Questions on Setuping up the perfect filter system

Discussion in 'Filters, Pumps, etc..' started by hasek1639, Mar 26, 2010.

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  1. hasek1639

    hasek1639 Fire Shrimp

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2010
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    347
    Location:
    spencerport,ny
    Hello all i come here cause i am completely confused. Right now as my system stands i am running a MarineLand 350 HOB filter and a brand new SWC HOB bf-100 skimmer. I keep hearing HOB filters are garbage and should be replaced if I want a Full reef system. I am looking for ideas without breaking the bank to make my filter system as good as it can get for my 55gal tank. I done have much room under the tank as of right now as well.
     
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  3. AZDesertRat

    AZDesertRat Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2009
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    Location:
    Phoenix AZ
    Most succesful reef systems don't have any mechanical filtration, none of mine do. Plenty of live rock, substrate and a sump/refugium is all you need with maybe a protein skimmer added on a larger system. The rock and sand provide room to grow beneficial bacteria for the notrogen cycle and the macroalgaes in a sump/refugium help with nitrate export.
     
  4. Tangster

    Tangster 3reef Sponsor

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    No such thing as a perfect filter what I have found to be more truthful is a combination of several different method to be the best way to go and the filtration demands depends on animals wanting to be kept on the system with the filtration . What type tank and live stock will you be keeping ?
     
  5. hasek1639

    hasek1639 Fire Shrimp

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2010
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    347
    Location:
    spencerport,ny
    i want to have a wide variety of corals and not sure about how many fish many 6 or fish nothing huge but i am limited on space for filters or a sump with refugium. Coral wise i really love all want a clam or 2 some hard or soft corals.
     
  6. Tangster

    Tangster 3reef Sponsor

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    I use a refugium and a sump with old rock I cycled really slow for 3 months to get them all alive I use a good Bullet skimmer and run a DSB in the fuge and a PO4 NO3 and carbon reactors with Ozone . This 90 I had to set up fast as the 180 blew out so I went bare bottom some would call a Berlin I guess ? I am setting up all the same equipment plus Bio ball and wet dry for my coral systems here that are being relocated from the shop to here at home so I can totally control them 24/7.
     
  7. Night-Rida

    Night-Rida Finback Whale

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    Jul 3, 2009
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    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    10g or 20g sump/refugium. oversized in sump skimmer. dsb. chaeto/mangroves,etc. plenty of LR 75-100 lbs. good flow.