Awesome sight!! just a question on specifics of filtration

[JSPivey]

Hey everyone I just found out about this site tonight and I have spent a couple of hours skimming through all of this awesome info and pics of others peoples tanks and creatures!! I wish I would have found out about this stie about 3 mo. ago when I bought my first tank a 200 gal monster that I have been cycling and stocking. I know that my tank is 200 gal but my question is can a 150 filter be used along with a 150 protein skimmer in the sump keep my tank clean enough? after all the live rock and 4 in. of sand and substrate there can't be more than 130-140 gallons in my tank. Do I need something else? Also, obviously I can't use a typical gravel filter when cleaning the bottom because of the sand so how exactly does this get cleaned? we're talking about buying 1000 blue legged crabs just to cover all the surface area. Is there another way? Thanks for anyones feed back cause lets just say that Petco didn't have the answers

 

[billyzbear]

I'm no pro. You will want a really good skimmer. If funds are low you mite want try to make one, look up diy skimmer on this site or Yahoo. What 150g filter are you talking about? You could get an overflow box and have the water goto a rubbermaid box or called slump and or refuguim. A slump will hold basic stuff like heater, skimmer, poly filter which some don't like, carbon, I think you get the idea and then pump it back up to tank. Must don't like bio balls. A refuguim is a lighted tank or box that has sand, LR, plants, algae, little critters that you want to give them a safe place to grow. The plants and algae will use some bad stuff like nitrates and use it to grow. The lights on will help with Ph swings. Search for refuguim or refugia and you'll find all kinds of good stuff. I'm planning one above the tank and to the side, I have no room in the stand because of my slump. To clean the LR and sand, you will want a clean up crew. Like, snails, crabs, mini brittlestars, worms, shrimp, some fish and cucumbers. Look up clean up crew and you'll find lots of places sell them as kits. For just the sand, nassarius snails, cerith snails, mini brittlestars, queen conch, worms, cucumbers and some fish will help move it around. I hope this helps some.

 

[hdtran]

billyzbear,

At first, I thought you accidentally typed "slump" instead of "sump." Second go-round, though...

Not to be pedantic (can't help it), but it is a sump. A slump is A. Rodriguez going 0 for 25 in the World Series. A sump is a liquid container with plumbing at the lowest level of your plumbing...

 

[billyzbear]

Ya, your right, it was late.

 

[Anonymous]

You might want to just describe the entire system, what filters, lights and all that jazz. And maybe what you hope to keep in it. Then we can answer questions a bit better....

 

[JSPivey]

Ok here it goes I have 150 wet dry filter and built in protein skimmer from aqua clear, the skimmer is a venturi action driven by a CAP 1800 and the return pump is a CAP 2200 my lights are the big bad boy Halide lamps I have three that are on their own Big fan Box thing not exactly sure what it does but I've got it I hear there suppose to be really good at artificial sunlight and that they cost alot? I want to set up a partail reef tank on about 2/3 of the tank and then have some open space for some bigger fishes such as a large puffer or a morray eel. other than that I have 2 400 gph power heads doing the circulation in the tank for me. The only downfall with my setup is that there is no canopy just 4 glasses pieces that fit over top I'm trying to figure out a way to close it in so the lamps and cords aren't showing

 

[hdtran]

Even though your sand/rocks displace water, you do need to include their volume in sizing your filtration. More filtration is better.

If your filter and skimmer are rated for 150, and you have a 200g tank, get a 250-or more rated skimmer.

You won't need 1000 hermits for a 200g tank. 50 to 100 would probably take care of you. Of course, your future puffer or eel (more likely the puffer) would consider that 50 to 100 tasty snacks.

You don't clean the sand. You let your cleanup critters do that for you (snails, hermits, and other puffer food).

Let me recommend a purchase for you that you won't regret:

http://reefs.org/library/reading/beginner/beginner.html

Purchase (via click-thru) either the first Tullock book or the Fenner book. You won't regret it.

Cheers!