better choice of filtration

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wesb219
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better choice of filtration

Post by wesb219 »

I'm wanting to upgrade my filtration and would like input on whether to use a fluval c4 or marineland emporer 400 which ever i choose will be used on a 55 gal tank that is currently fw but will be converted to brackish
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Re: better choice of filtration

Post by bertie 83 »

Eheim snob here, what are the long term plans for the tank? For example if the tank is to house a gsp spend the money and turn it into a fowlr tank with a good skimmer and preferably a fuge to save money long term. For anything else buy a forever filter and go eheim. Just my opinion
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Re: better choice of filtration

Post by Fin »

eheihm? I have no idea what that is, or a fuge.
wesb219
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Re: better choice of filtration

Post by wesb219 »

Tank is for gsp not sure what a fowlr tank is or a skimmer or a fuge
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Re: better choice of filtration

Post by nzac »

fowlr = Fish Only With Live Rock, skimmer is used to remove proteins from the water in a saltwater setup, fuge is short for refugium which is usually a chamber included in a sump filter setup (I am hoping sump filtration was meant by using the word fuge), these came in due to the fact that a GSP should be in full saltwater by adult stage.

Eheim is the manufacturer of some nice canister filters, I do not believe them to be the be all end all canister(I have a couple and do love them), but they do seem to work well and last a very long time.

To answer your original question of the two I would opt for the fluval c4 (i don't know much about it but I'm not sure the biowheels would be a good thing with brackish/saltwater and salt buildup due to evaporation). I like the biowheels(penguin/ emperor) myself but I do not like the design of the emperor 400 as the spraybars for the biowheels use unfiltered water and seem to need constant cleaning. The only HoB filters I use these days are Aquaclear 110 and penguin 350's.
You are probably best off going with the sump or the second place option of a canister.
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Re: better choice of filtration

Post by Pufferpunk »

GSPs should be upgraded to marine filtration, once it's >2". That means live rock, good flow (power heads), a good protein skimmer.
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wesb219
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Re: better choice of filtration

Post by wesb219 »

What about marine sand is it sufficient i like how it looks
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Re: better choice of filtration

Post by Pufferpunk »

Sand is fine for substrate in a marine tank.
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Re: better choice of filtration

Post by wesb219 »

Is it ok to use in bw I'm not going directly to full marine
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Re: better choice of filtration

Post by RTR »

I am another Eheim user and firm believer in their superiority. I have some units now approaching 40 years old and still in constant use. But for a GSP tank, they are not needed. FOWLR + skimmer + refugium is the way to go.

A refugium is NOT sump filtration in the old sense of having mechanical and bacterial biofiltration in a sump for some tanks. That is not done with FOWLR. A refugium in this case is a separate linked tank with marine macroalgae with 12-hour per 24 hours or 24/7 lighting. Periodic thinning of the macroalgae also exports excess nutrients. These refugia do use up some excess nutrients and provide refuge for breeding 'pods which also provide the fish with some small live foods for variety and hunting.

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Pufferpunk
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2 T biocellatus
C valentini
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C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
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suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
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Re: better choice of filtration

Post by Pufferpunk »

It's fine if you only want to do high-end BW with your GSP. Just plan on expensive weekly 50% WC on that tank. I was using 10 cups of $alt/week on my 55g, until I changed it up to SW.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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