So Im New to The Hobby and To The Forums...

i Have A Question About Filters.
Im Starting A 36g FOWLR Bowfront Tank and I Cant Figure Out What Type of Filter to Use??
I Do Have Space For A Little Sump But I Like The Canister Filters
Refugiums Are Good, Wet/Dry Might Work For The Size?
An Advice??????? Please Help!!!!!!

Any of those would be fine for a FOWLR system. Generaly canisters and wet/dry are not used for reef systems because they can generate excess nitrates. Are you planning on staying FOWLR, or might you go full reef one day?

Phurst is right. You'll have no problems using a canister filter with a FO/LR. I still like using sumps on any tank. I've even used them with fresh water systems. It allows you to hide equipment that may distract from the tank.

Dave

Hello Privitor :welcome: to TR! I agrre with the others. I have a 20G nano, but do not have a sump for it, so I use a HOT skimmer and once in a while put on a Magnum HOT filter to polish the water.

Any of those would be fine for a FOWLR system. Generaly canisters and wet/dry are not used for reef systems because they can generate excess nitrates. Are you planning on staying FOWLR, or might you go full reef one day?

i do plan on going full reef soon but since this is my first salty i wanted to start with the rocks first before building the reef. I DO WAN TO GO FULL REEF (with some fish!!!)
so whats the best filter to start with?
like said i like the canisters because its compact and i dont have alot of space in the cabinet.
and just like JustDavidP said i do want to hide most of it.

If you want to reef going with a sump/fuge is the only way to go. A deep sand bed will also make life much easier for you down the road.

Well, if you want to go reef, IMO, it's best to set up the system as though it were a reef now, and then you can gradualy make it so. As PhotoJohn mentioned, a sump really is the way to go. Depending on how big it is, you can have a combination sump/refugium. I'd skip the canisters and wet/dry in favor of 1 to 2 pounds of live rock per gallon and a deep sandbed. That, plus a protein skimmer and some good water circulation are all the filtration you'll need.

Agreed... the type of natural filtrations that we use on a reef set up will work just as well with a FO tank. Then, it doesn't take much to switch over, once we convert you :D

D

Then, it doesn't take much to switch over, once we convert you :D
D

Funny how that happens a whole lot! :D I can't wait till you get your new tank order in either. :tongue2:

My new 56 has been delivered to the store :) It's only a few days from being in my home!!

Dave

so whats the difference between a sump and i refugium?? they look like the same thing to me except one goes under the tank and one goes on the back. is this correct.

Sumps are primarily used to house filtration, heating, dosing systems etc. Refugiums are just that, a "refuge" for "something". In our case, it's macro algae, pods, mysid etc. that would be quickly consumed (preyed upon) in the display tank.

With that said, some folks, like myself, design and use sumps with a refugium section built in. In my picture below, the entire left section of the box is what a traditional sump would be. I've added the right side, with refugium as a part of the design.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/runnin.jpg

Refugiums need not be above the tank. Some folks feel that they must, so you can "gravity" feed the water and such from the refugium to the tank. They feel that a pump would chop the mysid, copepods, amphipods, isopods and other critters to shreds. I've done my own (sick) testing, by pumping the micro crustaceans caught in a filter sock, from a bucket, into another bucket. I found losses only in the huge gammarus amphipods. Like the one below (actually just a molt). Otherwise, the smaller critters made it through unharmed.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/molt.jpg

In actuality, you want these larger monsters to stay behind in the fuge, as breeders, and let the smaller versions thereof into the display as seed. I've NEVER had a problem with a refugium pumped up, from below the tank.

Dave

On my little bowfront, I have a sump, without refugium.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/Sump1.jpg

I've also got "offline" refugiums where I grow out additional cultures of pods and mysid. Seen here on the right side of my fish room.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/fishroom2.jpg

Does this help explain the difference? If not, try to find a copy of Calfo's "Reef Invertebrates" book. It has a wonderful chapter on "refugia". I like Sir Antione's style of writing, it is very easy for the new hobbyist.

Dave

Hello Privitor and :welcome: to TR.

You've been given a lot of good advice and I think you are probably on your way to to a beautiful tank! Keep the questions coming. Asking questions at the right place (and listening to the advice) is the best way to be successful in this hobby.

yea that does explaine the difference between the 2!
i really like the idea with a sump & fuge Mixed. but then i seen the pic of your little bow front with just the sump and thats close to what i have so i might only be able to fit just a sump in there! :cry:

i was also wondering where you recommended to get a system like that?
i seen alot of videos and plans on how to DIY. is it easier to just build it using a 10 gallon glass("cause thats all ive got space for") or buy one pre-built made out of acrylic form a place like dr.foster?

I built that sump from acrylic. You may have someone in your area who can do the same. Otherwise, yes, you can find a glass tank, with a footprint that will fit under your bowfront, and install baffles using silicone.

Dave

so is it hard yo build an acrylic sump? is it somehing i can do myself?
also i was wondering if i had to drill the tank to plumb the sump? i think that would be ok to make it look cleaner!
also how big should the sump be for a 36g?

I've never atempted any acrylic work, but I know it can be tricky to work with. There are a couple of folks on here that work with acrylic, and there are lots of good FAQs online.

Drilling a tank for overflow does indeed make for a cleaner and less accident prone install. You can use what's know as an overflow box, but they hang off the tank, and work based on a siphon, so they are more prone to failure and flooding than a draditional drilled overflow.

The sump should be as large as you can make it. Not only will it leave you with more room for gear you will inevitibly add, but the increased water volume adds to tank stability.

ok well is there a place that tells you how to build a sump/fuge? i like the idea of a mixed fuge but i would also like to incluce the skimmer and heater if i have the space. also i was wondering how powerful the skimmer should be. i know you cant over filter but i dont want to over pay if i dont have to.

Check out Melevsreef.com | Acrylic Sumps & Refugiums (http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html) for ideas.