Mike Mann March 2, 2012 March 2, 2012 OK ive had a FOWLR tank before but i just bought i used fully set up 210G tank with everything live rock coral the works. i need to know if the filtration system is a POS or not because it was made by the previous owner. i know it works becuase ive had it now for 7 months and no coral have died. There is a couple large pieces of SPS but mainly all softies and one big toadstool. there are two return overflows that go into a sixty gallon sump which the guy made his self and its not too bad so i kept it. This is the part i need help with tho, the first return goes into a 5 gallon bucket filter which has a filter pad ontop of a screen ontop of bio balls then drains back into the sump. the other return just flows in the sump near the pump for my skimmer. it then goes into the second sump(connected by a union) where my return pump and some sump rock is located. the sump is made out of rubber made tubs which i know alot of people do and they fit great under the tank and are both very big and hold alot of water so i know i wanna keep them. but is the 5 gallons bucket homemade filter a POS? and if it is what shoud i get?? i want to start adding more SPS in my tank.
firecrackerbob March 2, 2012 March 2, 2012 As always, I think there are many ways to do things in this hobby, so you will probably get a variety of views... with that said, the general consensus that I am aware of is that Bio-ball type reactors are a dated approach to nitrate management. they are probably OK for a FOWLR, but I think I would remove it for a reef tank. so if it was me I would either just take it out and call it a day(maybe put a sock filter in its place if you want), or (and what I would reccomend) is to setup a refugium compartment if you can... you could probably just remove the media from the bucket, put Cheto in and put a clip on light over top... with that said, there is always the 'if it ait broke' way to look at it... but if you ware going to go heavy on the sps I think I would get it out of there.
schenktank March 2, 2012 March 2, 2012 thats kinda your call. if it works and your water parameters are good than keep it (dont fix it if it aint broke). i know ive heard mixed feelings on the bio balls. some people say they trap detritus and eventually contribute to higher nitrates. but as long as you maintain the filter pad above it, should work fine. on the other hand im sort of a bozo with filters so i might not be helping much
Ryan S March 2, 2012 March 2, 2012 Mike, could you take photos for us? It's hard to see what you have with words. If we can see it, we could probably give more helpful advice.
Coral Hind March 2, 2012 March 2, 2012 I would remove the 5g bucket with the bio-balls if you plan to keep a reef system as it will become a nitrate factory. If you are doing another FOWLR then keeping the bucket will not be an issue. Do you have any pictures of the setup you can share with us? I've used rubbermaid sumps and they are fine if good quality, some have had them crack. Also be careful with heaters in rubbermaid sumps as we had one member that had the heater melt a hole in the sump. What skimmer do you have? *Since this is a doubled topic I merged the two together*
Mike Mann March 2, 2012 Author March 2, 2012 Yea I understand the if it don't broke don't fix it thing but I don't wanna start buying sps and losing it due to filtration. I just want to know what I should use if not the bucket other than the skimmer.
Mike Mann March 2, 2012 Author March 2, 2012 I would remove the 5g bucket with the bio-balls if you plan to keep a reef system as it will become a nitrate factory. If you are doing another FOWLR then keeping the bucket will not be an issue. Do you have any pictures of the setup you can share with us? I've used rubbermaid sumps and they are fine if good quality, some have had them crack. Also be careful with heaters in rubbermaid sumps as we had one member that had the heater melt a hole in the sump. What skimmer do you have? *Since this is a doubled topic I merged the two together* I am using the c-skim 1800 and I believe it is amazing not alot of people have it but as far as I can see its an awsome skimmer.
Mike Mann March 2, 2012 Author March 2, 2012 coral hind you say to remove it ok but what should i replace it with? if i did it would be nothin but a skimmer and some live rock in the sump!
Coral Hind March 2, 2012 March 2, 2012 That's all I and most reefers have and all you really need. If you want and have room you could add a refugium area to grow macro algae which will help to pull nutrients out of the system.
zygote2k March 3, 2012 March 3, 2012 keep it until you can determine that it isn't keeping the nitrate down. then make a decision.
Mike Mann March 3, 2012 Author March 3, 2012 thanks everyone for the tips. i do have room to set up a refugium so im probally just gonna do that!
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