Fish only tank filtration requirements

mborkush · 10/31/2010, 07:55 PM

So this is the part I like, learning some thing new. I have been enjoying reef tanks now since 2000 on my own. The filtration requirements have changed so much in in my short time in the hobby. My current system is a mixed reef 220 tank with 200 gallon tank as sump. I have tried different configurations and techniques over the years, but found that the old saying of "keep it simple stupid" seems to hold true. My sump consists of live rock, protein skimmer, calcium Rx and an ever growing ball of cheato. Thats it. I have never had such significant coral growth or such a stable system as I have with this one.

With this going on, I found a nice deal on a 150 bow front. I thought this would be nice in my office at home. I converted a spare 55 gallon tank into a sump- same principals as above. So with all this said, is there any differences in filtering I should do to keep fish only? My reef tank has over 300 lbs of live rock, this one is around 100lbs. I rely on the rock to do most of my filtering in the reef, but that wont be the case here. Im not a big fan of canister filters, but not against them either. My sump is through the floor in the basement so I have lots of room to play with.

My thought is this will house all the fish I cant keep in the reef tank. (All the fish my daughter wants) Angles, puffers, trigers or what ever. None the less, messy eaters!

I dont want to skimp on the filtration here. Wondering what you guys think.
Here's a few shots at day one. Canopy is borrowed from another tank just to add some light. Building the new one tomorrow.

Thank you!!!
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100_2839.jpg

Pallobi · 10/31/2010, 08:13 PM

my fowlr has a oversized skimmer, and i run lots of carbon on it, about 12 to 15 cups at a time... i have it barebottom with lots of flow to keep waste and food in suspension... i also have a good amount of large rock peices ( i hate small rocks ) ... i also use a filter sock... antoher thing i like about my fowlr is i can treat the tank directly if anything looks ill, ie cupramine, antibiotics etc...

so in a nutshell, the bigger the skimmer the better and lots of carbon imo... but thats jus me

GL!

mborkush · 10/31/2010, 08:55 PM

Thank you, Makes sense. Keep waste in suspension. I like that idea, I wish I didnt add sand now. I could of used that money on more Live rock!!!
The skimmer is an ETSS, rated around 200 gallons....but we all know what that means. I had it kicking around as a spare/back-up but who knows, maybe santa will bring me a new euro reef.......

Thank you for your input!

mborkush · 10/31/2010, 08:57 PM

Ohh, I forgot to ask, where/how do you run your carbon? 12-15 cups at once is a lot!

Stuart60611 · 10/31/2010, 09:25 PM

As mentioned, a good skimmer is the most important item of equipment. If you are going to have a sandbed, then have one no deeper than .5 inches. Remember, you will not be able to house a clean up crew to keep your sand clean. Any deeper sandbed is going to turn into a nutrient sink and make it impossible to keep your tank clean. Dealing with the fish poop and tons of food you feed in a fowlr is the biggest challenge. I have found carbon dosing (not activated charcoal carbon) is essential in controling nutrients. You can go the liquid route with vodka, vinegar, or VSV. I, however, had had great success with the solid pellets which I highly recommend. Also, have a lot of flow in the display which your fish will enjoy and which will also help keep crap in suspension so that it can be skimmed out. The use of activated carbon, as mentioned above, also is a good idea.

10/31/2010, 07:55 PM	#1
mborkush Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Raymond, NH Posts: 122	Fish only tank filtration requirements So this is the part I like, learning some thing new. I have been enjoying reef tanks now since 2000 on my own. The filtration requirements have changed so much in in my short time in the hobby. My current system is a mixed reef 220 tank with 200 gallon tank as sump. I have tried different configurations and techniques over the years, but found that the old saying of "keep it simple stupid" seems to hold true. My sump consists of live rock, protein skimmer, calcium Rx and an ever growing ball of cheato. Thats it. I have never had such significant coral growth or such a stable system as I have with this one. With this going on, I found a nice deal on a 150 bow front. I thought this would be nice in my office at home. I converted a spare 55 gallon tank into a sump- same principals as above. So with all this said, is there any differences in filtering I should do to keep fish only? My reef tank has over 300 lbs of live rock, this one is around 100lbs. I rely on the rock to do most of my filtering in the reef, but that wont be the case here. Im not a big fan of canister filters, but not against them either. My sump is through the floor in the basement so I have lots of room to play with. My thought is this will house all the fish I cant keep in the reef tank. (All the fish my daughter wants) Angles, puffers, trigers or what ever. None the less, messy eaters! I dont want to skimp on the filtration here. Wondering what you guys think. Here's a few shots at day one. Canopy is borrowed from another tank just to add some light. Building the new one tomorrow. Thank you!!! 100_2838.jpg 100_2837.jpg 100_2835.jpg 100_2836.jpg 100_2839.jpg __________________ Here fishy, fishy, fishy Current Tank Info: 220 Reef with Remote sump filtration,

10/31/2010, 08:13 PM	#2
Pallobi CTARS, BRS & OSRAS Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 7,001	my fowlr has a oversized skimmer, and i run lots of carbon on it, about 12 to 15 cups at a time... i have it barebottom with lots of flow to keep waste and food in suspension... i also have a good amount of large rock peices ( i hate small rocks ) ... i also use a filter sock... antoher thing i like about my fowlr is i can treat the tank directly if anything looks ill, ie cupramine, antibiotics etc... so in a nutshell, the bigger the skimmer the better and lots of carbon imo... but thats jus me GL! __________________ Zoas & Palys

10/31/2010, 08:55 PM	#3
mborkush Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Raymond, NH Posts: 122	Thank you, Makes sense. Keep waste in suspension. I like that idea, I wish I didnt add sand now. I could of used that money on more Live rock!!! The skimmer is an ETSS, rated around 200 gallons....but we all know what that means. I had it kicking around as a spare/back-up but who knows, maybe santa will bring me a new euro reef....... Thank you for your input! __________________ Here fishy, fishy, fishy Current Tank Info: 220 Reef with Remote sump filtration,

10/31/2010, 08:57 PM	#4
mborkush Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Raymond, NH Posts: 122	Ohh, I forgot to ask, where/how do you run your carbon? 12-15 cups at once is a lot! __________________ Here fishy, fishy, fishy Current Tank Info: 220 Reef with Remote sump filtration,

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10/31/2010, 09:25 PM	#5
Stuart60611 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,979	As mentioned, a good skimmer is the most important item of equipment. If you are going to have a sandbed, then have one no deeper than .5 inches. Remember, you will not be able to house a clean up crew to keep your sand clean. Any deeper sandbed is going to turn into a nutrient sink and make it impossible to keep your tank clean. Dealing with the fish poop and tons of food you feed in a fowlr is the biggest challenge. I have found carbon dosing (not activated charcoal carbon) is essential in controling nutrients. You can go the liquid route with vodka, vinegar, or VSV. I, however, had had great success with the solid pellets which I highly recommend. Also, have a lot of flow in the display which your fish will enjoy and which will also help keep crap in suspension so that it can be skimmed out. The use of activated carbon, as mentioned above, also is a good idea.