Forums / Equipment Forums / Filtration

Crushed Coral...big mistake?

Bill H — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 22:05:39 GMT

Hello all,

I just recently decided to get my back into motion after a power outage 6 months ago that was a tank killer. The only things that survived were a couple damsels and a few soft corals. Its a 60g 36x18x 22 deep, overflow into RDSB<--(just added), then sump with skimmer and tricklefilter with about 150 pounds of LR. Overall age of tank is 2 years. New lighting (due to arrive from MD tomorrow) will be the T5 Nova Extreme. I use RO water.

My problem is I bought about 80 pounds of Nature's Ocean,Atlantic Crushed Coral that I placed in both the RDSB and in the display to a depth of about 2 1/2 inches. Then I read how bad a choice it is from alot of folks. I can certainly take it out if need be...just wanted to know if it would work for rsdb or display or neither? My long term goals for the tank is mainly for corals, With a few small fish(lawnmower blenny, wrass, gobie, etc) no more than 3 or 4, but I would like a stable enviroment for 3 or 4 shrimp(cleaners or pepermint) Is worth a try or a complete do over?

Thanks in advance

Bill

Also I plan to do away with the bio-balls once things are settled and the RDSB consists of a large Tidy Cat litter bucket (35LB?) 2/3rds full of crushed coral nastiness. Also the crushed coralappears from their website to be the finest grade

Overflow build

gman — Sun, 11 May 2008 20:30:54 GMT

I feel this is a stupid question but, I'm building 2 overflows for my 125 gal tank, I spray painted the back out side of the tank and I was wondering if I could do the same with the over flows? I feel this is a dumb question because even if I use water resent paint it will eventually break away and make its way to the fish. Not to mention the chemicals. But what if I spray one pice of plexiglass and then silicone another pice to the back of it so the paint never gets hit by the water? Or what about window tint? Or should I fine a place that can make me custom overflows? If that is the answer do you know of a place that will make them? Sorry I know that was a lot but it is one of the last things I need to do to put water in my new reef tank.

Thanks,
Greg

Coralife Super Skimmer Replacement Pump?

Dr4g0nf1y — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:17:09 GMT

I own a Coralife Super Skimmer 220. I'm wondering if there's a better pump for this unit. The pump that comes with the stock unit is the SAME pump as on the 125. This makes me think that either the 125 is over powered or the 220 is under powered. Has anyone replaced the needlewheel pump on this unit with anything bigger? If so, what did you use?

Pentair Filtration System

Bill1426 — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:11:32 GMT

I installed the following filtration system.

1) Pentair Quiet One 4000 (1015 GPH)
2) Pentair AF-94-19 (Mechanical Filter)
3) Pentair AF-93-19 (Chemical Filter)
4) Pentair 24 Watt VU Sterilizer

My question is,, Shouldn't the exhaust pressure look like a jacuzzi ??
Cause mine is dribbeling out..
The pressure gauge on the AF-94 shows 3 lbs.
And if I shut off the valve on the exhaust it goes to 5 lbs.
I have even removed all the filtering media and turned on the unit,
with no difference in pressure.
Personally I think I have a bad pump.

Thanks,
Bill

Protein Skimmer Build

gman — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:06:04 GMT

First I would like to say I have been reading the post for a long time but I just registered for the fist time.

I have a 120 gal tank that I'm going to make into a reef setup. I don't have anything in the tank right now, because I'm going to make some holes for bulkheads and adding an internal overflow box. I have a 30 gal tank that I’m going to use for a sump. I would like to make the protein skimmer. Dose anyone know where to find plans for this?

The second part of this is for the return. I have seen a lot of tanks have the return jets on the bottom of the tank. Is that better than the power heads on the top? And if they are what is the best way to hook them up? Does the water flow in one direction or is it best to point them in different directions of the jets to mix the flow up? Is it ok to point the jets at Live rock?

