Advice on filteration methods?!

Nerd1717 · 12/09/2009, 08:07 PM

I am currently running a 50 gallon main tank with a 20 gallon sump/fuge with around 70 lbs of live rock total in both areas. In the sump I have been using two of the types of filters where it sucks water up, goes through a filter and out a bio-wheel...... much like the type you see on simple freshwater setups. I think they are called waterfall style filters. I do not have a protien skimmer per the advice of my LFS, who told me I could use this method with the live rock instead of buying a protien skimmer. I wasn't particularly concerned with cost, but I was told (and having no experience with saltwater at the time) that I wouldn't need one..... so there was no need to waste money unless the clenliness/parameters of the tank became a problem.

My questions are...

1) Is this true?

2) If I did buy an appropriate skimmer/ can I toss these things? (They are moderately loud.)

Any advice would be helpful..... Thanks!

mikeatjac · 12/10/2009, 11:29 AM

Your "waterfall style filters" really are not used much in the saltwater hobby and often the pinwheel produces nirates. With your live rock and skimmer you will have a much better system.

There are several cost efficent skimmers on the market.

Of course this is advise is JMO.

evoracer · 12/10/2009, 11:43 AM

I would recommend using a skimmer also. They are a very efficient way of exporting nutrients. I would say since you have the sump setup with a fuge section, add some chaetomorpha algae to the fuge, ditch the waterfall filters and add a decent skimmer. You may consider adding a carbon or phosban chamber if need be, but they are not always necessary.

Nerd1717 · 12/10/2009, 11:43 AM

So it is actually hurting the system to have those until I get one? I haven't found abnormally high nitrates when testing.

I won't have time until the weekend.......... like I said it wasn't necessarily the cost, I just want to do it right.

Rhyno_NC · 12/10/2009, 11:46 AM

Like others have said you dont "NEED" a skimmer but it will help. A good water change schedule will suffice.

Maivortex · 12/10/2009, 11:56 AM

You dont need the bio wheel

mikeatjac · 12/10/2009, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nerd1717

So it is actually hurting the system to have those until I get one? I have found abnormally high nitrates when testing.

I won't have time until the weekend.......... like I said it wasn't necessarily the cost, I just want to do it right.

It could be a nirate factory and hurting your system but anyway a hang on back filter is not going to do much anyway. A skimmer and Live Rock are the core of reef keeping IMO. Lots of options after that.

mikeatjac · 12/10/2009, 12:17 PM

BTW, you might want to find a different LFS.

Nerd1717 · 12/10/2009, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeatjac

It could be a nirate factory and hurting your system but anyway a hang on back filter is not going to do much anyway. A skimmer and Live Rock are the core of reef keeping IMO. Lots of options after that.

Sorry.... that was an important typo..... I meant HAVE NOT found high nitrates when testing.

And yes, I have been somewhat dissatisfied with them, but they are the only ones I know of in the area...... and I'm afraid to buy anything living online.

Stuart60611 · 12/10/2009, 01:13 PM

Any LFS that tells you to use biowheels in a saltwater system and that you do not need a skimmer does not know that they are doing. You may not have high nitrates now, but in time I bet you will. You can get by without a skimmer if you do a lot of water changes, but it can be tough. I would not even consider running a marine system without rock and a skimmer.

Nerd1717 · 12/10/2009, 05:27 PM

Thanks for the input. This will definitely get changed.

12/09/2009, 08:07 PM	#1
Nerd1717 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 127	Advice on filteration methods?! I am currently running a 50 gallon main tank with a 20 gallon sump/fuge with around 70 lbs of live rock total in both areas. In the sump I have been using two of the types of filters where it sucks water up, goes through a filter and out a bio-wheel...... much like the type you see on simple freshwater setups. I think they are called waterfall style filters. I do not have a protien skimmer per the advice of my LFS, who told me I could use this method with the live rock instead of buying a protien skimmer. I wasn't particularly concerned with cost, but I was told (and having no experience with saltwater at the time) that I wouldn't need one..... so there was no need to waste money unless the clenliness/parameters of the tank became a problem. My questions are... 1) Is this true? 2) If I did buy an appropriate skimmer/ can I toss these things? (They are moderately loud.) Any advice would be helpful..... Thanks!

12/10/2009, 11:29 AM	#2
mikeatjac Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 2,433	Your "waterfall style filters" really are not used much in the saltwater hobby and often the pinwheel produces nirates. With your live rock and skimmer you will have a much better system. There are several cost efficent skimmers on the market. Of course this is advise is JMO. __________________ Red Sea Reefer 525 - BK 160- G5 Blue - GHL

12/10/2009, 11:43 AM	#3
evoracer Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Luis Obispo, CA Posts: 571	I would recommend using a skimmer also. They are a very efficient way of exporting nutrients. I would say since you have the sump setup with a fuge section, add some chaetomorpha algae to the fuge, ditch the waterfall filters and add a decent skimmer. You may consider adding a carbon or phosban chamber if need be, but they are not always necessary. __________________ ______________________________________________________ Jeremy Second-Decade Club!

12/10/2009, 11:43 AM	#4
Nerd1717 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 127	So it is actually hurting the system to have those until I get one? I *haven't* found abnormally high nitrates when testing. I won't have time until the weekend.......... like I said it wasn't necessarily the cost, I just want to do it right. Last edited by Nerd1717; 12/10/2009 at 12:29 PM.

12/10/2009, 12:17 PM	#8
mikeatjac Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 2,433	BTW, you might want to find a different LFS. __________________ Red Sea Reefer 525 - BK 160- G5 Blue - GHL

12/10/2009, 11:46 AM	#5
Rhyno_NC Moved On Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: wouldn't you like to know Posts: 18	Like others have said you dont "NEED" a skimmer but it will help. A good water change schedule will suffice.

12/10/2009, 11:56 AM	#6
Maivortex Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PARADISE, us Posts: 666 Blog Entries: 1	You dont need the bio wheel

12/10/2009, 01:13 PM	#10
Stuart60611 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,979	Any LFS that tells you to use biowheels in a saltwater system and that you do not need a skimmer does not know that they are doing. You may not have high nitrates now, but in time I bet you will. You can get by without a skimmer if you do a lot of water changes, but it can be tough. I would not even consider running a marine system without rock and a skimmer.

12/10/2009, 05:27 PM	#11
Nerd1717 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 127	Thanks for the input. This will definitely get changed.