emperor 400

i started a saltwater tank today and is in the cycle process, i have two emperor 400 filters, is that good and should remove the wheels?

 

what size is your tank. I used to use the same filter on my 55gal. Yes remove the wheels. sump is better and as long as you don't overload your tank with fish, it'll do fine. Change your media weekly. I used quilt batting cut into sections big enough to fit around each of the empty filters that come with it and filled it them with activated carbon. I would wrap a rubberband around them to hold the batting on. It was WAY cheaper in the long run. You can get the batting from wal mart in the sewing section...anymore questions???

 

I also started out with two Emperors. I had to remove the biowheels because of the nitrates. I eventually started a sump and refugium and removed the Emperors.

 

what do you mean by sump? what do you mean by change ur media weekly? not sure what your tellin me with the use quilt batting cut into sections big enough to fit around each of the empty filters that come with it and filled it them with activated carbon. I would wrap a rubberband around them to hold the batting on. It was WAY cheaper in the long run

 

I'm sure I confused you and I'm sorry. just trying to make it easy for you. What did your local fish store=LFS tell you when you bought your tank? did they tell you how often to change the filters?

 

Be sure to change the filters (the media) that go into the Emperors weekly. Since they are very expensive you can use what is called batting and make your own using the gray media filters that come with the emperors. Batting is the white material used as stuffing for blankets and pillows. You can get it at any craft store. Use rubberbands to hold it to the gray media filters. You can fill the gray filters with carbon too.

You don't need to worry about the sump for now but if you stay in the hobby you will probably add one at some point. Here is a link to get you started on reading. Saltwater Aquariums, About Choosing A System & Setting Up - Articles You can never read too much.

 

no worries, i appreciate your input i want to make this right since this is the 2nd go at it so i dont remember much. the lfs didnt tell me much about this filter, i got all of this for free from my boss so i am trying to utilize what he gave me but he had freshwater. i have 8 filters in there now 4 on each + the chemi pure the the lfs gave me to add...is that okay. i would need to see a pic of an actual sump to understand it better

 

not real sure you even need the chemi pure right now. you have no load(poo) in your tank right now.

also, you say it it was a fresh water tank at one time? do you know if your boss ever used copper medications? if he did then you will need to get cuprisorb. it's stuff you put into a filter, that comes with it and you put it into a high flow area and it absorbs copper. copper will kill invertibrates(snails, clams, crabs, shrimp...)

did you wash the tank and filters out with anything before using them?

 

i clean all of the equipment with water only no soap or chemicals etc. is that okay. he had activated filter carbon like in a milk carton but not sure if he used it at all. what are copper medications?

 

the following link will show you copper based meds. you cannot use them on salt water tanks when you have inverts. You use them on freshwater tanks for certain things like freshwater ick, parasites and other diseases/illnesses. Might want to ask your boss before you put anything live in it. Have you put your rock in yet? I would have washed the tank with water then vinegar then water again. whoops here's the link

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/pet_supplies.cfm?c=3578 4615 4616