Thank you for your time
Greg

Nu-Clear Filters

lancepender — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 07:33:56 GMT

I have a 240 gal, 330 gal system setup. I would like to use two model 530's inline just for water polishing. I was wondering what size pump would I need to use? I was considering a Blue Line 100HD 45' max head, 1900 gph, 1" in/1" out. Pretty much the same as a panworld 250PS. Thanks

Need Recomendation on Skimmer

90overflow — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:32:22 GMT

I broke my glass skimmer, so I'm looking for a new skimmer for my 90 gallon reef. Any recommendations? Also can I go to a larger capacity?

sea urchin

clownfish01 — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:51:47 GMT

Can a urchin get too light?

Red Sea Prizm High efficiency hang on skimmer by red sea

afwife6126 — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:05:09 GMT

Okay so my husband deployed and left me with a 75 gal saltwater tank. our skimmer died, so i bought a red sea prizm, and i have read the information book that came with it and its running i have tried adjusting it on a daily bases but im not getting any foam and i am afraid that the Nitrates and other items in the take are going to sky rocket if i can not get this up and running. it has now been in our tank for 19 days. if anyone has used this skimmer or knows how to adjust it to make it work corectly please let me know because i am at a loss.

Large Kold Ster-il system

Umm_fish — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 12:47:18 GMT

Hi! After a fairly unhelpful and very cryptic email from Poly Bio Marine, I came away with the realization that they will not quote a price of their large system for me. Would you please let me know if you could (a) give me a quote on one of these and (b) help me to place a special order for one if I decide to go that route?

If it helps, I am looking into an integrated system to provide filtered water for my whole house as well as for a large fish room.

Thanks!

Andy

MEGAFLOW 4 SUMP GURGLING NOISE

Sandtiger — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 07:13:46 GMT

I have a 210 gallon tank. Just set up the Megaflow Model 4. My local store gave me 3/4" piping to make the connections. I just noticed, that in order to have maximum flow the Megaflow 4 instructions say you need 1 1/2" piping.

I am also experiencing a lot of gurgling in the sump, which only becomes quiet when I slow the pump flow rate.

What should I do? Should I redo the Megaflow plumbing with 1 1/2" piping? Would that reduce the gurgling noise and let me use my pump at a higher flow?

Thanks!

AquaC Remora Pro Hang-On Protein Skimmer w/ Drain Fitting ???

Gemini — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 17:07:55 GMT

Can you explain what the purpose of the "drain fitting" is? Would you recommend this skimmer for a 55gal reef tank with no sump?

Thanks

Is a carbon pouch necessary in a canister filter for a saltwater aquarium?

ealasvegas — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 17:30:31 GMT

I have a canister filter and I was told that I do no need to use a carbon pouch. Will the carbon remove necessary nutrients during the filtration process? please help. Thanks in advance.

Hydor Koralia 3 ?

odyssey1 — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 07:12:40 GMT

I have a Hydor Koralia 3 and was wondering if anyone was using w/ a wave maker. I have mine hooked to a switch that allows me to cut it on and off every 30 sec. but when I turn it back on it makes a raddling sound every time.

uv on a reef tank

fasteddie — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:31:27 GMT

Any thoughts on useing uv sterilizers on a reef tank had good luck with them

on salt water fish tanks will it kill more good things in the water then bad

will install 80 watt on the line that pumps from the sump back to the tank

thank you

180 gal reef tank

fasteddie — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:29:21 GMT

I bought a 180gal, perfecto tank from my lfs it came with hoses too drain the tank too

the sump. My sump will be at one end of the stand is it ok to shorten one of the hoses

or will this messup the flow back too the sump. My sump has too different return chambers

Thank you

What is a diatomite filter?

DRRT — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:42:32 GMT

Hi,

I was recently given a Marineland Magnum 330 Diatomite Micron Filter. What is a diatomite filter? What does it do and would it be recommended to add to my tank?

