Pre Filter
The Pre Filter resides in and on the main tank,
but it is the first step in getting water down to the sump. My Pre Filter uses a siphon tube to transfer water out of the
main tank and into the pre filter box, where water passes through a sponge to remove large
particles before being sent down to the sump via gravity.
Sediment Trap
The Sediment Trap
is the next filtering device the water passes through. I had it custom manufactured
at a local plastics shop. It simply forces water to constantly change direction,
thus forcing larger (and even smaller) waste particles to fall out. The graphic on
the right shows a Sediment Trap in detail. Click the image to see a larger image
(39k). It is for a much larger tank, and the illustration is from Robert
Michelson's Aquarium Page. Thanks, Robert!
Wet/Dry
Next is the Wet/Dry Filter. Again, I had it
custom made at a local plastics shop. My wet/dry contains about 3 gallons of
bio-balls to increase the amount of aerobic bacteria. The bacteria breaks down
wastes from the tank, especially ammonia. I plan on removing the Wet/Dry after we
move, and replacing it with a case or two of Live Rock. Live Rock provides better
filtering than a wet/dry can offer.
Heater
I have a 200 watt Tronic Heater in the sump, eliminating the need to look at a
heater every time I look in my tank! The heater rarely comes on, for the pumps,
powerheads and especially the lights generate enough heat to keep the tank at a constant
81 - 83 degrees. Cooling is not a problem... that is, until I install Metal Halide
lighting after we move! The house is air conditioned in the summer, so the tank has
never been hotter than 83 degrees. We'll see what happens when we move!
Skimmer
A CPR Bak Pak performs the dirty job of removing "muck" from the tank.
A Skimmer is used to remove unwanted proteins and other wastes from the water.
It achieves this by creating millions of tiny bubbles, forcing the wastes to stick
to the bubbles, and thus rising up the water colum and into a collection cup of dark brown
muck! It's amazing what that little Bak Pak can get out of that tank in a few days!
Return Pump
I use an AquaClear 802 powerhead as a return pump from the sump to the main
tank. It works great - remember that I don't have a large tank! A piece of
clear tubing runs up to the tank, where I fabricated a spray bar out of PVC pipe.
The spray bar distributes the filtered water across the surface of the main tank, creating
surface agitation, and promoting gas exchange in the water.
