Tropical Marine Tank

[WwesBrown]

I currently have several tropical freshwater systems in many different sized tanks. I am interested in turning my 55 gallon tank into a tropical marine system. I am uncertain of the species of fish I will keep, but I will most likely keep some invetebrates in the tank. I have researched this system for a while now. I only have one concern and it deals with the proper filtration and aeration equipment. Many friends have suggested different types of filters, the most common was the emperior 400 and a protien skimmer. I would just like to know if this would be enough, too much, or if there is another set-up that will do the job better. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

WwesBrown

[AquariumPro]

Is the Emperor a wet-dry filter?

[WwesBrown]

What do you mean by wet-dry filter?

[BOB_Gorden]

Hi Wes,
Look at this page here. Wet-Dry Filters (http://www.aquariumpros.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=APG&Category_Code=FLwd)
A wet dry filter provides beneficial bacteria to help maintain your water quality and provides additional oxygen to your water also. Often these contain other types of filtration such as housing a skimmer. There are other filter systems that can be utilized that work on the same principal. If you like I can also tell you more about these other systems.

[ January 09, 2002: Message edited by: BOB_Gorden ]</p>

[MontanaRocknReefer]

Hi Bob! I have 120lbs of Fiji Rock, 25lbs of Tonga rock, a DSB of 5-6", alot of water movement, and a Remora Pro Hang-on Skimmer and that consists of my filtration for my tank. HTH Johnny :)

[SPSGirl]

Okay....
I would say stay away from the emperor. I had two emperor 400's when I started (it was what my LFS told me to get) and my nitrates were way high. I would go with live rock, a deep live sand bed and a protien skimmer. I use the aqua C EV-120 and love it. The Aqua C line is dependable, but there are also many other great skimmers out there. If you are wanting to keep anemones you will need lots of light and prestine water quality. Hope this helps
Tiff

[Wrassman]

A sump/refugium is not a bad idea either. You take overflow water from your main system, run it through another, smaller system that contains a LOT of seaweed, bio-media, live sand, etc., and what returns to your main system is filtered, enriched water full of nutrients for your LR and bacteria. I have one on each of my larger systems and would not keep a tank over 30g without one...

JMO.

Wrassman

[MJC]

I might be taking this away from the original question, but I wanted to get some info in here before we all specify "products" without having an understanding of "requirements" (sorry, my background lends itself in this).

In its simplest form, the purpose of a filtration system is to remove unwanted waste; waste that can build up over time and wreak havoc on your system that you took weeks of time and effort to establish.

Filtration consists of mechanical, biological and chemical. Mechanical removes large particles, such as food or other debris. Biological is mimicking the filtration cycle that occurs in a reef. Chemical is adding and using products to remove waste products which other filtration methods cannot. Self contained filters like the Emporer try to achieve all three but as many have found, its not too effective. What one may use in a FW system does not necessarily apply in a SW system as the approach to filtration takes many different forms. To keep it simple and not dwell on details, one can use live rock and live sand to achieve biological filtration and with that, one is presented a few types of of this method; Berlin, Jeubert, or Deep Sand Bed and refugiums ...and some will argue that a skimmer is not needed in the latter. For the most part, the first three are contained in your main aquarium, however, the refugium is contained seperatey.

(I now take you back to your originally written message thread)

What Wrassman describes can be referred to as a refugium. The purpose is to provide a seperate area to produce algae, micro-crustaceans or copepods and amphipods outside of your main aquarium.

Growing algae, whether caluerpa or filamentous, requires nutrient rich water and sunlight. Containing this in a seperate area away from your main tank will provide you that environment. Your goal is to minimize or eliminate nutrients in the main tank not increase it.

HTH,

Marty

BTW, growing algae and 'pods will allow you to harvest algae for your omnivores and 'pods as live food for your tank creatures.

[Wrassman]

WOW, MJC !

I was trying to keep it simple... :)

WwesBrown, what he said... :LOL

Wrassman