Needed to Resolve.

[term_paint]

I have done a ton of reading but still have got some questions maybe someone can clear up...I want to do it right the first time and not spend money twice.

I have a 55 gallon Bowfront tank..... I am going to do fish and live rock to start and then i will get into some corals........


1) Filtration - The tank came with a penguin emperor bio wheel filter....Is this sufficient....I was going to add a wet dry filter but then i got a message saying these are not needed...They suggested to add a sump?? What is the drifference between a sump and a wet dry filter?? Bottom line what is really needed.....Penguin / Wet Dry/ Sump/ Canister??????


2) What is the best substrate to use. Everyone says to use a fine substrate can someone put a name or brand on that......

3) Heaters - I am waiting to place the order for two 100w stealth heaters. Are these the correct size and a good heater.....


4) Power heads - I am waiting to place the order for two maxi jets 1200's is this sufficient.....



Any answers would be greatly appreciated.....Thanks

[crvz]

1) the biowheel is insufficient for a reef tank, and I wouldnt recommend one. a sump is a wet/dry, in my opinion, but wet/dry often involve some sort of bio-ball solution. I'd not recommend that, either, for much of the same reason I dont recommend a biowheel (they don't remove anything from the water column, and can often be a place to trap wastes, which can lead to nutrient issues). No canister, either, same reason. I'd recommend a sump (which can be any water storage device, usually a smaller tank that fits under the display) and a decent protein skimmer. Look at something like the Octopus NW150 for your tank. However, a lot of this is moot if you don't have a reef ready tank or overflow and a way to get water up and down from the display.

2) I use no substrate, again stemming on my fear of trapped nutrients (though I'm a bit more phobic than most ), but would recommend an aragonite based substrate (like this... don't waste your money on the packaged live stuff).

3) your heater size should be fine, something I seldom think of in my setup. i guess it doesnt get cold enough in texas.

4) those maxijets would be okay, but look at the maxijet mods. sureflow, I think i the name? Here's a link. will definitely be better than just a couple of the pumps, and at not too much of an increased cost.

good luck!

[Sk8r]

Read the two * threads at the top of this forum and it will give you tons of info you haven't even asked yet.

Sump/skimmer/no filter is the best way to go with a reef. I use a substrate. I have a refugium. A HOB overflow box can get water to the sump, and a return hose brings it back. Trying to run corals without a sump would be a challenge for an experienced reefer: I very much recommend having one for a multitude of reasons that are in those * threads above.