Marine Filtration /Temperature Control
Filtration for the Marine Aquarium can often be a contentious issue as there a numerous ways you can get the same results. There are many types of filtration available for marine aquariums but at the end of the day, all methodologies that work will ensure that the water quality remains as stable as possible. Invertebrates do not like change in the confines of an aquarium and have problems adapting to different water parameters unless they happen very slowly.
With the correct filtration method for you and your inhabitants we can help you to achieve success in keeping fish and invertebrates.
This could possibly mean 2 very different systems (containing the same organisms) for 2 people with different experience/knowledge/time available for maintenance.
A filter with a wet & dry stage and a protein skimmer works well for people who have no previous experience when setting up a tank for fish and not many invertebrate,but as with any filtration method, it does have some negative points. The main one is that nitrates will tend to accumulate necessitating more regular water changes.
Reef aquariums can be operated with less actual media by using natural filtration from live rock , the substrate and good circulation. Many hobbyists use this method or use it in conjunction with a refugium. Our nature's reef filters can be adapted to suit any type of marine filtration, they come in 2 sizes (up to 400L and 400-800L).
Another thing that needs to be kept stable is temperature ,particularly with invertebrates.
We recommend Teco chillers, as they are a well built and researched unit, that will be reliable when it needs to be..... You would not want a chiller to break in the middle of summer. We have 3 basic models that chill 10 degrees Celsius from the ambient temperature starting with 500L models up to 1200L models. There are also 3 models that incorporate a UV steriliser and Heater as well. The other brand we stock is Resun (Chinese made), these chillers have proven to be reliable and a bit cheaper (although without as many features).
We can also get the Aquamedic "Titan" range of chillers although we do not stock these in the store and they are only available on order.
If you don't have a chiller/heater combo standard glass aquarium heaters can be used for colder times of the year.