What Equipment???

skimmer01 · 09/15/2007, 12:06 PM

Let me start by saying I am placing this in this forum because I am mostly interested in the equipment and set up you use to perform this. I'm looking for ideas on how best to maintain the water quality on a 75 gallon fish only system. Let me start by saying that water changes and their frequency is a given. The system will hold (4 to 5) (5 to 8 inch fish) I have a 20 gallon sump which will hold the skimmer, heater, and live rock. I would like to know what your fish only systems consist of. Things such as do you over skim and if so how much, what type of skimmer do you use Beckett, needlewheel, ect and why, what is your perfered means of mechanical/ chemical filtration, and lastly does a wet dry setup have a place in a fish only system (I was thinking it would help with gas exchange) or would the nitrate levels it could maintain be a concern?

Lumamae · 09/15/2007, 01:38 PM

From what I've read and this is what I'm leaning towards myself, but for your 75g:
Skimmer: ATi Bubblemaster 160
Live rocks: Approximately 80 to 100lbs
Live sand: 3/4" to 1" depth in tank
Filtration: Phosban reactor with carbon & phosban mixed (change monthly), filter sock to capture initial detritus from overflow (change weekly or every 3 to 4 days)
Denitrator: H&S 110SR (maintenance free every 18 months)

Wet/Dry is great for gas exchange if you can keep the detritus out of it, otherwise it turns into a nitrate factory.

mandm25254 · 09/15/2007, 02:55 PM

for a fish only system i really dont think that is all necessary, you can get away with alot more when you are only keeping fish

kodyboy · 09/15/2007, 09:33 PM

for a FOWLR I would skip the phosphate reacto, but it would not hurt.
Get a good skimmer, the best you can affort. The ATI BM160 is nice but I doubt it is much better than a DAS ex-1 and for the price you could get a DAS ex-2, which is better than the ATI 160 by far(petorama.net) Either DAS Skimmer would do great. If you want to save some cash get an Octopus nw150 or nw200 if it will fit. There is a huge thread on modding these for even greater performance, but on that size tank it is probably unnecessary.
A good skimmer will exchange all the gasses you need to
The sulfur denitrator is a good idea (don't get a non-sulfur based one too much maintenance), I like midland aquatics unite but H&S makes quality stuff. They really work well and on a loaded fowlr could make life a lot easier.

skimmer01 · 09/15/2007, 10:50 PM

Thanks for the info. I will have to look into the sulfur denitrator as this is new to me. I was looking at the octopus skimmers however if it will not fit I could also get a precission marine bullet 1 for a rather resonable price with a store credit i have to a lfs. What are your thoughts on this skimmer? Will it perform as well as the octopus nw200. I know I will need a larger than sugested pump to get the most out of the PM but other than that do any of you have any experiance with them. Thanks Again

kodyboy · 09/16/2007, 09:27 AM

PMs are good beckets, but like all beckets they require a large pump

09/15/2007, 12:06 PM	#1
skimmer01 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 55	What Equipment??? Let me start by saying I am placing this in this forum because I am mostly interested in the equipment and set up you use to perform this. I'm looking for ideas on how best to maintain the water quality on a 75 gallon fish only system. Let me start by saying that water changes and their frequency is a given. The system will hold (4 to 5) (5 to 8 inch fish) I have a 20 gallon sump which will hold the skimmer, heater, and live rock. I would like to know what your fish only systems consist of. Things such as do you over skim and if so how much, what type of skimmer do you use Beckett, needlewheel, ect and why, what is your perfered means of mechanical/ chemical filtration, and lastly does a wet dry setup have a place in a fish only system (I was thinking it would help with gas exchange) or would the nitrate levels it could maintain be a concern?

09/15/2007, 01:38 PM	#2
Lumamae Moved On Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Bay Area, CA, USA Posts: 216	From what I've read and this is what I'm leaning towards myself, but for your 75g: Skimmer: ATi Bubblemaster 160 Live rocks: Approximately 80 to 100lbs Live sand: 3/4" to 1" depth in tank Filtration: Phosban reactor with carbon & phosban mixed (change monthly), filter sock to capture initial detritus from overflow (change weekly or every 3 to 4 days) Denitrator: H&S 110SR (maintenance free every 18 months) Wet/Dry is great for gas exchange if you can keep the detritus out of it, otherwise it turns into a nitrate factory.

09/15/2007, 02:55 PM	#3
mandm25254 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: pine hill Posts: 554	for a fish only system i really dont think that is all necessary, you can get away with alot more when you are only keeping fish

09/15/2007, 09:33 PM	#4
kodyboy Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,990	for a FOWLR I would skip the phosphate reacto, but it would not hurt. Get a good skimmer, the best you can affort. The ATI BM160 is nice but I doubt it is much better than a DAS ex-1 and for the price you could get a DAS ex-2, which is better than the ATI 160 by far(petorama.net) Either DAS Skimmer would do great. If you want to save some cash get an Octopus nw150 or nw200 if it will fit. There is a huge thread on modding these for even greater performance, but on that size tank it is probably unnecessary. A good skimmer will exchange all the gasses you need to The sulfur denitrator is a good idea (don't get a non-sulfur based one too much maintenance), I like midland aquatics unite but H&S makes quality stuff. They really work well and on a loaded fowlr could make life a lot easier.

09/15/2007, 10:50 PM	#5
skimmer01 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 55	Thanks for the info. I will have to look into the sulfur denitrator as this is new to me. I was looking at the octopus skimmers however if it will not fit I could also get a precission marine bullet 1 for a rather resonable price with a store credit i have to a lfs. What are your thoughts on this skimmer? Will it perform as well as the octopus nw200. I know I will need a larger than sugested pump to get the most out of the PM but other than that do any of you have any experiance with them. Thanks Again

09/16/2007, 09:27 AM	#6
kodyboy Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,990	PMs are good beckets, but like all beckets they require a large pump