shopping for my first reef tank...

[ess17]

Ok, I am new. I have lots of questions, but one of my main ones surrounds tank setup. I have been shopping for a saltwater tank for a couple of weeks, and noticed that there are tanks with holes drilled in the bottom, and these are usually labeled "reef ready". The tanks I saw have a black cannister looking thing that sit over the two holes as well. I am assuming these are for a sump or some other filtration system. Can someone explain what is attached to the bottom (underneath) of the two holes and why they are there?

At the LFS there is a 72 GAL bow front with stand and canopy that has these holes drilled in the bottom and the black canister. Sorry, I am not sure of anything else (if there was anything) that is comes with. The price on this is $580 or so. Would this be a good starter (knowing there are lots of other things to buy to get started)?

Thanks!!!

 

[ostrow]

Overflow boxes in the tank, to hold water skimmed from the surface and allow a gentle flow to the sump/fuge/whatever below. Below the holes go bulkhead fittings and pipe to carry the water to where it needs to go, and pipe to bulkhead for water circulating back to the tank.

 

[ess17]

so....what goes below? what are the options? pictures would be helpful if someone has any.

 

[ostrow]

as large a refugium and/or sump tank as you can fit!!!

 

[ess17]

I saw someone else talk about a canister filter. What is a canister filter and will I need one of these? I looked one up on google, but I thought as long as I had substrate and live rock, I wouldn't need an additional filter.

 

[jflowers]

I don't have a sump, but you can see navarres here...

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=69251

If you have a sump like this then you won't need a canister filter. Mine is only small and does not have a sump, but does have a skimmer and canister as well as a mechanical filter and bio wheel that were supplied with the tank.

Jon

 

[ess17]

ok, back from the lfs....
thanks for the pics! the lfs had pre-built boxes for sale there that they called a trickle filter or wet-dry filter. The water went through a place that could hold a filter pad, then over the bio balls, and then into a tank which I am assuming is where you would pump the water back up from. Is this what I would need? If I had the right amount of live rock/substrate would I need this trickle filter, or just a glass/acryllic tank to hold the heater and the pump to send the water back? Sorry for all of the newbie questions. I just don't want to be limited to what my lfs is telling me. They seem limited in the way they set up tanks. Thanks for all of your help!!!