DIY reef aquarium bio filter building.

This it so far guys it is all done just the pics are taking ages to size,measurements have to be put in and lots of wording,so more to come including its maturing as well.

https://southeastqueenslandm.aforumfree.com/t1326-diy-sump-biological-filtration-for-reef-aquariums#4966

Hey ignobolis,sorry about the DIY bio filter build not being locked, I just locked it and removed your question, that section isn’t for replies, just as a reference, I will answer your question here.

That system is for the complete oxidation of all the nitrite cycle and the algae area that I still haven’t put the pics in of it and explanation, this one is for a pump of around 1000 litres and hour to run,so a large two foot tank.

To make it completely run a 4,6,8,10 foot what ever,you just allow for extra flow, by expanding all sections and do not use algae in this system and add an algae tub beside it under the tank of the type I use and all up it will do all the nitrite cycle, all phosphates all proteins, nothing gets past this style of filtering and nothing in relation to dosing is needed for corals.

That being said,I do use iodide-halogens reef colours by red sea,the all algae trimmings are put back in as mulch for three days in a bag to give back what the algae has photosynthesised to make its structure.

I am back to using trusted local mud for elements and benthics as well until the corals get out of hand and then I will slow down on those, that’s better then trace element dosing any time.

I will put in specs,measurements as such in time as I am finishing the pre filter build as well, but geez it’s a lot of work!

I haven’t built a filter this neat in appearance in nearly 20 years,boy am I rusty.

Yer ok - I figured it would be to suit a smaller tank - but that will be one great display, capable of keeping any marine life very well...my next custom sump build will be modeled on that for sure - having read every combo of sump arrangement on the internet -twice - that makes the most sense, covers all requirements and is the best for longevity and ease of maintenance....plus having the in build fail over if a holiday is required and you can't do the day to day....

Love it mate - RESPECT!

i know this is i bit old, but i wanted to let you know how great i think this build is
i have a shortcut to this thread on my desktop and i read it daily.
i am redoing my sump etc right now after getting G's input at the christmas party, following same process just different design.
thanks for the inspiration G

ill try and stick up some pictures of my process aswell on another thread

That’s cool mate.
Back in the day I was in aw of the supposed reef gurus in the late 70s and could not believe how much in relation to latin names and scientific wording that they knew. Yet after just two years of trying out different designs of bio filtering I could keep multitudes of varied life in one aquarium, alive for any length of time and the two gurus my brother and I knew,could not.
Then the aquasonic bros that a diver I knew was a mate with, they reckoned we should use live rock and a skimmer, that was not long after we met them when they came up here to dive for latezonatus. I had already beaten the issue of how to have a tone of life in one closed system, but hey, why not.
That lasted just two years, useless idea for anything including great numbers of life and a system that was fool proof and not incredibly delicate like live rock bio filtering!
I won’t say who, but two long term aquarists and shop owners in the marine aquarium hobby admitted to me, via personal messaging of course, that live rock-skimmer systems are a quick all in one money maker, nothing else, that’s why they push it!
As they said, the hobbyists comes in and nothing much is needed to be known sort of and walk out with a complete set up, like the old plate system of under gravel, all purchased at the shop and no worries.
The thing that is the best Conn for hobbyists is the live rock hitchhikers syndrome, oh wow look what’s already in my tank!
Most mobile hitchhikers, (not all of them), but most are useless or destructive for the reef aquarium.
There is nothing in any shape of form that you can put into your aquarium that’s more toxic to your waters then live rock!
Even the reef gurus now days recognise that live rock pollutes a marine aquarium for at least 6 to 12 months and most likely far longer as the enormous amount of life dies or tries to stabilises to aquarium life and as they do they emit toxins that can not be tested for or taken out by the skimmer and the hobbyist goes, white spot or just deaths, but all my parameters are perfect!
The tests kits we have available test maybe 1 out of 100 of what’s in that water during the early days of live rock.
Any way, the system I designed is useless if you do not clean the first pre filter each day unless on holidays and use the settling pre filters properly a part from the hundred or so other components involved.
The pics of what you do will be great mate and helpful to others, I look forward to seeing them.