Thank you,

Ideas for an external and internal return pump for a 180 gal SPS tank

Old Man Of The Sea — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:10:19 GMT

Off hand, I not remember the return pump that is on the 180 gal reef tank, only that I know its been on this tank for more then seven years or more. The idea here is to change this pump and get something better due to the idea its to be a SPS tank. The person who will replace the sump and so on the 40 gal breeder right after he finishes with moving the fish store where he works at. He also has the idea to put in an external pump so that there may be more room in the sump. My other idea as well is if he thinks we could run the sump as a refurge.

I been going through some figures and im not the mind to budget myself to the dollar as my son-in-law seems to be more manageable in this, well, his a real smart Asst district Attorney. But in seeing that im running late, in the starting of the 180, but i also figured it that I might be late in the starting and figured it be around April. It may be even before the end of March, it would however be a nice B-Day present.

Also, im too start the 180 and move to buying a new replacement pair of dragon morays, for the pair in which I sold. The way im figuring it is that I will not be starting with any major SPS corals until the following year. I figure it this way for around August and September I need to get together my property taxes and after that, X-mas shopping money. It all depends on how well things plan out.

So now, I need to best possible idea for an external return pump, and just in case it not work well in that idea, I return pump for inside the sump as well.

Thanks

Buddy

Protein Skimmer help

Reefer08 — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 21:15:34 GMT

I am not sure if I should use the hanging on the back AquaC Remora regular or the professional version. I have a 40 gallon tank with a 250 metal halide attached to it. Which is the best protein skimmer for my tank? Do I need a canister filter for my tank also?? Also can I place a small powder blue tang in my tank? I was told that they grow very slowly? Thanks a lot for the help.

wavemaker

fasteddie — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:48:59 GMT

I got a reefkeeper from marine depot what would you recommend as far as power heads to use

as wavemaker for a180 gal, reef tank. I like the looks of the hydro koralia but was told by my lfs

that you cant use them. Thank you

ORP Probe

lancepender — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:54:03 GMT

I just bought a Red Sea 200 Plus. I had a reading of 20mv at first. Its slowly going up. Its at 43 after just 6 or so hours. I have the set point at 200 and its set to put in at a 100mg/hr. My question is does anyone or do you leave the black cap on the probe?? It has one little pin hole in it...

protien skimmers

rockey329 — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 07:54:33 GMT

I just placed a protein skimmer in my tank,to help with my curing process of new live rock in
my tank. The skimmer is producing bubbles in the tank. Is this a normal thing to happen, I am new to this and need advise. The skimmer is a Jebo 180 11

Problems with Tom Aquatics Pro Series Surface Skimmer Overflow Box..

maca — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 08:51:12 GMT

Hello,

I resently bought a Tom Aquatics Pro Series Surface Skimmer Overflow Box, and I have problems getting
it to work propperly.

My problem is that it do not clean the surface of the aquarium (its still coverd by the oil/dirt film) and at
this point I run the box at its lowest point. If i raise the box (which I guess is the way to go) it tend to
raise the water level in the aqyarium to much. I have tested with having less water in the sump, but then
all the water ends up in the aquarium and the pump gets abow the water level in the sump.

Anyone using this box and could suggest how I can get it to work as wanted?

Cheers,
Mattias

Questions about denitrators

Geoffkx250 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:27:53 GMT

Hey everyone

I have a few questions about denitrators. I have been trying to find articles and/or testimonials on peoples success with denitrators. I work for a school maintaining about 7,000 gallons of saltwater aquariums and I want to install denitrators on some of the larger aquariums. I have alot to lose (like my job) if I end up experimenting with a peice of equipment and something goes wrong and I wipe out a tank of fish that have thrived under my care and other aquarists before me for years.

