Filters

[madness]

i'm thinking of changing my tropical tank to either a planted tank or a fish only salty tank and i'm leaning more to the fish only salty tank i was just wondering what would be the best filter for this!

i've been looking at fluidized sand bed filters has anyone here used them, are using them. i was just wondering what the pros and cons are, or if anyone else has any better ideas for a filter with just fish only marine.

thanx!

 

[AK77]

Personally, I think that the easier option is to go for a FOWLR (Fish Only With Live Rock) as it is more stable than a FO tank and is more accomodating to the newbie.

Live rock contains the nitrifying bacteria and thereby performs the same function as an external filter does on a freshwater tank. All you need then are some powerheads to circulate water around the rocks to provide the bacteria with oxygen, much like the water passing through the filter sponges.

If you have LR, you can dispense with the external filter all together, or instead, remove the sponges and put live rock rubble inside or alternatively, use it as a reactor for active carbon, phosban, etc. You will also find that your tank will cycle quicker. A FOWLR tank is essentially a naked reef, so all you would need to do at a later stage, would be to add corals. You will get the bug, I promise lol. You'll look at your tank and think... "awesome!" Then you'll see pictures of a tank with corals in and think "my tank looks bare"

Food for thought anyway.

 

[madness]

i must say i knew that live rock filtered the water but i thought it just helped the filter out. and if i were to put lr rubble in my filter would i run the risk of anything being on the rock gettin stuck in the filter plants animals?!

 

[AK77]

Hi,

No the live rock performs the same function as the sponges do on an external filter. You don't need a filter on a marine tank if you are using live rock, just powerheads directed at it to circulate the water. There wont be a problem with putting the rubble in the filter chamber. Just inspect it first to make sure you have no tiny coral frags on it or other larger life forms like crabs, snails or slugs. You don't want those touching the impeller lol.

 

[madness]

so if i were to first put the rubble in the tank do a bit of pet rock watching then put it in the filter this would be ok? i mean i would put some live rock in my tank but right now it would be a little expensive but i suppose better in the long run the only problem is if i do just get live rock from the start and get some corals etc as bonuses ill be gutted if i cudnt care for them and they die just not ready for corals just yet just want a nice fish only tank at the min! i want to be able to kepp the fish etc aswell as i have the tropical side before i start keeping corals!

 

[seffieuk]

so if i were to first put the rubble in the tank do a bit of pet rock watching then put it in the filter this would be ok?

yes indeed


i mean i would put some live rock in my tank but right now it would be a little expensive but i suppose better in the long run the only problem is if i do just get live rock from the start and get some corals etc as bonuses ill be gutted if i cudnt care for them and they die just not ready for corals just yet just want a nice fish only tank at the min! i want to be able to kepp the fish etc aswell as i have the tropical side before i start keeping corals!

its likely that the only corals living on the live rock would be things like mushrooms and they take a lot of killing - so I wouldn't worry ​

seffie x