Top 5 Filters For A Saltwater Aquarium

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Күн бұрын

There are endless possibilities for filtration in a saltwater aquarium. Here, I tell you the top 5 you should consider. And the only ones you really need are the top 2...
Find my best fishy photos on Instagram - search 'Reef Dork'.
A select few great reef buys:
RO filter - amzn.to/2Xsq0KQ
Tunze algae magnet - amzn.to/2YydNku
Tunze frag rack - amzn.to/2XrW4d0
Tunze auto top off - amzn.to/2XrEryR
ATM colony - amzn.to/2YDlMwQ
Digital thermometer - amzn.to/2xy145i
Heating controller - amzn.to/2LDhmlB
Activated carbon - amzn.to/2YtLZO6
Coral glue - amzn.to/2XparDP
ICP test - amzn.to/2XsrZ1M
Rowaphos - amzn.to/2Xqx8m6
Red Sea salt - amzn.to/2XqGxub
Some of these links have an affiliate code - so if you make a purchase, I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
For any commercial enquiries, please send me a PM, contact me via Instagram or leave a comment below.
0:00 Introduction
0:22 5. Auto filter roller
1:31 4. Algae refugium
2:53 3. Activated carbon
3:51 2. GFO (Rowaphos)
4:51 1. Protein skimmer
6:08 Honourable mention

Пікірлер: 91

@kevintwine8443 3 жыл бұрын

Your videos are absolutely fantastic, I had a saltwater aquarium years ago and I did it totally wrong and put me off (I was young and thought I new everything lol) but watching your videos has inspired me to do it again, my wife is not gonna like you lol, thanks for the information.

@thetipsycookery8268 3 жыл бұрын

Your channel is amazing! Thanks for the tips! 🙌🏻

@scottyjackson6665 3 жыл бұрын

Quality vids like always, great tips!

@jaysrealreefuk 3 жыл бұрын

Great video, always learn something new. Thank you. 👍

@jeremybw2180 2 жыл бұрын

This is awesome! I use a mechanical filter utilizing a culligan sediment filter, a fluidized sand filter using a two little fishies GFO canister, and a de-nitrifying filter using a second two little fishies canister, and an inline heater. the de-nitrifying filter maintains 1.3-1.6 ppm nitrates depending on how much water I allow to flow through. Slow volume eats up more phosphates and nitrates, until nitrates maintain too low and now I have to dose lanthanum chloride for phosphates. It's nice having the issue of having to dose NO3 though. 😃

@fireblade9973 3 жыл бұрын

Really helpful. I’ve been toying with the idea of a reef tank setup for well over a year now and your videos are certainly making things a lot clearer for me. Now to decide on a tank 😀

@ReefDork 3 жыл бұрын

Nice! Also, is that a Fireblade? Also nice!

@fireblade9973 3 жыл бұрын

@@ReefDork Thank you yes it is a fireblade , also another hobby to drain your finances 😂

@slywind30 3 жыл бұрын

Great tips! Just starting out with it all! And wow did not realize you are local!, Reef dreams is my local fish shop too! Shaun and ed been helping with advice recently and fantastic guys! Recently set up a reefer 250 and loving it!

@i_cant_think8947 3 жыл бұрын

They really do, I’ve been struggling with what fish to put in my 60l tank and they said a yasha goby and a tanakas Pygmy wrasse, they also taught me how to read the TMC labels by looking at the scientific names

@hanekochan 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! great video, as always :)

@MTXCraze 3 жыл бұрын

I run a coarse sponge filter in my overflow for the big stuff and cut to fit some polyfill from walmart in my sump. I clean them out every 3 to 4, sometimes 5 days if i slack :) along with a little bit of carbon/phosban and never had an issue. water is always crystal clear. I also ran a very cheap seaclone skimmer for a pretty long time(worked great) just recently upgraded with a black Friday sale to a reefocto ss , dropped my nitrates from ~ 5 to 3. Just don't over feed and everything is fine.

