Thinking about upgrade

I currently have a magnum 350 filter, and already getting tired of changing the filter 3-5 times a week. Any suggestions for an upgrade to something that will not require this much maint.....Thanks.

 

Anyone????

 

What sized tank do you have, and what is in it? Do you have a sump/do you want to have a sump? Do you have a protein skimmer?

 

75g with stand and coralife lights 2-10K 65w, 2-actinic 65w
magnum 350 canister filter
2-High flo power heads, salt has made ID impossible
Remora aquaC skimmer
Turbo Twist 12x UV light
50+/- LR, 1" crushed substrate

Livestock:
1- Yellow tang
2 Percullas, 1 true, 1 false
1-Black damsel,,,, about the size of my hand... LOL
1-Blue Hippo
1-Cleaner Warsser
1-Enginner goby about 6-8" long
1-Hawkfish got to get rid of him before I get more cleaner shrimp
assorted cleaner crews

assorted zoos
lg sps found him under the rocks, volunteer about 6" fully open
1-red lobo
1-trumpet coral 4 heads
1-sm Favia
1-colony zoos 15-20 polyps
1-6" piece of orange montiporia-avatar
1-pulsing xenia 3 heads
about 12 mushrooms, 6 were volunteers about quarter size, I added 6 more

Do not have or want a sump at this time...thanks

 

Looking at your list, I have the following comments (which you may or may not agree with, upon inspection):

1) Your tank is overstocked for its size. You have a very large bio-load for a 75g, especially with the 2 tangs. This will generate a lot of waste.

2) The filter that you want to replace is a mechanical filter. So is your protein skimmer. Most people tend to agree that protein skimmers are the best form of mechanical filtration for marine tanks. So I would recommend trashing your canister filter and relying on your skimmer and live rock (if any?) for your filtration. The skimmer will be your mechanical filter, and your liverock will be your biological filter. If you find your skimmer is not adequate for that task, what I would upgrade is your skimmer.

3) I understand that you are not necessarily interested in a sump, and the truth is that many people have very successful reef tanks without a sump. However, that said, a sump would increase the water volume for your tank, and just make it a bit safer to carry all the bioload you currently have (ie. instead of 8 fish in 75g, it would be 8 fish in something like 95 or 105 gallons). It would also enable you to run filter floss in the baffles if ever you felt you needed extra mechanical filtration.

Bottom line, I would not waste time upgrading to a better HOB or canister filter. Upgrade your skimmer if you feel it necessary, add more live rock if you feel it necessary, and consider a sump. That's my 2 cents.

 

I appreciate the change, thanks, I knew I probably need more live rock, and what are your thoughts on some Live sand too. also discovered that my skimmer was designed for a 50-75g tank max. So your timing about the skimmer seems to be right on.... Thanks

 

Live sand is a gimmick IMO. After time it will become alive or borrow a cup of sand from a buddy or lfs and see it. ;D

 

Live sand will get buried under your crushed coral substrate eventually. You are dangerously overstocked especially for not having a sump. As your fish get bigger there will not be enough oxygen to go around and you might start loosing some from suffocation.

I would start looking into getting the biggest sump setup possible, ditch the canister, add in more cured live rock, and try to thin out the tanks population by about half.

~Will.