I dont have any tanks with coral, but I do wish to maintain 0 trates if possible. I understand how a coil denitrator works and I have built one which I just got up and running on a 90 ga hospital as an experiment. I began thinking about how I could build a coil denitrator for a 6,000 ga tank that I maintain. The more I thought about it the more I began to realize just how difficult applying a single coil denitrator to such a large volume of water would be. I started thinking about a sulphur denitrator as a possible route. The problem is I dont know much about them, other than they work on the same principal as a coil denitrator. Im having a hard time finding info about them as well. Perhaps a brief explaination or even a link to a good website. Also I would like to know if anyone has experimented with denitrators on a large scale? And lastly what kind of pumps are recommended for coil denitrators (I found a decent sized submersible to run my coil denitrator that I have now, but I fear I may burn it out)?

Thanks guys!!

Geoff

Narrowing down skimmers

StephNewman — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 20:18:12 GMT

I have been looking for a skimmer for awhile. Here are some that are in my price range. I was hoping to get people's opinion by ranking the skimmers by two categories from best t worst:
1. Best skimmer for 180 gallon reef tank
2. Quietest skimmer/pump

Here are the skimmers:
Pacific Imports PS-400P w/ their pump (not sure brand or pump rating) rated 400g NEW $200 shipped
Pacific Imports PS-300P USED no pump (don't know what rating pump to use with this) rated 300g $67 shipped
Nautilus EX24 NEW (pump not included) rated 400g $220 shipped (flow rating of 900-1200 g/h)
Reef Octopus NW-200 w/their pump NEW rated 320g $225 shipped (flow ratng 600-900 g/h)
LifeReef SVS3-24 w/ Mag 9.5 NEW rated 250g $350 (flow rating 600-900 g/h)
ASM G4plus w/ Sedra 9000 NEW rated 350g $350
Turboflotor 5000 Shorty Compact w/ Ocean Runner 3500 NEW rated 400g $200 (flow rating 600-900 g/h)
Bullet 2 w/PanWorld 150 USED rated 250g $350 shipped (flow rating 900-1200 g/h)

Does flow rating (IE pump size capablity) that important whenpicking a skimmer? For exampe the flow rating skimmer that are 900-1200 automatically better than the 600-900 skimmers?

If you know of any other skimmer that under $350 that woud also be good choice let me knwo but if over that amount don't list it. Please provide me with any information you might know about these skimmers. Best one for the money.

Idea for a drop down pipe

polkajoe — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:41:16 GMT

I have a thought that I'd like to run past y'all. I have a 150g tall tank with an overflow box going down to the sump. The issue that I'm having is the noise level is to high, constant gurgling and such. I tried the curved pipe inside the overflow box and that helped but not enough. So here is my thought...

I want to stand up a piece of 4" PVC from the floor to the top of the tank. Cap off the bottom end. Near the top but under the bottom level of the overflow box I want to run the oulet of the overflow box into the 4" pipe and down the center of it to a few inches off the bottom using 1" pipe. Then run a piece of 1" pipe from the bottom 1-2 foot area of the 4" pipe into the pump, getting ride of the sump (biobale thing just makes to much nitrate). Then into my inline filters and back to the tank.

As the overflow box will flow more than my pump the 4" pipe should remain fairly full and the height the water falls should only be a foot or so.

Heres a quick drawing

Think this will work to keep the noise down ???

UV system

rockey329 — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:55:40 GMT

can anyone help................I received a UV sterilizer in the mail today. .name is Jebo
UV-H-36. The dam thing came with no instructions at all. I have no idea what to do with it. Does it go in the water, or of the back of the tank ect...........any advise.......Dennis

External filt

proangel2 — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 16:53:54 GMT

I have a juwel 190 corner tank its a reef tank iam using live rock and a skimmer for filtration in the tank there is an internal filter witch i want to remove for space in the tank so i bought an external filter to house Ro-Fous and corbon i got filter media with the new filter and there was bi balls in should i use them or not the tank the tank is running one year with little or no problems would they be benifical??

Skimmer problems after adding carbon

mikej67 — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:15:54 GMT

I have a 55 gallon tank with a 10 gallon sump, with a EuroReef RS-80 skimmer. Everything was running fine, until I added some carbon (in a filter bag, in the sump). About a day later, the volume in the skimmer had fallen drastically, and when I tried to raise it up by adjusting the tube, it started to overflow from the top of the tube.

