Here’s another great question I got today about combining multiple filtration methods

on one aquarium (a reef system).  Here’s the question and my answer:

QUESTION:  “Warren did I understand you to say that you like to use multiple filtration methods on one aquarium? Like aJaubert plenum with a deep sand bed in the display tank with a mud filter refugium in the sump with return water flowing thru a uv. This is exactly what I would like to do on my new 135 gal reef tank. What are your thoughts on this combo???”

ANSWER:  So, to answer your question about if I like using multiple filtration methods on one aquarium, my answer is no – and I’ll explain.

Do I think it’s a good idea to use a Jaubert plenum in your exhibit tank with a mud filter refugium in the sump, along with a UV?  Yes that could work well.

Overall, my philosophy is that while there are many different methods or filtration formats for a successful reef tank, you generally want to pick one and stick with it.  In other words, you don’t want to install an algae scrubber, with a protein skimmer along with a living sponge filtration system and a UV sterilizer and a trickle filter and live rock (I think you get the idea).  The different components that are used for one method may counteract other component from a different method.  And what you end up with is a mess that doesn’t work, and has chronic water quality problems.

For example, a UV sterilizer would kill off any water borne bacteria and phytoplankton and would thus partly starve a living sponge filter.  Or using an aggressive protein skimmer with a living sponge filter system would not work, as the protein skimmer would starve the live sponge of its food source.

Or another example would be the use of bioballs/trickle filter in combination with an algae scrubber.  The bioballs/trickle filter would add to the chronic nitrate levels that the algae scrubber or refugium is designed to reduce.

So, yes it’s OK to combine a Jaubert plenum in the exhibit tank with a refugium/mud filter in the sump, along with a UV sterilizer.  Just don’t go overboard trying to install every known form of filtration into your system.

I’ve seen a public aquariums do this with their 1,000 gallon reef tank (this was years ago) and the exhibit was a nightmare to operate – plus it didn’t look anywhere near as good as it should have at the time.

Also, with your Jaubert plenum, you may likely find that depending on how large your calcium/magnesium demand is, that you may need to supplement for calcium and magnesium (alkalinity too).

I only have a little experience with Jaubert plenum systems, but did research them aggressively years ago when they began to become popular.  What are you hearing/learning about their effectiveness?

Leave a comment here and let me know what filtration method you are using and what your experience has been.

And keep the questions coming!

Technorati Tags: bioballs, Jaubert, mud system, plenum, reef tank, refugium, salt water aquarium, saltwater aquarium, U.V. sterilizer

I received a great question and thought I would share it with you along with my answer.

So here’s the question:  What do you think is the simplest system to use for a reef tank?

I think I will make a video answer to this question and post it on the blog for others, because

keeping things simple is one of the most important things to learn in reef keeping, and yet also one

of the most challenging to accomplish.  Again, great question.

Here’s my answer:
As for what is the simplest system for a reef tank, I would have to say it depends on three factors:
1) the size of the tank, how heavily it is stocked with small-polyped stony corals (SPS);
2) how much time (work) you want to spend per week maintaining it; and
3) how much effort you are willing to put into setting it up (installation)

So, of course, I am biased.  I like larger systems that maximize stocking density and diversity of all kinds of corals and fishes.  And I like to take my time setting it up so that it is as easy as possible to maintain (I’m lazy) and so that it is designed to prevent problems (this last one is one of my greatest talents).

If you are just getting started and your tank is less than 200 gallons, and not heavily stocked yet, you can get away with just doing water changes.  A good quality reef salt will help maintain your pH, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium and all other levels, by simply doing frequent water changes.  If water changes is your only method of maintaining water quality, then you will want to do roughly 50% or more per month, done weekly.  So, for example, if you have a 100-gallon system, and you are doing 50% water change per month, then you could do one water change per week of 12.5 gallons.  Thus after four weeks, you will have changed 50% of the system’s water.  The down side to this approach is that you will go through more salt (higher cost) and it requires weekly water changes (more time).  We maintained a 250-gallon reef tank (all soft corals) for many years with great success, using this approach.  Because this system had great water movement and high flow rates (10x system volume/hr) and strong lighting (3 x 400w HQI metal halides 10,000K), strong protein skimming (ETS1400), stable water temperature (chiller), and it grew soft corals like crazy.  It was very simple.

The Jaubert method is OK as long as your sand bed is deep enough and that you use a fine enough substrate, and as long as it can keep up with the calcium/magnesium demand of the corals in the system.  I would say that the Jaubert method is best suited for systems that are not heavily stocked with fast-growing stony corals.  Systems that are heavily stocked with the faster-growing small-polyped stony corals (SPS corals) will need a more aggressive dosing approach than the passive Jaubert method.

Another very simple way to help maintain calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity is by use of a fluidized bed sand filter that is filled with aragonite sand (0.5-2.0mm particle size I recommend Carribsea’s “Sea Floor Special Grade Reef Sand”).  It is very cheap and very low maintenance and will help to maintain calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity.  You will need to refill (top off) the fluidized sand filter about every 4-6 months as the substrate will dissolve over time.  This is also a very efficient biological filter.  Depending on the size of the fluidized sand filter (the bigger the better – you cannot over size it), this method is best suited for a higher stocking density of corals than with the method of just doing water changes.

Another very simple method is to use one of the liquid two-part products administered with a two-part dossier (usually also sold by the manufacturer of the liquid 2-part product).  We have used the B-Ionic product (by ESV) with great success, along with their liquid 2-part dossier.

So when considering what is the simplest method for keeping or setting up a reef tank, remember the following factors:

1) the size of the tank, how heavily it is stocked with small-polyped stony corals (SPS);
2) how much time (work) you want to spend per week maintaining it; and
3) how much effort you are willing to put into setting it up (installation)

If you have a method you love for it’s simplicity, we’d love to hear about it.  Post a comment and let us know what is working for you to keep things simple.

Thanks.

Warren Gibbons

Technorati Tags: calcium, Dosing, Jaubert, liquid 2-part, magnesium, reef tank, small-polyped stony corals, water changes