Ceramic rings

timmyus · 04/10/2006, 02:02 AM

Hi guys I would just like your input on ceramic rings and carbon and the use of them in marine tanks. what are the use of them and what are the benefits and whether it is wise to use them?

TekCat · 04/10/2006, 02:23 AM

What kind of tank are you planning to run? FO/FOWLR/Reef? What other types of filtration are you planning to use?

Ceramic rings act as a biofilter and after a while they start to work as "nitrate factories". Adequate amount of LR and water movement = no need for any other types of "artificial" bio-filtration.

Carbon is useful if you want to extract disolved organics or toxins, however you must change carbon every so often, otherwise it'll become just another "ceramic ring" media.

timmyus · 04/10/2006, 02:59 AM

FOWLR at the moment but want to convert to reef later down the line. I dont have any other filter except for coral chips in one of my chambers in the sump and some sponges other than that I just have the protein skimmer my pump and heater. should I have anything else in the sump

dkh0331 · 04/10/2006, 03:08 AM

Live rock and a quality protein skimmer are the basics. Other options include injecting ozone thru your protien skimmer, filter socks, carbon on occasion and UV.

For your 60 gal, you might want to look at 60-90 lbs of live rock. Here in the states, LR runs $5-6/lb. Not sure what the cost is in SA. A quality skimmer will cost $200-250 here for your size tank.

There are options that you can look at to reduce cost. Take your time and make prudent purchasing decissions. In the beginning, most of us try and get buy purchasing cheap. And that stuff ends up in a box, closet, etc.

For a reef tank, depending on what kind of corals you want to keep, water movement and lights will be mission critical. But for now, setting up your sump - LR in the tank, a quality skimmer and heater will get you started.

HTH

David

timmyus · 04/10/2006, 03:44 AM

I have everything setup already my tank has been running for abot a month. I have about 10kg of live rock in the tank right niw but will be getting more eventually cause it is quite expensive to buy live rock here.

My paramters are as follows

PH : 8.6 or 8.4 As per red sea test kit if I am looking at the color properly

Alk: Normal as per red sea test kit

Ammonia :0

Nitrites :0

Nitrates: 25 I dont know if the reason for it still being this high is due to the fact that my tank is only a month old????

Calcium : 450ppm

I have done 25% water changes now for the last 2 weeks. and use RO water for topups.

I think from your advise about the ceramic ring about the nitrates that I should take that out. what about the sponges in the one chamber with the coral chips can I leave that in??

04/10/2006, 02:02 AM	#1
timmyus Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cape Town South Africa Posts: 109	Ceramic rings Hi guys I would just like your input on ceramic rings and carbon and the use of them in marine tanks. what are the use of them and what are the benefits and whether it is wise to use them?

04/10/2006, 03:08 AM	#4
dkh0331 Es gibt keinen ersatz Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Close to the edge, down by a river Posts: 3,581	Live rock and a quality protein skimmer are the basics. Other options include injecting ozone thru your protien skimmer, filter socks, carbon on occasion and UV. For your 60 gal, you might want to look at 60-90 lbs of live rock. Here in the states, LR runs $5-6/lb. Not sure what the cost is in SA. A quality skimmer will cost $200-250 here for your size tank. There are options that you can look at to reduce cost. Take your time and make prudent purchasing decissions. In the beginning, most of us try and get buy purchasing cheap. And that stuff ends up in a box, closet, etc. For a reef tank, depending on what kind of corals you want to keep, water movement and lights will be mission critical. But for now, setting up your sump - LR in the tank, a quality skimmer and heater will get you started. HTH David __________________ Just found out that grandpa has a drug addiction. He is addicted to viagra. No one is taking it harder than grandma.

04/10/2006, 02:23 AM	#2
TekCat Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: MN Posts: 3,130	What kind of tank are you planning to run? FO/FOWLR/Reef? What other types of filtration are you planning to use? Ceramic rings act as a biofilter and after a while they start to work as "nitrate factories". Adequate amount of LR and water movement = no need for any other types of "artificial" bio-filtration. Carbon is useful if you want to extract disolved organics or toxins, however you must change carbon every so often, otherwise it'll become just another "ceramic ring" media.

04/10/2006, 02:59 AM	#3
timmyus Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cape Town South Africa Posts: 109	FOWLR at the moment but want to convert to reef later down the line. I dont have any other filter except for coral chips in one of my chambers in the sump and some sponges other than that I just have the protein skimmer my pump and heater. should I have anything else in the sump

04/10/2006, 03:44 AM	#5
timmyus Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cape Town South Africa Posts: 109	I have everything setup already my tank has been running for abot a month. I have about 10kg of live rock in the tank right niw but will be getting more eventually cause it is quite expensive to buy live rock here. My paramters are as follows PH : 8.6 or 8.4 As per red sea test kit if I am looking at the color properly Alk: Normal as per red sea test kit Ammonia :0 Nitrites :0 Nitrates: 25 I dont know if the reason for it still being this high is due to the fact that my tank is only a month old???? Calcium : 450ppm I have done 25% water changes now for the last 2 weeks. and use RO water for topups. I think from your advise about the ceramic ring about the nitrates that I should take that out. what about the sponges in the one chamber with the coral chips can I leave that in??