some opinions on a mega biological filter

j.p. harrington · 01/05/2008, 06:17 PM

o.k. this is just an idea i had plus im new to this whoel saltwater tank thing but could it be posible to: take a 55gallon barrel put a dsb of about 5-8 inches then add a ton of baserock/live rock/ reef rock and just pump it through the barrel and back into the tank i mean i no rock adds filtration so is this a possible idea on something big or just a waist of time and money

Sk8r · 01/05/2008, 06:27 PM

Easier to take a sideways 55g tank and do same as fuge, with weed and light: shallower, better gas enchange. I'd go 4" sandbed, however, for fear of buildup of stuff too far down to cycle through.
55g fuge, and then a sump adequate to handle pumps, skimmer, heater, downflow and it would support your 600g system nicely. I use a 20g fuge on my 54g. Now, if you really want to go large, a 200g show fuge [same proportion] under your tank would give you killer biofiltration. You'd have enough pods in there to feed seahorses, pipefish, etc, and still enough left over for your 600g upstairs.

j.p. harrington · 01/05/2008, 06:33 PM

well now thats an idea and i guess its the same thing maybe even better i mean i wass jw if this would help anything out cuz i was thing of making like a huge batch of diy rock and filling it up and just pumping some major water through it so i wouldnt have any dead spots

01/05/2008, 06:17 PM	#1
j.p. harrington Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NORTH CAROLINA Posts: 411	some opinions on a mega biological filter o.k. this is just an idea i had plus im new to this whoel saltwater tank thing but could it be posible to: take a 55gallon barrel put a dsb of about 5-8 inches then add a ton of baserock/live rock/ reef rock and just pump it through the barrel and back into the tank i mean i no rock adds filtration so is this a possible idea on something big or just a waist of time and money __________________ j.p. harrington #41 Current Tank Info: 75gal MIXED REEF. working on 10-20gallon nano

01/05/2008, 06:27 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Easier to take a sideways 55g tank and do same as fuge, with weed and light: shallower, better gas enchange. I'd go 4" sandbed, however, for fear of buildup of stuff too far down to cycle through. 55g fuge, and then a sump adequate to handle pumps, skimmer, heater, downflow and it would support your 600g system nicely. I use a 20g fuge on my 54g. Now, if you really want to go large, a 200g show fuge [same proportion] under your tank would give you killer biofiltration. You'd have enough pods in there to feed seahorses, pipefish, etc, and still enough left over for your 600g upstairs. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/05/2008, 06:33 PM	#3
j.p. harrington Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NORTH CAROLINA Posts: 411	well now thats an idea and i guess its the same thing maybe even better i mean i wass jw if this would help anything out cuz i was thing of making like a huge batch of diy rock and filling it up and just pumping some major water through it so i wouldnt have any dead spots __________________ j.p. harrington #41 Current Tank Info: 75gal MIXED REEF. working on 10-20gallon nano