Newbie Challenge---Are you game?

Just what little I know about biological filtration I can't imagine that a 1" by 7.5" by 4.5" foam pad would have the same capability as 300 lbs of live rock. Just the simple science around the square area and volume of rock versus a simple foam filter/pad is really unimaginable.

 

First: It is interesting that right on the front page there is a note that "It skims the surface of the Aquarium", yet the intake is on the bottom of the unit. The unit is listed as being 20 inches tall (almost the depth of my 75 gallon tank) there is no way it is skimming the surface of the water...

Second: As was mentioned earlier, the product specification pages, does not show the foam or carbon filters as being in the flow path of the pump.....

 

We didn't ever get around to the definitions. I'll try my hand at them:

Mechanical filtration: Removing particulate matter from the water, usually by passing water through a fine mesh like a sponge or filter floss. Analogy: The lint filter on your clothes drier performs mechanical filtration.
Biological filtration: Using bacteria to enhance the nitrogen cycle, changing ammonia to nitrite to nitrate.
Chemical filtration: removal of unwanted ions in the water by chemically bonding with the molecules. Activated charcoal is a common medium for chemical filtration.

 

ViaAqua Multi-Skimmer - Marine Depot - Marine and Reef Aquarium Super Store

I'm not at a skimming stage on my aquarium since it has an inbuilt filter in the cover, Really crappy and shouldn't have been sold to me since the LFS knew i had no idea, If only they had convinced me of one size up where the filter is better. Anyway I came across this while looking for skimmer designs. Looks like the real deal for a beginner and not overpriced either.

I have question i think i can avoid asking in a new Thread, Bio filter before or after the skimmer, and why. I would think that if you skimmed the water first the bio would have less to convert to nitrate + have more oxygen for the bacteria.

 

okay, im a newbie, only thing i find confusing with this thing is where is the biological filtering taking place, isnt that the cycling part? how does come off the shelf and do that? other than that way too much $

 

I think you can disregard this thread, Its seems more like some rat bag self proclaimed reef pro's are taking the piss out of some cheap nasty equipment not worth a dollar. Although let it be a warning that if anyone ever tries to sell you this crap, use it to bash that person. As i have shown in the link on my previous post there are better things for our cash.

As far as being a nooby, All you have to do is Start your own thread outlining what your after and how much you can spend, And you'll have the help of many people here.

 

DLS, Deano, and Grubbs. You all had great points.

Pretty darn good SAW. I would add that protein skimming is chemical filtration also. The hydrophobic organics are attracted to the air/water interface chemically and they are then skimmed out with good skimmers.

Most people utilize live rock to do both concurrently. Some add DSB's as well. If you skim wet to remove not only hydrophobic materials but particulate detritus as well, this is most certainly true.

Detritus will collect on the sponges and on the bag that holds the carbon. Bacteria reproduce very quickly. Once the detritus starts decomposing and starts producing Ammonia, the bacteria will rapidly reproduce and become a biological filter. Cycling is a non-stop condition in our tanks. The Nitrogen cycle is affected by every addition of food, every addition of fish, and every failure to remove detritus. There is also the phosphate cycle, the sulphur cycle, Carbon cycle.....yada, yada, yada. Regardless, as previously mentioned, there is not enough surface area in this unit to perform as advertised. Hopefully you have Live Rock or a wet dry filter in addition.

Apparently, I fell on my face because I'm a rat-bag self-proclaimed pro. For those who participated you did an awesome job IMO!!! I had hoped that this thread would be instructive. Unfortunately, it turned destructive. It's time for this thread to end. Please feel free to PM me if you want to continue the conversation.

 

Wow, Slow down. "Rat Bag" is a little strong. I do not believe this thread is going were anyone wanted it to so without further posts I will close it