better skimmers.

Also, I consider the UV an optional piece of equipment. Especially since you say you wan't a "Natural" tank. They are great products, but I think they can be overkill for some folks. Especially if all livestock is quarantined properly before being introduced into the main tank. If you have checked out our article about UV, please give it a read: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/showquestion.php?faq=2&fldAuto=31

The rest of your setting is looking great. Should be a spectacular tank!!

 

[Brisc0]

Thanks! Makes me fell better. I spoke to a rep at ecosystem today that told me to tear my tank apart and remove the DSB because it would ruin my tank within two years. That was the motivation for my post because I got scared! Oh yea and the UV is just up and running for another two weeks to help polish off the last of a cycle algae bloom then im moving it over to the QT tank. I am looking at bumping the seaclone up to a AquaC EV-120

Thanks everyone!

 

[Biggen]

I spoke to a rep at ecosystem today that told me to tear my tank apart and remove the DSB because it would ruin my tank within two years.

I totally disagree with this, but ok... The DSB rumors have been beat to death, so I won't go into it. Suffice it to say, with a properly setup DSB, one should never have a problem as long as routine maintience is performed from time to time (i.e. replenishing the DSB with new infauna kit every year at the minium).



You do have a refugium, so I think the DSB would be redundant anyway.

 

[Biggen]

I spoke to a rep at ecosystem today that told me to tear my tank apart and remove the DSB because it would ruin my tank within two years.

I totally disagree with this, but ok... The DSB rumors have been beat to death, so I won't go into it. Suffice it to say, with a properly setup DSB, one should never have a problem as long as routine maintience is performed from time to time (i.e. replenishing the DSB with new infauna kit every year at the minium).



You do have a refugium, so I think the DSB would be redundant anyway.

 

[SquishyFish]

The simple version is that the DSB can become stagnant and trap sulfides. These are very toxic to the reef environment. The thing is...they are very easy to avoid. The upper 1/3 of a DSB should be routinely shifted around by your clean up crew (conchs, cerrith snails, nassarius snails ect) while the bottom half to 2/3 should be left to the infauna. If this is in place, the Deep Sand Bed will not turn into a Dead Sand bed. Thats the short version in laymans terms.

Squishy