Filter System/Questions - 40 gal

[Big Chief]

Got a tank going about 3 months now... with a goal is of a small reef system in the future. I want to really understand how tank works before I start investing in corals though. That being said...

I currently have a 40 gal tank with a Magnum 350 filter. I've got 60lbs of LR and 40lbs of LS. Is this filter system adequate? Should I add some sort of Bio Wheel to the tank?

I also have 1 power head... a clean up crew of snails, hermits, and crabs.

My goal is a "nice" reef system... but I dont plan in getting carried away with things. I dont have space for a sump and to be honest I don't want to make things complicated.

NOTE: I also have a 2x65w lighting system.

Let me know if I am on the right track, concerning my "hardware"... my next step is start looking into water conditions for calcium, alk, etc. Currently all my basic water conditions are perfect (am, sal, ni, na, ph, etc)

[thegrun]

Water flow will depend on what type of corals you plan on keeping on your reef. If you plan on soft corals, 25 times your tank volume should be okay (25 x 40 = 1000 gph). SPS corals will require 35 to 40 times your tank volume. You don't give the size of your powerhead, but if it is less than 650 gph, you will likely need more flow even for soft corals. Your lighting will be okay for the less demanding soft corals like zoas and mushrooms, but will not support amemonies or SPS corals.

[Big Chief]

The power head is rated for 650 gph.

When I bought the lighting, someone mentioned what you said about soft corals and hard... their thoughts were the same. :)

What about the actual filter I am using? Is it adequate to filter the tank for my plans? Do I invest in one of these smaller bio wheels as another form of filtration?

Currently I use the filter sock and add carbon to the magnum 350.

Thanks so far..

[Uncle Salty 05]

In a reef tank the live rock and sand are your main filtration.
The Magnum should only be used for mechanical (filter pads to catch detritus) and chemical (carbon/GFO) filtration and the media should be rinsed in RO/DI weekly or they become biological (colonized by bacteria) and produce nitrate faster than your rock and sand can process them.