@ralphjustineestil4124 3 жыл бұрын

New subscriber from the Philippines! ❤

@desastresxxx2199 3 жыл бұрын

Great Dokumentation thank you very much

@williamwiese9963 2 жыл бұрын

I needed this video so bad, my small red seas 136 all in one tank is over a year old now and I have to pull hand fulls of green hair algae all the dam time. So a fugium will help me keep this down. Great video

@waselmali9749 3 жыл бұрын

I thank you for your ubdait for the skimmer 👍

@aquaticgeek5861 3 жыл бұрын

Yes it does not need to be expensive or complicated. My sump just has filter floss, bio media and skimmer and its full of corals as you can see in my videos. Companies and shops want you to buy the dry goods as thats where the make the most of their money. You learn with experience, low bio loads, feed little but often etc

@ReefDork 3 жыл бұрын

Sage advice 🙂

@Pika_Gabe 3 жыл бұрын

I've been watching this more than I've been doing school. I think I'm ready to throw my tank together, but this seems harder than freshwater is.

@tazccl 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video. Can you go over filters for all in one tanks?

@realnoj 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome channel, and info very clear, straight to the point. Subscribed and added notifications after just 2 vids!! Keep up the awesome work! You give us newbies confidence! I have a question: I'm currently fishless-cycling my tank and looking to add refugium once I have added fish. Would you recommend running a phosphate reactor if you have a refugium? (I am currently running the phos reacter through the cycling stage). TIA

@ReefDork 3 жыл бұрын

In my experience refugiums don't take care of phosphate on their own. But start with it, test and see how you get on, then add a reactor if your phosphate creeps up 🙂

@ericblomgren1885 3 жыл бұрын

It was my passion 20 years ago, although I only got up to LPS and Clams, but man did I love it. Just amazing how many new things and interactions you find whenever you stare at the tank. Your videos got me committed to buying a new system and starting again. Thanks! Awesome video's. Are Calcium reactors still a thing, or does everyone use the two part mixes or are frequent water changes enough?

@ReefDork 3 жыл бұрын

Calcium reactors are very much a thing - two part is generally more popular for small and medium sized tanks with calc reactors more popular for large tanks I'd say

@ericblomgren1885 3 жыл бұрын

@@ReefDork Copy that, yes I'm compiling an equipment list, probably gonna try and get a RedSea S system to make things easier, like a 125 gal or so. :)

@blackbird3456 6 ай бұрын

Hi, new to the saltwater tank hobby. I watched your some of your videos and brs tv-52 weeks of reefing before starting my marine tank. I have an issue with my canister filter at the moment and I recently found an extremely tiny piece of chaeto algae in my tank. I don’t have the space for a sump even if it would be really good. I’ve put my tiny piece of chaeto in a breeding box that is feeding with my tank’s water through a bubbler. I really didn’t expect to find chaeto from live rocks and more aptaisia and other pests than a micro algae rizome.

@liodiy 3 жыл бұрын

Nice :)

@SinghSingh-xp3hv 3 жыл бұрын

I have a protien skimmer and an algae reactor

@1wheelRyder 7 ай бұрын

Great video really great advice i love the look of the sump where can i get that configuration of glass? Easy to follow and if i can understand anyone can 😂thanks mate

@ReefDork 7 ай бұрын

I think this was from an Aqua Reef Mini 120...

@EIY_Kumar 3 жыл бұрын

didn't knew that the marijuana farmers had such a big impact on my reefing life .. great video as always and love your sense of humor

@el3g3le 3 жыл бұрын

They call it reefer, right?

@Bear-xl9tn 3 жыл бұрын

Очень интересная информация, много для себя узнал. Спасибо!

@Fleming41st Жыл бұрын

Hi mate love the videos and thank you given me the courage to start a reef tank. Starting small 145 ltr sump tank. Picked up a curve 5 skimmer second hand any suggestion on a rowaphos reactor?

@ReefDork Жыл бұрын

Tmc reef filter is good, small and cheap

@Fleming41st Жыл бұрын

@@ReefDork thanks bud will my simmer be ok worried me as watched one of your videos and its a little bigger than needed

@ravs4200 3 жыл бұрын

Great video as usual. Can I ask which lights you are using? Your tank looks awesome! Thank you

@ReefDork 3 жыл бұрын

2x Evergrow IT5012s and an Orphek OR3 blue plus bar 🙂

@ravs4200 3 жыл бұрын

@@ReefDork thank you

@adatewithnature8333 3 жыл бұрын

what's up my dork of the reef

@PhiCongDoan7587 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this great video. Alex which of the two would you choose for nutrient export? The cheato or an algae scrubber? But otherwise I could go with a skimmer and a phosphate reactor...

