What do you recommend??

[clownfishlover]

I am looking at getting a 72 gallon bowfront. I would like to put live sand and live rock in it. What is the best way to filter this system? (sump, protein skimmer, trickle filter) What is a rough estimate of the cost involved with the filtration?

Thank you,
Mitch

[Reefland]

Hi Mitch,

I would go with a sump and an in-sump skimmer. There will be some additional cost with the drilled tank but it will be worth it. For the sump you can use a low cost standard aquarium and insert a couple of baffles in it yourself. Should be able to find a small used tank really cheap. The skimmer is what's going to cost, between the unit and the pump you can easily look at $350. Don't skimp on the skimmer though, it's an important piece of the system.

[scubadude]

Hey Mitch Welcome to Reefland!

I concur w/everything Scott said but would like to comment on the LR, if you can get it locally for about $5 per lb and it looks like some really good stuff (very porous, lots of coraline algae coverage and other life) then you very well may be better off going that route cuz you will more than likely be able to hand pick the rocks you want, and wont have to worry about shipping charges if you buy via the net which can be just as expensive as the LR itself. I especially think purchasing your LR locally is better if its cured/semi-cured (been sitting in their tanks with skimmers for a few weeks). Oh yeah try and stay away from them trickle filters....plenty of LR and a good skimmer like Scott said will be plenty filtration.

[clownfishlover]

Thanks for the quick replies. I was wondering if I could just use powerheads and a good skimmer without using the sump system. Would it cause problems with a tank this big. I currently have a freshwater 55 gallon that I might experiment with until I get my 72g bowfront.

[Reefland]

Sure you could go that route but in the long run you will regret the decision. Systems that employ sumps and in-sump skimmers are definitely easier to work with and I think anyone would strongly recommend going that route when setting up a new system.

[Poseidon]

For SURE got to get a sump! It holds heaters and the skimmer. Also can grow macro algae's down there, to help with nutrient export. I really think that it is a much better way to go.

[clownfishlover]

Thanks guys, sounds like i'm getting a sump!!!