Rena Wet Dry
Rena Wet Dry
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 API Rena Filstar Filter Media Packs Zorbs Pads all type $6.39 Time Remaining: 14d 13m Buy It Now for only: $6.39 |
 Surface Skimmer Aquarium Fish Eheim Rena Wet Dry Sump $9.45 Time Remaining: 5d 17h 19m Buy It Now for only: $9.45 |
 EXTENAL THERMAL HEATER ETH 201 200w BY HYDOR $39.80 Time Remaining: 3d 7h 30m Buy It Now for only: $39.80 |
 Flo OutFlow Aquarium Fish Eheim Rena Wet Dry Sump NEW $28.45 Time Remaining: 8d 16h 53m Buy It Now for only: $28.45 |
 Filter Guard Aquarium Fish Eheim Rena Wet Dry Sump $2.80 Time Remaining: 8d 18h 7m Buy It Now for only: $2.80 |
 Hydor ETH 300 EXTERNAL In Line HEATER 300w New Product $49.99 Time Remaining: 10d 12h 58m Buy It Now for only: $49.99 |
 Weeping Moss Aquarium Fish Eheim Rena Wet Dry Sump $5.65 Time Remaining: 8d 18h 1m Buy It Now for only: $5.65 |
 Siphon Aquarium Fish Eheim Rena Wet Dry Whisper Sump $4.70 Time Remaining: 10d 17h 8m Buy It Now for only: $4.70 |
 Nano CO2 Diffuser Aquarium Fish Eheim Rena Wet Dry NEW $4.70 Time Remaining: 8d 17h 22m Buy It Now for only: $4.70 |
 Hydor ETH 201 EXTERNAL In Line HEATER 200 watts 200w $38.98 Time Remaining: 19d 18h 26m Buy It Now for only: $38.98 |
 Aquarium brush Fish Eheim Rena Wet Dry Sump Tank NEW $9.45 Time Remaining: 8d 18h 10m Buy It Now for only: $9.45 |
Should I use a Canister or Wet Dry system?
Hello people... I've been thinking of starting a saltwater aquarium. I've grown a little tired of my freshwater tank. The colors that the saltwater fish have are just awesome. I have a 135 gallon tank with 2 Rena XP3 canister filters. I also have 2 Marineland Maxi-Jet 1200 power heads that converts to a circulation fan/ pump mode. A guy at a local pet store said that I can use the items that I have with no problem. Is this true? I don't mind the maintenance. I don't want to give the canister up if I don't have to. I've looked online and it also said that I would be fine. However, some are going away from this idea of the 2 canister and 2 power heads. Will it be safe to use the canisters instead of the wet dry system/ sump? Thanks for your time.
Remove the biomedia, and use the canister for chemical and mechanical filtration only. Use powerheads in the tank and live rock Ideally add on a refugium and skimmer combo and you are set!
The wet/dry filters are actually not very good, but the sump refugiums are some of the best filters. Using a hang on back refugium and a canister filter is about the same benefit but add a lot of clutter around the tank that could be hidden in the sump.
For a 135 gallon, remember that if you do 1-2lbs of live rock per gallon you would be wise to have a circulation of about 2700-3500+ gallons per hour in water movement. Add powerheads as needed.
This will help you keep a nitrate free tank, just fill with sand or reef mud, a few rock frags and chaetomorpha:
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&rlz=1I7GGLD_en&q=aquafuge+2&um=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&wrapid=tlif130524353611810&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=10950526160098826615&sa=X&ei=km_MTcbiCYuCsQO23aXJBg&ved=0CGIQ8wIwAQ&biw=1002&bih=569#
I did a canister filter on my very first saltwater tank. I learned quick the biomedia worked against the live rock. Once I made a few adjustments like I said above, and added the refugium, things got a lot easier. Later I switched to sump refugium systems because they are so versatile and helped removed all the stuff handing all over the tank (heater, skimmer, sterilizer, etc), making for a sharper looking display. Also water changes are easier, dosing is easier, and you have a spot to raise pods and algae for the fish or coral!
But canister filters are fine to start, just add on the refugium and skimmer to make life easier for yourself, remember to use live rock, sand and plants as your only biological media, and get decent current. If using caulerpa in the refugium, leave the lights on 24/7. This is fine for the chaeto (microalgae) as well. Some people save energy and run the light on the refugium at night opposite that of the light in the main tank. There are many reasons, one being to prevent pH shifts, the other to stop caulerpa from "going sexual".