@ReefDork 3 жыл бұрын

I love chaeto - so easy and cheap. I've never used an algae scrubber, but I think I would do on a bigger tank in the future. They sound very effective.

@mcurtis918 Жыл бұрын

This might be a very random question but do you know if the gunk that is coming off the protein skimmer might be beneficial for gardening or compost? I've recently scene small tanks advertised as doubling as a garden for microgreens. That got me wondering about the fish poo puree from the skimmer. TIA and wonderful videos!

@ReefDork Жыл бұрын

No idea, but it'll make your garden smell like poo!

@tubefeetmackay3693 Жыл бұрын

hi love your videos do you use poly filter at all

@ReefDork Жыл бұрын

I do on my Fluval Evo 13.5 but I use an automatic filter roller wherever possible because it makes life easy.

@danielmaddocks9315 3 жыл бұрын

Great video mate, hows your copperband getting on?

@ReefDork 3 жыл бұрын

Doing well and eating lots of frozen now. Still only two months though so early days 🙂

@MrLargo-ov1fm 3 жыл бұрын

@@ReefDork 🤞🏻🤞🏻

@umar 3 жыл бұрын

Great 1 mate.. Thats what i was asking about.. Is it a good idea to have a manifold with a startup sump so additional reactors like GFO Carbon or even UV could be attached and loop back into the sump.. Rather than adding additional pumps. Cheers

@turbocpt1 3 жыл бұрын

Short answer, yes. Jusst make sure you have ball valves so you can control the flow.

@ReefDork 3 жыл бұрын

Manifolds are a great idea, yes - just run it off its own pump, and not the main return pump (which it sounds like you're going to do anyway)

@turbocpt1 3 жыл бұрын

@@ReefDork even better I run a a manifold from my drain pipes, this way gravity replaces additional pumps 😁

@umar 3 жыл бұрын

@@ReefDork No issues with me for running an additional pump.. Am just trying to beat the electric mess in the sump.. Just to trying to make it simple. Thanks for the video. Looking forward for getting into more information on introduction to live stocking & corals.. control on nutrients (2 part dosing or All in one) . Do we need a dosing pump or let the coral frags grow on manual dosing and later to introduce more automation. I have came to a conclusion of making a small cabnet for electric control panel, dosing pumps or any other electrical controllers. Use the cabnet sump area for filteration and equipment. Am just thinking of making a section after the refugium with media baskets and let the water flow through and get the carbon and other media but not sure whats the best.. I think i don't require all these but in coming months that might allow me to have more control in future.

@princeofpersiatv2078 5 ай бұрын

New subscriber here, planing to have a saltwater aquarium, Do you have a vedio on what is the accessories that a best and healthy water that saltwater aquarium has?

@ReefDork 5 ай бұрын

This is probably the closest kzfaq.info/get/bejne/lal9mrB_r73KmIU.htmlsi=WWb4tYPYV-UIAxTw

@MrLargo-ov1fm 3 жыл бұрын

So I have a 45 JBJ (all in one) reef tank, that is years old, with Nitrates at 0 and Phosphate around .05, only filtering with floss and a bag of carbon. I have a skimmer and a fuge, that I can use, but have turned them off BC of the hassle and also the levels are so low, even without them on. Any reason I still should use the skimmer or fuge, if my levels are low without them?? Love the content and channel!!

@ReefDork 3 жыл бұрын

If anything, your nutrients are too low so no need to turn the skimmer or 'fuge on 🙂

@MrLargo-ov1fm 3 жыл бұрын

@@ReefDork great, thanks! I was hoping you would say that!🙃

@spoonz1065 3 жыл бұрын

Is there a "clean" place to get cheato from like the USA have algae barn I bought some off Ebay once and it was covered in aiptasia and bristle worms .... I through it straight in the bin

@ReefDork 3 жыл бұрын

I've found one before but can't remember the name I'm afraid

@fatttymclad 3 жыл бұрын

Hell yeah first here. Do you need rowa phos if you use nopox

@jbtrades69 3 жыл бұрын

You don't "need" anything other than some sort of bio filtration and mechanical. What he's saying is that all these things just help, at least I hope so.

