New to the salt worldq

a pod farm is nothing more than a slang term for a place where pods are grown. Pods are small animals like copepods and arthropods and other 'pods that generally eat algae and are good food for most fish and a lot of corals and other stuff in a reef tank. Many people will install a refugium to grow macroalgae for nutrient export and also as a place to grow pods for food for their display tank.

A sump is a little different although a lot of people combine the two. A sump is anything that holds water and is attached to your display tank. It increases water volume (more water is generally viewed as good cause it's easier to keep water params more stable) and gives you a place to move equipment out of your display tank and into a place that no one usually sees. Things like heaters and protein skimmers are usually put in sumps. There aren't a lot of people still using bio-balls, although they are making a little comeback. Leng Sy, the developer of the miracle mud stuff and system just came out with a new nano system that includes a miracle mud fuge. I think Matt reported on it here. It's the Eco Systems Mini. Those also use bioballs.

 

Why do you say this?

 

haha ahhh so many responses. THank you everyone! and I actually HATE my canister filter. I was talked into buying it and I havent liked it since I got it. Such a pain. I plan on getting rid of it when I do a salt tank. The Pods sound way cool;D I am reading "The simple guide to Marine Aquariums" by Jeffery Kurtz. It is awesome information but getting it from people first hand that are doing it too is awesome I am just writing all these tips down!

So I think I want to do a sump filtration system. Any thoughts on a certain sump model for a 46g tank?

THANKS EVERYONE! i joined this site 45mins ago and have gotten more information in this little time on filters then I have in a week of talking to local pet store people.

 

Copper is leathal in very small dosage to the inverts, snails and other marine invertebrates and will die rather rapidly if copper is present in the water.

 

Copper is very bad in saltwater. You can use it in a special quarantine/hospital tank but never in your display tank. It will kill lots of things.

 

copper is a poison to many things in a reef tank, primarily inverts like your clean up crew. if a tank has ever had copper many people won't ever use it for a reef aquarium. I think it can be done, but if I were going to do it, I'd rip out all the silicone and reseal it. silicone may or may not absorb copper and then leach it back out.

One other thing to consider is to find and join a local reef club. It's nice to have someone close who can come over and take a look at your tank to help, or to take care of it for you when you go on vacation.

 

Oh man, so you guys are saying that since my 46g has freshwater in it now that I may be better off getting a new tank for reef? That sucks because i just bought this tank just under a year ago. THere is no way without taking out the silicon to "clean" the tank of copper? Next question is the silicon easy to replace? It would probably be cheaper to do that then buy a new tank. Thoughts?

 

no need for a new tank. just drain all the water out and clean, clean, clean the tank with vinegar and water over and over. it will clean up and just use ro/di water from that point out.

 

Thats what I like to hear ;D I will when I start my reef tank. That is a big weight and added expense off my shoulders!!

 

Like he said above not need to for a new tank. You have a perfectly good tank.

Clean the tank well with baking soda you get at walmart or grocery store. Rinse with water.

Then add RO/DI water. You need to buy an RO/DI unit for this. You can add tap water but, i would strongly recommend you dont.
These are the things i would do if i were you.

Step 1: Clean Tank
Step 2: Buy RO/DI unit
Step 3: Setup Plumbing - sump, return pump, heating and proper circulation
Step 4: Check you lighting to make sure its reef ready. (T5 HO or Metal Halides)
Step 6: Get test kits for Nitrates,Ammonia, Alkalinity,pH,calcium,Magnesium
Step 7: Buy good salt
Step 8: Buy a refractometer to measure salinity
Step 9: Buy a controller with pH and Temperature probes.(this will help you keep things under control)
Step 10:Buy protein skimmer and activated carbon media(+media bags) for your sump
Step 11:Buy dry Materials to make your own Calcium, Alkalinity and Magnesium suppliments
Step 12: Buy a small piece of live rock, your choice of sand along with 50-60 Lbs dry rock to kick start your marine/reef tank.(there is no need for "live sand")

All the things that you need, buy them from your local reef tank club or hobbyists, you will save a ton of money

But before you do all that and more, read articles on reefkeeping.com. If you dont understand something feel free to ask questions. Here is the link

Reefkeeping Online Magazine - Articles by Subject

Read till your brain hurts and ask questions till your hands hurt, then you will be ready