I converted a 55 gallon freshwater to a saltwater. The tank has been saltwater since June of 2004 and has about 125 lbs of live rock and a thick live sand bed. The filters I had on there were the large and small empreor's. I also have a seaclone skimmer, a small canister filter with a pond uv sterilizer hooked up to it. I want to upgrade the equipment and put a sump or some kind of berlin system in. However I have no idea what to upgrade to. What is a good skimmer to add? What kind of sump system should I add? Should I add a calcium reactor? My lighting system is a compact current system with 4 stages of lighting including moon lights. WE are doing a community tank and our going to had coral's and anemoes. I just need some help on what is the best equipment to upgrade too. Thanks to all who help.
Need Advice on Filtration Equipment.
- Thread starter Reefman1
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That is a very broad question. Everyone could give you a different answer. A lot depends on how much you want to spend. When you say the best, that could get very expensive. I would just go with a sump and get rid of the filters. Add a very good skimmer to it. There are many good skimmers ETS, ASM, Euro Reef, Aqua C just to name a few.
I like to have a refugium in my sump. With the lights on at night it helps keep the system a little more stabe and provides some food to the tank. Put the largest sump and skimmer you can fit in your stand or where ever you are going to place it.
Hope this helps a little.
I like to have a refugium in my sump. With the lights on at night it helps keep the system a little more stabe and provides some food to the tank. Put the largest sump and skimmer you can fit in your stand or where ever you are going to place it.
Hope this helps a little.
Thanks. It's a start. A 55 is not that much too keep balanced. Most of the time it is stable though. I know it was a broad question. Maybe I should have said not the best but the best for a reasonable price with the thought of upgrading to a 125 gallon sometime later this year. I know I need a much better skimmer although the seaclone suprisingly is doing pretty good. I just hate all the stuff hanging on the back.
you could use a rubbermaid tub for a sump and put your money into a good skimmer. I would get the best skimmer you can afford and the biggest especially if you are going to upgrade to a 125 some day.
I would just keep it simple if this is not a permanent tank set up.
I would just keep it simple if this is not a permanent tank set up.
Jiddy
Well-known member
Another good thing to get is a book, my rec. is, "Conscentious Marine Aquarist, By Robert Fenner" and "New Marine Setup by Michael Paletta." THis will help with what kind of option you can for differant setup's, then once you know what to get you can come back on here and found out what NameBrands people use. Thats what i did, just a suggestion! HTH Jidz
NaH2O
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Welcome to Reef Frontiers!!!
Here is a thread for you regarding lighting, since you mentioned you wanted to keep anemones. There is a good post from Maxx in it specifically about lighting and anemones. Lighting Advice...
For skimmers on a 125 gallon - you could go with several options, named above. I would purchase a skimmer that says it is for a tank larger than a 125 because I think a lot of manufacturers overrate them (good post about it in this thread: My Skimmer? Thinking of Getting a Euro-Reef). AquaC, Euro-Reef, ASM, are all good choices. I have an Euro-Reef CS8-3 on my 120 gallon tank, and think it does a great job. Also, take into consideration the height of your stand and the height of the skimmer, if you are thinking of having it under there.
At this point, I wouldn't worry too much about a calcium reactor. Unless you know the calcium demand on your system is going to be high. What types of corals do you think you'll keep in the 125? Also, knowing what types of corals you will be keeping will help determine your lighting requirements, too.
Hope this helps!
Here is a thread for you regarding lighting, since you mentioned you wanted to keep anemones. There is a good post from Maxx in it specifically about lighting and anemones. Lighting Advice...
For skimmers on a 125 gallon - you could go with several options, named above. I would purchase a skimmer that says it is for a tank larger than a 125 because I think a lot of manufacturers overrate them (good post about it in this thread: My Skimmer? Thinking of Getting a Euro-Reef). AquaC, Euro-Reef, ASM, are all good choices. I have an Euro-Reef CS8-3 on my 120 gallon tank, and think it does a great job. Also, take into consideration the height of your stand and the height of the skimmer, if you are thinking of having it under there.
At this point, I wouldn't worry too much about a calcium reactor. Unless you know the calcium demand on your system is going to be high. What types of corals do you think you'll keep in the 125? Also, knowing what types of corals you will be keeping will help determine your lighting requirements, too.
Hope this helps!
I have the Coscientious Marine Aquaist and the complete book of the Marine Aquairum. There's just so much information and everyone has a different opinion. So I asked this question to try and generate some people's ideas that have gone through this kind of transition. I just don't want to keep spending and replacing.
