• Sea with a side samp.

  • Charles5941

Hello, dear marine aquarium enthusiasts. I have finally decided to go for saltwater. I have an aquarium with dimensions 150 cm in length, 70 cm in height (65 cm to the rim), and 50 cm in width, with 10 mm glass. The stand is 47 cm high (I didn't think about saltwater when I built it, as I was keeping discus), so I don't see a way to install a sump in the stand. While reading the book "The Reef Aquarium," I came across a good solution from Aqua Medic - an aquarium with a side filtration system, and I decided to modify my tank by making a sump on the side of the aquarium. I will lose some volume, but I think this is the best option for my case. I welcome all suggestions and advice on how to best arrange the equipment. I also have an external filter, Fluval FX5, which I want to use; what is the best way to fill it?

Matthew7977

here's something I've thought of:

Amanda

Is a fish aquarium planned? Forget about the external Fluval!

Christopher7213

To start, a couple of fish and soft corals. What if we fill it with bio balls and zeolite?

Brandy

To start, a couple of soft corals, and then... over time, a couple of fish. An Atman head is suitable for the return. No balls or sponges are needed, a canister is only for carbon (this has been mentioned multiple times on all forums), a foam filter is necessary. Circulation pumps are needed (Alekhin has relatively inexpensive San-San pumps)... I can lend a couple of T5 lights... It's better to take a look yourself a couple of times, otherwise, you'll be experimenting for a long time.

Sarah

I know that it should take at least a couple of months for the fish. But it would be interesting to take a look, as I've only seen them in the magazine and on Gurov.

Christopher8654

Any Saturday or Sunday through private message, we can also stop by to see (there's such a seller).

Wendy8540

Regarding external filters, I am against them in marine environments. For example, when the power goes out, circulation stops, and from that moment, aerobic bacteria have a maximum of 2 hours to live before they die, after which they are replaced by putrefactive bacteria, leading to very undesirable processes in the filter. When the power is restored, all the nastiness goes into the aquarium. There are many downsides to external filters in marine setups.

Nicholas2252

Thank you for the invitation, we'll be in touch. Is it at Ilyich's?

Darrell7542

Aha...

Jeffery

Look at how the rear compartment is arranged in Resanov's aquariums; you can easily make a similar one on the side based on this principle. Decide what kind of skimmer you will have and then install the partitions accordingly. If I remember correctly, there is a skimmer model in the thread with the pump inside rather than outside. In my opinion, this model would be the optimal choice. Visit Alexey if he invited you; you will understand a lot. He is the chairman of the reef aquarium hobbyists club here in Donetsk.

Deborah2682

What kind of club is this?

John1464

No panic. Zhenya is joking.

Keith7534

The sponge will take up a lot of space. If you want bio balls, you need to install a spinner, which is impossible with a drain, or a perforated slope. There are many successful systems with balls, and many "dead" ones without them. Fluval for removers will be a good support. Can you send me the exact addresses in private messages?

Joe

Please explain more precisely.

Michael

Oh, the "harmful advice" has started. I don't know of a single successful system with sponges and bio-balls (just like the one that has suffered from their absence). To the point: remove the compartment with sponges and balls, take out the unnecessary partition (I really don't know why it's needed!!!) - and create a small algae scrubber on a HETAMORPH. Just need to swap the compartments: first the skimmer, then the algae scrubber. And everything will be fine.

Angel628

If I understood correctly, the drain should be made in the foam compartment.

Johnny

Of course, this is how the overwhelming majority of systems are structured.

Elizabeth6302

new project

Jacob4800

Oh, schematically correct! In life, there will only be a skimmer - the skimmer's bowl is above the water level.

Tina

Is the sample size of 40 by 50 normal or small?

Jeanne

top view, please correct me if anything is wrong

Cheryl9296

There is very little space for a filter. I didn't find anything in the sizes of 20*20, so I increased it to 30 cm. Or a hanging one needs to be planned. This might be a bias. Personally, I am fine with bio balls. If a person already has bio balls and wants to use them, why not? The main thing is not to let it turn into a bomb. What specific fish are you planning to have in the aquarium?

Jasmine

to start with a couple of clowns, and then we'll see

Karen81

Stas rightly emphasized the inappropriateness of sponges and other carriers of microflora in marine aquariums. Unlike freshwater filtration systems, where all efforts are focused on the rapid breakdown of organic matter and the processing of nitrogen compounds, filtration in marine aquariums is primarily designed for the swift removal of organic matter from the system before it breaks down (skimmer), and only then for the processing of nitrogen compounds (macroalgae).

Brent7831

Yeah, well, yeah... Flow and removers... Examples, please! And bio balls and sponges in the sea are evil! After all, there is no big problem with nitrification in the sea; the big problem is denitrification. And bio balls actually worsen the situation. So, can you give me a clear reason - why bio balls in the sea????? What are they used for?????? As for why sellers work with bio balls - that's quite understandable. During deliveries, especially live rock, it's necessary to cope with peak loads of ammonia and nitrite, and that's where bio balls help.

Kevin8087

I completely agree, why complicate things when you can just get to the point. Well, the bio balls work a bit too well, although if the slogan is "We don't take the easy way out."

Sara

What do you mean?

Steven7574

What I have is what I mean - residential complex.......

Kimberly2102

Clear