@ReefDork 3 жыл бұрын

In theory, NOPOX will control nitrate and phosphate. But in my opinion, its FAR better and far easier to use Rowaphos for phosphate. NOPOX can just strip out nitrate which is no good. There are many ways of dealing with phosphate but simply Rowa is the best IMO

@marcuswebb21 3 жыл бұрын

Another One 👍 #djkhaled

@p1b299 2 жыл бұрын

What about filtration for nano aquarium without a sump. Eg fluval evo or ocean free nu reef systems. Is a sump ideal or will these other systems be fine long term?

@ReefDork 2 жыл бұрын

Check out my 2 part series on that... kzfaq.info/get/bejne/b6uTdpdq352ofn0.html

@madmax3588 3 жыл бұрын

Hi can i get a little advice i am trying to keep mullet at home in a pallet drums with alloy cage around and want to keep for a week in ocean water and want to make bucket filter and do you have to do anything with ph cause of their piss what materials in bucket filter or is it going to fail i am a quadraplegic and go fishing every now and again

@ReefDork 3 жыл бұрын

I have absolutely no idea I'm afraid! I'd guess you'll need to create water movement for oxygen and maybe put some live rock in for filtration, but this is more of a fishing question than a fish keeping question so I'm out of my depth I'm afraid

@mithilk6314 3 жыл бұрын

How often do you clean your tanks

@ReefDork 3 жыл бұрын

I scrape the glass twice a week on average. Clean my skimmer occasionally, powerheads once a couple of months. Not much else!

@alpacajuice4702 2 ай бұрын

I've kept a freshwater tank for about a year now and just got a 40gallon tank to set up as a reef, should I start with a sump or a canister?

@ReefDork 2 ай бұрын

Sumps are better - give you more options and make maintenance much easier. Canisters aren't used much in saltwater but they can work just fine.

@fuffoon 2 жыл бұрын

My first aquarium was really high tech with every possible gadget I could fit under the cabinet. I killed thousands of Euros worth of corals and fish. Now I run an expanded Berlin system with roller filter. I get really complexed seeing those fancy equipment rooms and Neptune systems but my livestock is OK so that helps.

@ReefDork 2 жыл бұрын

Love it 🙂

@akhilpream9009 Жыл бұрын

Where I get cheto algya in india

@mohnick 2 жыл бұрын

@4:36 can someone tell me what it is dancing away ? the long white strings, i got them critters in my tank too, but hell, idk what they are

@ReefDork 2 жыл бұрын

I don't know what they were I'm afraid. Possibly digitate hydroids?

@user-sy1md6jm5b 3 жыл бұрын

hi can you do a top 5 filter for folwr tank and do i need GFO for folwr tank?

@turbocpt1 3 жыл бұрын

Phosphates causes algae, you do not need GFO, but you need to control phosphates, so simply get a refugium or build yourself a algae scrubber, really easy and cheap and you'll be surprised at how well it removes phosphates and nitrates from the water. Seeing as you won't have corals, you can bring nitrates and phosphates to 0.

@user-sy1md6jm5b 3 жыл бұрын

@@turbocpt1 thanks for that info

@user-sy1md6jm5b 3 жыл бұрын

@@turbocpt1 i have another question do i need bio pellet? or just a refugium will do?

@turbocpt1 3 жыл бұрын

@@user-sy1md6jm5b no bio pellets needed. It is unwanted cost. I run a 120 gallon tank with just a skimmer and a algae scrubber I built myself. I actually have to switch of the algae scrubber light most of the time because it connsumes all the phosphates and nitrates which affects my corals. You run fiah only so no need to stress about too low phosphates and nitrates.

@user-sy1md6jm5b 3 жыл бұрын

@@turbocpt1 Just want to say again thank you so much for that info

@gap9992 3 жыл бұрын

Every video I have watched on reef tanks say filter socks are a pain yet all the major tank suppliers still put them in their sumps. Compared with all the other stuff you need to get an auto roller filter seems to be good value, especially if you can then run a smaller (cheaper) skimmer as a result. So, why don't the major tank suppliers spec their sumps to be roller filter ready??

@ReefDork 3 жыл бұрын

That. Is an excellent question! I suspect the answer is that 1) they're behind the times - auto filter rollers have only become really popular within the last few years. 2) a lot of people (more than 50%) still prefer socks because of the cost. But I agree with you and I hope it changes.