I have been trying the natural approach for just about a year now and had a question? I have a 90gallon with a AquaC Remora skimmer and about 60lbs of live rock. Fish are very healthy yet i am not happy with the brownish film on the waters surface and the cloud of crap that stays suspended in the water after cleaning or sudden movements by the fish. Does anyone that uses this method have any suggestions, and if i have to get another type of filter can you all suggest one. I dont have an overflow installed so it would probably have to be a h.o.b or something similar. Thanx
Natural filtration question?
- Thread starter tah532
- Start date
Sounds like you need more flow in your tank. You should try to put a few large flow powerheads in your tank and get your flow rate going as fast as you can afford. Ive got close to 1700gph running through my 55, just on powerheads alone.
I really like these powerheads. The aquaclears.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... &subref=AA
Cheap and push alot of water, however, the other guys can probably point you in a better direction than I can. You also need to vaccum some of that gunk out when you do water changes. Get the big 901, the best flow for your money.
As far as water flow goes, the main goal is to eliminate "dead spots" in the tank. In rectangular tanks like mine I find that the dead spots are most often in the back corners.
The best advice I can give you is to line them up pointing at the front of the tank, and put two on either side of the tank in the back facing each other. That usually covers all the bases. Hope this crappy diagram makes sense.
Also, for the other guys, check this out......does this seem a bit inflated to anyone else??
http://www.reefonline.com.au/shop/produ ... ucts_id=86
I really like these powerheads. The aquaclears.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... &subref=AA
Cheap and push alot of water, however, the other guys can probably point you in a better direction than I can. You also need to vaccum some of that gunk out when you do water changes. Get the big 901, the best flow for your money.
As far as water flow goes, the main goal is to eliminate "dead spots" in the tank. In rectangular tanks like mine I find that the dead spots are most often in the back corners.
The best advice I can give you is to line them up pointing at the front of the tank, and put two on either side of the tank in the back facing each other. That usually covers all the bases. Hope this crappy diagram makes sense.
Also, for the other guys, check this out......does this seem a bit inflated to anyone else??
http://www.reefonline.com.au/shop/produ ... ucts_id=86
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I agree completely that waterflow is crucial to natural filtration in a reef tank. You need a lot more than you would think.
Also consider buying a device that pulls water from the surface for your skimmer. DOCs stick to the water surface just as much as they stick to the bubbles in the reaction chamber of your skimmer.
If you have any type of heat problem during the summer you might want to consider a closed-loop system with an external pump instead of powerheads. They still heat up the water but significantly less than powerheads and are also significantly more efficient. Basically, 300 watts of powerheads heats up the water about the same amount as a 300 watt heater that is stuck in the 'ON' position. Closed loop systems aren't quite as flexible as powerheads though so you really need to plan it well (ask for advice here
)
Also consider buying a device that pulls water from the surface for your skimmer. DOCs stick to the water surface just as much as they stick to the bubbles in the reaction chamber of your skimmer.
If you have any type of heat problem during the summer you might want to consider a closed-loop system with an external pump instead of powerheads. They still heat up the water but significantly less than powerheads and are also significantly more efficient. Basically, 300 watts of powerheads heats up the water about the same amount as a 300 watt heater that is stuck in the 'ON' position. Closed loop systems aren't quite as flexible as powerheads though so you really need to plan it well (ask for advice here
)I would presume the tank is not overflow installed. That's typical for tanks that has surface films. You can agitate the surface rigorously but the film still stays.
The only thing I could think of in your case is to get one of those hang-on overflow like below,
This pic is from Drs Foster and Smith
The only thing I could think of in your case is to get one of those hang-on overflow like below,
This pic is from Drs Foster and Smith
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I dont think that 50 bucks for a 900 gph powerhead is too pricey, I mean hell most maxijets at a lfs are around 30. and they only push 250 as far as I know.
That last link is retardedly high priced on those 901's. That has to be a typo.
The fosters and smith link has the right price on it.
That last link is retardedly high priced on those 901's. That has to be a typo.
The fosters and smith link has the right price on it.
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