Filtration??

[dberrong]

I currently have two Millinium 5000 filters on my 90g tank. I'm about to add a protien skimmer. My question is if I keep the two hang on filters or is the Protein skimmer enough? When I look at the pix of most tank, I do not see the hang on filters that I have. Is that because they have a sump or protein skimmer?

[graphixx]

are you running a sump??? if so then if you get a skimmer that is rated for your tank and have some good live rock in there. you will not need the hang ons. if your not running a sump you could leave them on there.

[dberrong]

I'm not running a sump, but I don't like the hang on filters. I'm still reading up on sumps and trying to decide if that is something I want to add. Price vs. need. Any suggestion on what an optimal filtration system would be for a 90g tank?

[melev]

The reason you don't see that on most tanks is because they have a sump & a protein skimmer. The skimmer is in the sump. Many tanks today also have a refugium. Here's an article that should help you understand about how they work, and why.

http://www.melevsreef.com/what_sump.html

If you are keeping a reef tank, you don't need mechanical filtration. No pads, biowheels, bioballs, filter floss, sponges, etc. You don't need them as long as you have a well-planned setup. What I've been doing for years is called the Berlin-system. I have a big well-built protein skimmer (Euroreef is a very good brand), a DSB (Deep Sand Bed), a refugium full of macro algae, and a lot of LR (live rock). These are what filter my water around the clock and keep my tank looking great and my livestock happy.

From time to time, I'll siphon out any detritus that has collected in my sump. I clean out the skimmer's collection cup every couple of days. That's it. Water changes once a month, of course.

[dberrong]

Is there a min. requirement for sump size for a tank? I guess I'm asking what size sump would I need for my 90 gal. tank? Also, is the refugium part of the sump or a seperate system all together? So a reef tank doesn't need carbon?

[melev]

The bigger the better. If you have room to squeeze in a 4' sump & refugium, do it. The refugium area should be sized to be 10% of the display, or 9g in your case.

Yes, you can run carbon. I do for my mixed reef. I just pour 1.5 cups into a Phosban Reactor, and this is replaced weekly.

http://www.pets-warehouse.com/carbon.htm

[iVgOnMaD]

29 gal tank should do a nice job, that what I have

here are some pics to give you some ideas

29g Sump/Refugium FTS

Skimmer & Filter Sock Section

Return Pump Intake Section & Phosban Reactor/Refugium Pump

Refugium


HTH

[iVgOnMaD]

Return Pump

Return Manifold

[dberrong]

I think that would work for me and I can fit it under my show tank. All the plumbing is intimidating me right now. Where can I purchase a 29 gallon sump with all the traps all set up? Should I simply build my own since I'm fairly handy? Where did you get yours?

[melev]

iVgOnMaD - I really like how you plumbed that together, using unions to easily disconnect the pump for cleaning / maintenance. You also made the right decision using some spaflex (the black tubing) going to the pump to avoid vibration issues.

dberrong - you can do it yourself. Here's an example of what you can do with a glass 20g Long:
http://www.melevsreef.com/acrylics/sumps/glass/