Benthic sharks with urchins?
- Thread starter LadAShark
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If that's the only filtration you're going to be adding, it might become tough, and a tank crash would porbably be inbound. Of course that depends on the inhabitants of the aquarium. What were you going to fill your tank with again?
I was planning a 200 gallon refugium myself, but I felt it overcomplicated things a bit, though I might still go ahead and get one. I've heard many experienced hobbyists saying that algae scrubbers have made all their other filtration become almost obsolete, with the remaining filtration either used as a backup or used just to make the water look nice (though algae filters can accomplish this).
150 gallon refugium sounds tiny compared to a 1600 gallon tank. I'm thinking that you could perhaps make use of cleaner clams. They're relatively cheap critters that filter feed on particulates, and, though not suited to reef temperatures, can live for upwards of a year in such environments. Just make sure, however, that you (a) have a cleaner crew that will scavenge them out from the sand if they die, or (b) put them on a tack/off the sand so that they don't die in your sand if you can't do (a). From what I've read, they act like living protein skimmers and have never bombed someone's tank like giant clams do when they die.
AlexG
Valuable Member
Really my solution is not that expensive. If you are planning to setup a system over 1000gallons then buying hdpe containers is a good investment. My displays are going to be plywood construction which is an enormous savings over glass or acrylic. My sumps will be hdpe tanks and a used 150 gallon tank as the refuge. If a plastic container has been proven reef safe I am all for using it. It also depends on the system layout. For me 3 sumps are needed to build the system I want. I wanted lots of extra water volume for stability.
AlexG
Valuable Member
For me the total system is about 1600 gallons the displays are a 480 & 720 the rest of the water volume is sump or refuge. Plus the giant skimmer I am building. Slowly building up live stock and monitoring water quality will dictate the additional filtration needed.
Do tell me how that skimmer works out. I would love to build my own as well!
Derailing a bit: have you considered using natural gas to heat your tank? It will cost a LOT less than electricity would. Of course, that's in the case you actually care how much it would cost.
Back to topic, slowly watching for need of more filtration is a good idea, and I wish you good luck.
AlexG
Valuable Member
I am hoping the skimmer works out well. For heating I am going to see how well the temp regulates in the basement. I am thinking I will need to insulate the basement walls in the winter. I hate to think about needing a gas heater. It will be trial and error with heating. I am going to fill the system with freshwater for a month or two before adding salt to figure out those details and make sure my plywood tanks don't leak. It will be stressful during that time but I want to start with freshwater to vet issues before the salt is addded. 1600 gallons of salt water is not cheap and I do not want to waste salt. Any large build like yours will need time to be tested for leaks or other issues before starting to stock the tank. It's part of the fun in keeping aquariums. [emoji2]
Yeah starting with freshwater is probably the best idea just to see whether your tank will hold.
I'm planning to save on saltwater by driving to the coast 70 miles away every few months and bringing a half a ton of saltwater. Minimize my need for water changes, and then do that, and then I'll be golden. I don't know if that'll really save me much (or anything at all), but hey, I get an excuse to go to the coast and I get my water cheaper.
I might just try to eliminate my need for water changes, but with sharks that will be truly difficult.
Yeah I'd obviously put it through a filter and skimmer (and maybe even boil it, but that would make me need RODI water to redilute the lost water).
And the water will be from the pacific ocean. Oregon beaches.
Well it wouldn't have less good stuff than the water we normally put in tanks ;P
No, what I'm saying is when boiling salt water, some of the water will evaproate, making the water too saline. I'll use RO/DI water to properly dilute it to the level it should be at.
