Filtration Methods

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  Chemical Filtration

  Chemical filtration removes phosphates and other dissolved compounds from reef tank water. This section covers Phosban (ferric oxide hydroxide), RowaPhos (iron-based phosphate remover), and the PhosBan Reactor 150 for media deployment.

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  Raw Water to Saltwater

  All reef tank water starts from the tap. And it is rare that tap water is good enough quality for a reef tank. My house had a deep artesian well so chlorine was not an issue.

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  RO/DI Water Filtration

  I use a SpectraPure 80 Gallon Per Day RO/DI Unit that has been mounted to the wall in my reef room.

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  Sand Filtration

  My 180-gallon reef tank sand bed ranges from 2-3 inches thick with multiple sand layers. The infauna (worms, bacteria) process detritus and provide biological filtration. Sand should mix coarse and fine grains from multiple live sand sources.

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  Skimmers

  Protein skimmers remove organic waste before it breaks down into harmful compounds. This section covers three skimmer types: Reef Science Dual Beckett Injector, ETS 800 Gemini Downdraft, and EuroReef RC-500, including setup, cleaning, repairs, and upgrades.