Does anyone know why this would happen? Thanks!

-Mike

Filter bags with velcro

skeeterdav2002 — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:58:35 GMT

Does anyone know where I can find small fliter media bags with velcro closures? I have found rather large ones but nothing small i.e. 4" x 6"

air stones

meangreen — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 10:57:18 GMT

I have air stones in each of the two overflows on my reef ready 135gal tank and also one in the sump tank with bio-balls (freshwater tank). Do these locations matter?

refugium for freshwater tank

meangreen — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 19:17:12 GMT

Has anyone used a freshwater refugium with any luck? I got a 35 gal sump i'm thinking of converting to a refugium instead of the bio-ball/sump setup i got now. My nitrate levels are high with the bio-ball setup. I've heard that the part of the sump that receives the water from the main tank should have bio-balls in it with the water running through them before going into the main part of the sump where the refugium would be.?? any truth to this myth?

Bioballs in sump or not

meangreen — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 14:23:07 GMT

I have a 135 gal. reef ready tank (freshwater for now) and a 35 gal. sump tank with bioballs. I got a Mag Drive 12 (1200gph) and a 25 watt uv light. My tank is stocked with (2-12" Oscars and 3-4" Cichlids). My problem is high nitrate & ammonia levels but my nitrite levels are low. (I always get Nitrite and Nitrate confused so this could be backwards). I have heard bioballs contribute to this problem? Any suggestions on what to put in my sump tank to help control this problem would be greatly appreciated.

PhosZorb Recharge?

charlesr1958 — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 19:13:58 GMT

Recently I had obtained some Phoszorb made by API which I use off and on depending on how heavy I feed my system and/or the weather keeps me away from the ocean for water changes. Not one for wanting to just toss it out after a month, I would like to know if its possible to get the phosphates to unbind? Assuming that just like carbon, a low pH will cause the release of the phosphates that were adsorbed, I am soaking it in rain water right now, which has a neutral pH of course. I have searched for the answer online but can not locate any information one way or the other. I also have muriatic acid available if dropping the pH even lower may be of use. Thanks.

Chuck

phosphates

fasteddie — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 15:08:59 GMT

My lfs say,s that i can just put my phosphate removeal media in a mesh filter bag.

Then put ontop of my drip plate for my return for my wet dry filter.

As long as the water gos thru it and not around it. Should work like a reactor

with out the cost to run a another pump

any one tried this? Thank you.

diatom filters

fasteddie — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 15:34:46 GMT

Im 51 years old came from fresh water aquarium hobby a long time ago.

We always used diatom filters too get our water very clean.

Would this filter be small enough to remove some of the free swimming stage

of salt water ich Thank you

ro filter

fasteddie — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 11:38:26 GMT

Checking my ro unit to see if it working right.

What should the ph be if it,s working right with a fresh water test kit

Thank you

Help on setting up a UV Sterilizer in a Red Sea Max

fishhead — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 11:12:35 GMT

Folks,

Thank you for your help on this. I am a new owner of a RSM. I picked it due to its size/features and am quite happy with it. I have looked at the various postings on the +/- of using a UV Sterilizer on a nano tank and am of the opinion that my tank would benefit from one. My question now is which one should I get that will fit in/on a RSM and how would I go about installing it?

Thanks,

FH

phospate reactor+uvs

fasteddie — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 12:25:41 GMT

Could i plumb a kent marine phosphate reactor inline with my uv sterilizer. Should i have the reactor first or the sterilizer first?

thank you

phospate and ro,s

fasteddie — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 16:52:52 GMT

My LFS recommends a phosphate reactor will have a fowlr 125g tank dont mind having one if i need it.

Is there any down side to it. I like the look of the Kent Marine. HE says i will have trouble with algae with out one. Can the water from my RO unit by me or

my LFS. What should it be tested for thank you