Commercial Display Tanks Filtration? *PICTURES

Hey guys I picked up this 3 level commercial display aquarium from my LFS. Its three 70G tanks stacked ontop each other with built in overflow boxes. Each 70G is divided into three tanks too. Kinda like a breeder setup or something, youll see in the pictures. I got a pic of it and a diagram.

I have the bottom tank (all 3 sections) set up as a breeding tank for my two sets of paired Convict Cichlids, and a pair of breeding Mollies. Its overflow box whole has been plugged and I am just running a Hagen Cannister there.

The middle tank and the top tank are saltwater. They flow into one another via overflow and return pump.

My question is; What is the best way to filter this setup? Would it be just live rock, live sand, and a protien skimmer or is there a better way? I was thinking of making the middle section of the top tank into a "refugium" setup with plenty of macro algae growing and stuff. Would that work to keep the water clean without having to add electronic filters and such?

Let me know what your suggestions are. Thanks guys

 

Anyone?

 

For the SW yes to LR/sand and the skimmer would be a great way. 8)

But put in consideration that you will need a lot of rock for both tanks for proper natural filtration..

 

Take all the borders out and make it one huge sw tank!

 

Well of course!

Im just trying to see if there is a better way of filtering this type of setup. This is my first overflow style aquarium'(s).

What about filling the top overflow box (4 gallons) full of bioballs? And the top center "tank" with Macro's and a deep sand bed. I was just thinking this would keep it natural while increasing the good bacteria's. The macros would pull impurities out of the water too.

 

I could pull the dividers glass, but I would still have the black plastic strips that run down the outside front of the aquarium. :-/