What would you do?

[Micah00]

I need to go buy some sort of filtration for my 135 FOWLR that I am setting up this weekend and was just wondering what you would(or currently) do about filtering a tank this size. I have some ideas but thought I would try to get some other opinions.

 

[BigE]

I'd do a ton of bio-balls with a huge skimmer and big refugium.
What kind of fish are going in the tank?
The refugium would be a great place to grow food for tangs.

 

[fishfanatic2]

I'd screw almost any biological filtration and let the rock take care of that. Then, I'd do a nice canister and a good skimmer with refugium.

 

[Anonymous]

I'd screw almost any biological filtration and let the rock take care of that. Then, I'd do a nice canister and a good skimmer with refugium.

A canister filter is biological filtration, and will compete with your rock for nutrients, making your nitrogen cycle in the tank inefficient. Is the tank drilled? If so get a sump with a high quality skimmer. I'm sure there are plenty of people here who could reccommend a skimmer for that size tank.

 

[LFS42]

skip the canister and go with a sump/refugium.
as big as you can fit in the space provided.
A large skimmer (best you can afford)
Live rock for in the tank should be a good enough bio-filter
add bio-balls if your going to have bigger fish, just to help

 

[Anonymous]

You will wish you bought the canister when you need to use carbon. I leave my canister on 24/7. It has no foam in it. I just use it for the extra 300gph and also when i have to use carbon. I would buy one if i were you.

 

[Anonymous]

Ohh yea, have liverock and a sump. Good investments. Needed more than a canister.

 

[Micah00]

Tank is not drilled.

 

[EmilyB]

I would get the tank drilled. :wink:

Then a sump, lots of rock and a huge skimmer.

 

[CAT]

Refugium and skimmer plus l.r.

You can get the tank drilled or use an overflow box.

 

[esmithiii]

Top priority should be a good, efficient skimmer. Then, if budget affords, a refugium lit on a reverse daylight cycle.

Canister filters (or any filter that traps detritus) are problematic because waste gets caught in the filter media and then decays leading to nitrates, which are a major contributor to algae. There are other ways to run carbon when you need to.

Just my thoughs.

Ernie

 

[fishfanatic2]

Canister filters (or any filter that traps detritus) are problematic because waste gets caught in the filter media and then decays leading to nitrates, which are a major contributor to algae. There are other ways to run carbon when you need to.

That's why you clean the media! I see your point, though.

Biological media is not mandatory in a canister if I'm correct.

However, skimmer, refugium, and LR should get the job done.

 

[esmithiii]

That's why you clean the media!

Good point. Regular cleaning is essential. In my experience, when my life gets hectic, cleaning media is the first thing to go.

Ernie