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09-09-2006, 09:11 PM
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#1
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: byron,MN
Posts: 70
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skimmers or filter?
im just about to start a new salt water aquarium this is the first time i've done anything with a saltwater aquarium and i need to know which one do you think would be more benificial in a 55 gallon salt water aquarium a trickle filter with a skimmer or a nice canister filter with no skimmer
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09-09-2006, 09:54 PM
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#2
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Ahhhh Barnacles!
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Near A Coral Reef
Posts: 1,211
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A Skimmer is a MUST!
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I Keep looking at our in ground pool and wondering how much Live Rock I would need to make it a Reef!
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09-09-2006, 11:45 PM
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#3
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Plankton
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 46
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Skimmer all the way, you should also consider getting a sump.
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09-09-2006, 11:48 PM
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#4
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uber-stupid
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Biloxi, MS
Posts: 3,265
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Is it going to be a fish only tank? If it is not then you will not want the trickle. In fact I would not run the trickle at all and put the money you save on that into a better skimmer. You want to take the gunk out before it has a chance to get processed into nitrates. The bio balls will not allow that to happen so unless you like to do tons of water changes or you like hair algae I would steer clear of the trickle. |
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09-09-2006, 11:54 PM
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#5
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I've got the REEF rash!
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 24,657
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Skimmer!
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09-10-2006, 02:14 AM
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#6
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The Ninja MOD
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Planet P.....Why Me?
Posts: 12,327
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Live rock will handle the biological filtration and the skimmer will remove disolved solids. Thats all you need. Get a quality skimmer rated well over the size of your tank. Thsi is the voice of experience. Spend the money now! Save it later! Filters trap the poop and junk and it continues to rot while your water is flowing through it. Skimmer pulls out the nasties and the rock will process the rest! Only way to go!
Robert
__________________
After 2 years I finally have water in it! (no, really)!
Where is Planet P?
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09-16-2006, 06:27 PM
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#7
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: byron,MN
Posts: 70
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thanks that helps alot do you have any suggestions for a skimmer
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09-16-2006, 06:36 PM
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#8
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uber-stupid
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Biloxi, MS
Posts: 3,265
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Asm G-3
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09-16-2006, 07:58 PM
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#9
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: byron,MN
Posts: 70
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How many pounds of live rock do you think i should get
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09-16-2006, 08:30 PM
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#10
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uber-stupid
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Biloxi, MS
Posts: 3,265
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100# +
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09-16-2006, 08:31 PM
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#11
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uber-stupid
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Biloxi, MS
Posts: 3,265
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No trickle filter
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09-22-2006, 11:59 PM
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#12
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: byron,MN
Posts: 70
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okay so I get a skimmer, and a hundred (+) pound of live rock and that will be all I need for filtration
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09-23-2006, 10:16 PM
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#13
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uber-stupid
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Biloxi, MS
Posts: 3,265
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right... well depending... you may want to run some carbon from time to time as well.
If you have zoos or palys or softies you will want to run it. you can just put it in high flow. I made a canister for the out put of the skimmer that works great for me.
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09-23-2006, 10:39 PM
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#14
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Shark
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Marlboro, Ma.
Posts: 1,306
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100 lbs+ of live rock may be a little much depending on the look you want to achieve and the type of rock it is. If you get really prous rock you could probably get awau with as little as 40-50 lbs in a 55 gallon tank and should be fine for biological filtration. If you have put over 100lbs of rock in a 55 gallon tank, I don't think you will be able to achieva an open aquacsape. I would decide what you want asthetically and start with less rock and see if you want more.
I agree go with the best skimmer you can buy, ASM's are great or more money for a euroreef or deltec which have a little better construction than the ASM. The ASM and euroreef need a sump to run in, deltec make in sump or hang on back. I use a precision marine bullet, works awsome but need a strong pressure rated pump to run it so it drains a lot of electricity.
No need for a trickle filter and the only reason to use a canister filter is if you wanted to run carbon or some other media in it. It would not be used primarily for biological filtration. |
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10-07-2006, 05:47 PM
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#15
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: byron,MN
Posts: 70
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okay i got one last question. will the protien skimmer also cover the watter movement and aieratoin? if it dosn't do you have any susgestions to do that |
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