Question

[seedless reefer]

Later today I will be picking up that 125 gal setup that was advertised here.

Asked about the filtration and what is currently run is a standard HOB filter box like an emporer...instead of having media it has some live rock rubble so I guess it acts like a small refuge.

In my mind there is no way that this could possibly be enough filtration for 125 gallons and my brain went to work planning out a new filter strategy so........

Is there such a thing as too much filtration? What I'm planning in my mind is a system with multiple stages of and different types of filtration before the water is pumped back into the display.

<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: blue;">Loren W.</span></span>

 

[xyzpdq0121]

The short answer is yes you can have too much filtration depending on what you are going to keep. The extended answer is you are not likely to reach that level of filtration in your home aquarium. If this is going to be a softy/LPS tank, you can have too "clean" of water which makes it hard to keep these things. Look to the people who have massive skimmers and a SPS tank that can not keep xenia..

I would say the HOB filter is not nearly enough filtration, IMHO. But then again, I ran a tank for 6 years with nothing but LR and LS and a Skimmer. (the skimmer was added after the first year and a half). Worked fine back then.... I would not try it now! (that was the best we had 10 years ago, well that and wet/dry filters which I have always thought sucked!) If it were me, I would just run a fuge and a skimmer and load the tank with about 200lbs of live Rock! After then, you can try out some other filtration ideas. I am testing Cameron's idea right now of a media reactor made out of canisert filters. Worked well for his tank, I am fixing to see how it does in mine.

 

[cameron]

I have to disagree in some regards to Brandon's post. You can't really have too much filtration. Super clean water keeps at bay a lot of the nasty problems such as problem algae and even helps prevent tank crashes. If you plan on a softie tank that needs dirtier water, you simply have to adjust your feeding to handle it. I personally nuke my water once a week and then let the filters do the rest sucking the water clean the rest of the week. For simplicity, just get the best performing skimmer your budget will allow.

Typical setups are as Brandon described, but new tests are proving less rock and more flow in the main tank is a better filtration mechanism than lots of rock. Past that a fuge with a skimmer is pretty much the best filtration out there these days. You can supplement it with UV, Ozone, Carbon, GFO, Purigen, sponges and even simple polyfill. I recommend caution with sponges and polyfill though.

 

[seedless reefer]

Ok let me back up.........it does have a skimmer Coral Life super skimmer.

My plan was to use a HOB overflow...actually I was thinking about putting a bulk head in the bottom of the HOB filter currently on the tank and letting it's pump pull the water into the filters reservoir which would be plumped to a sump or fuge.

Sumps I understand...fuge's I do not.

The over flow water would drain in, get skimmed and pass through more media and back to the display or vice versa through the media then get skimmed and back to display.

The refugium part has me puzzled.


<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: blue;">Loren W.</span></span>

<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: blue;"></span></span>

 

[cameron]

Some systems go from skimmer section of the sump, into another section called the fuge (usually a light and some chaeto or other algae) and then into the final section for return to the main tank. These sections are usually divided via baffles or just a single piece of plastic/glass glued in place. You can see one in action at

 

[cameron]

Oh and this link at Melev's

 

[seedless reefer]

Punk crabs? You mean like Johnny Rotten Crab? or Wendy - O - Williams Crab? Sid Vicious Crab?

<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: blue;">Loren W.</span></span>

 

[ouling]

I don't think you can have too much filteration. It all depends on which way you want to go. FLOWER (fishy living only with employed rocks) or all out reef tank. F/O with rocks you would never ever have to much filtration. Reef tank needs the biggest quality skimmer you can possibly afford. Floss filtration would be necessary in shifts.
Wet dry would be a idea for the 1st month of your tank so it can build a bacteria population, but a reef tank don't need any bioballs after the first month or so. Some people out there like to buy wet/dry acrylic sumps which cost 5-10 times more than a rubbermaid sump that does the same job. Here is a picture of how mine works.

Nothing fancy, but works much better than a acrylic 3 chamber one. A big skimmer, Fans, and a bucket with lots and lots of carbon + a floss filter pad; filter floss is used for 3 days a week or more.
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[magnolia]

Sorry, I just had to tell you that cracked me up! Johnny Rotten crab... HA! :lol2:
How 'bout a Joey Ramone crab?

 

[george]

Magnolia;53659 wrote: How 'bout a Joey Ramone crab?

Not punk enough for the refugium.

 

[magnolia]

What?? Joey Ramone not punk enough? :huh: How you figure?