andysgirl8800
Blenny Badlands
Hello everyone and thank you in advance for any and ALL helpful advice. I am in the very VERY beginning stages of setting up a 125 reef-ready tank. I am still very wet behind the ears in terms of marine aquariums, but have run several FW ones for many years. Unfortunately, I am getting some very conflicting information when it comes to some of my key decisions.
This tank is currently plumbed to run with a canister filter. I currently have a Magnum 350 canister filter designed to run with 2 bio wheels (powered by the same filter). I know many of you would say SUMP SUMP SUMP!!! To be honest, I am very intimidated by the entire sump setup and operation, since this is my first SW tank. I have been informed that if I add 2 additional bio wheels with their own pumps, connect the canister filter as planned, use my protien skimmer and the two (maybe more) powerheads that I have, this should be more than enough filtration for my planned system. Is this true??
I also intend to utilize live rock and live sand and intend to hold off for a while on any corals/polyps/anemonies, etc. I will also plan carefully for appropriate sand sifters and detris cleaner livestock and intend to begin with some "hardy" species.
I am struggling with the conflicting advice I've received for the filtration. I understand water changes may be more frequent and a canister filter will require more maintenance, but I'm not sure I am prepared for a sump setup and my tank would need different plumbing and connections if I try to go the sump route.
I don't want to run a Marine Nazi Death Camp here, but also need a system that I can operate and understand, without the risk of flooding my living room. Obviously, I need to make this decision soon, as I really can't put anything (including water) in this tank until I have planned out the filtration system. Any advice would be incredibly welcomed, even if you write to tell me I am being stupid for not doing a sump. :o)
This tank is currently plumbed to run with a canister filter. I currently have a Magnum 350 canister filter designed to run with 2 bio wheels (powered by the same filter). I know many of you would say SUMP SUMP SUMP!!! To be honest, I am very intimidated by the entire sump setup and operation, since this is my first SW tank. I have been informed that if I add 2 additional bio wheels with their own pumps, connect the canister filter as planned, use my protien skimmer and the two (maybe more) powerheads that I have, this should be more than enough filtration for my planned system. Is this true??
I also intend to utilize live rock and live sand and intend to hold off for a while on any corals/polyps/anemonies, etc. I will also plan carefully for appropriate sand sifters and detris cleaner livestock and intend to begin with some "hardy" species.
I am struggling with the conflicting advice I've received for the filtration. I understand water changes may be more frequent and a canister filter will require more maintenance, but I'm not sure I am prepared for a sump setup and my tank would need different plumbing and connections if I try to go the sump route.
I don't want to run a Marine Nazi Death Camp here, but also need a system that I can operate and understand, without the risk of flooding my living room. Obviously, I need to make this decision soon, as I really can't put anything (including water) in this tank until I have planned out the filtration system. Any advice would be incredibly welcomed, even if you write to tell me I am being stupid for not doing a sump. :o)