Filtration Conundrum

[FamilyMan_4]

First time salty here.
Ive been planning & slowly buying up dry goods/stock for a few weeks now in preparation for my upcoming build.

I am fixing up / modding a 29gal used AIO tank I was given.

I have plans for the lid, light, rock, sand etc. But keep running into the age old problem of ‘too much information’ when it comes to mechanical & chemical filtration plans for my setup.

I dont plan on carrying a huge bioload, so Im not planning on getting a skimmer (notice I said ‘not planning’ there, so basically the door is open a crack to the idea. If after the tank is running and maturing, I think I am going to need one, then I’ll look into it. There is enough space in the AIO compartment to add a nano sized skimmer if the future calls for one)

But, back on topic, haha.
My plan was to cycle and start with FOWLR until the tank matures some, then start with some softies and LPS, if I thought the tank was ready.
I was looking at running (loose in a couple mesh bags which reside in a foam column with cutouts) carbon, and some sort of ceramic or the sort to aid in bacteria growth. Then once I started adding livestock look at a IM Minimax reactor running some bio plastics or the like, ie TwoLittleFishies NPX bioplastics, to help with phosphates.

But Im at a crossroads thinking Im being too redundant with the ceramics and plastics and missing on something else I should have in there?
Or if when I move to the reactor, switch the ceramics out for something else, or run something different in the reactor.

ANY help/advise/recommended readings/suggestions would be appreciated!
Anything!

 

[New&no clue]

Here is how I like to think about filtration. You are trying to filter out a lot of stuff from you water, from large particles of food that isn't eaten all the way down to chemical components. Do you have filtration in place for all the different sizes of matter?

 

[FamilyMan_4]

Right now the AIO compartment is open with nothing.
I am sort of building it from scratch, hence my information overload, and inability to settle on a setup.
It has one large stiff foam block that I was going to cut two small sections out of to place a bag of carbon and ceramics.
The block would be used for large particles, that I would clean/rinse when I change the carbon bag.
But as for the rest, Im lost as to what would be best for my setup. I am open to try anything that others have said works for them.
And add to the filtration as my tank grows. Which is why I had the reactor in mind, when it came time to diversify the reef with come corals and add some additional livestock, outside the CUC and a couple of clowns that I was planning on starting with.

Im looking to diversify the tank as much as I can (well as much as a 29gal AIO can go without going overboard) Im not looking to stress the system, just get my feet wet with saltwater and reefs. So that when time comes down the road to upgrade, I would have a good knowledge base and some experience, to put toward a full setup with larger tank.

 

[New&no clue]

I have a 30 gallon AIO as well. I have 5 chambers in the back with two overflows on each side. In the first chamber w/overflow I have filter floss and live rock, the next chamber has chaeto, middle chamber has the return pump and heater, next a skimmer, and last one w/overflow has a media rack with filter floss, sponge, bag of carbon, bag a GFO. I replace the filter floss every week and new sponge, carbon, GFO every month. I do not think my skimmer is very good and have heard they aren't that great for smaller tanks.

IMO live rock is better than ceramic balls or block. I have used both in previous tanks and they do not convert nitrates as well as live rock. There is a reason why live rock is better than ceramics, but I can't really remember and I'm not sure if it was just this persons opinion or actual facts.

I think if you start out simple and then expand with your system that is a good plan. You may find you don't need to export that much nutrients and so don't need as much. To start with I think something to collect large particles and some type of porous service for bacteria to grow on is all you need. I also have carbon in my tank because I have softies and they like to use chemical warfare on each other.

 

[FamilyMan_4]

Ok thanks for the info!
Do you have your GFO loose and you put it in a bag yourself?
or do you buy a brand already bagged?
Thats why I was leaning towards the NPX in the reactor, I read it was a similar purpose as GFO, but less frequency in changes of bags (?) if read it correctly anyway
But lowering possible phosphates was the goal either way

 

[New&no clue]

I buy it loose and put it in a bag. I've actually read that GFO is not that useful in a bag and better to be in a reactor, however, I had already bought it before I read that so I'm just using it up. I definitely think someone in a reactor is better than something in a bag.

 

[FamilyMan_4]

Thanks again for the quick replies!
Much appreciated.