FILTER

When it comes to filters, the choice is baffling, you have internals, externals, sump systems, undergravels, refugiums, the list is endless. Here we will try to show you the difference between each one and let you make up your own mind...

Internal filter

These are basically a unit which sit on the inside of your tank , and are run by a motor or powerhead. The motor uses an impellor to drag the water through a series of sponges and back out again. Fluval are probably one of the most popular and readily known by the hobbyist. Juwel systems also have a built in internal filter, but these are much bigger than a standard unit. They also have a much larger surface area as they hold more sponges and are a suitable size for housing different media types.

External filter

Similar in the way they work to an internal filter, except they sit on the outside of the aquarium having an inlet and outlet pipe to drag the water out and through the unit and back to the tank, again like the Juwel system they are much larger than a standard internal and more space for using different medias.

Sump systems

Here you have something totally different, a sump is a seperate tank which sits beneath the main one. To use this method your main tank would have to have 2 holes drilled in it at the time of building. From these you would use something like standard 1" ABS piping leading to the sump tank (1 inlet & 1 outlet ).  In the sump you then have a series of chambers, which there are no steadfast rules about. Below is an example diagram of our own sump running our reef display, but basically you can play with this till you find something you favour yourself.

To the right, below the chamber containing bio balls, we have used miracle mud. In this we have caleurpa and various other algaes.

In the centre we have used a plenum, note- the egg crate must be raised 1" , abs piping is ideal.

There is also living rock and various algaes in the centre chamber.

To the left is the pump to send the filtered water back to the tank.

We keep the light above the sump tank on for 24 hours per day to maintain strong plant growth and it helps buffer the pH overnight. Aquarium pH typically drops at night when photosynthesis (a light-requiring process) ceases. The photosynthesis process uses Carbon Dioxide and Releases Oxygen into the water - which helps maintain a stable pH.

Click to find out more about  'miracle mud'  

You then have room to put any additional equiptment in aswell, i.e heaters, protein skimmer etc.