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09-04-2007, 12:00 PM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Fire Shrimp
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 315
|  Protein Skimmer vs Filter
OK,
So I currentlyu have a 46 that has 2 Penguinn 350 HOB filters, no Sump setup. I am reasearching a new design, but in the meantime I wat good water.
I am planning on installing the UV Steralizer, 7W JBJ Submariner UV Sterilizer/Clarifier (Saltwater Aquarium Supplies > UV Sterilizers > Units > < 8 Watts ) and protein skimmer, and
Phosphate reactor http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...s~vendor~.html Yes it will all fit. Except the HOB Skimmer.
Question is,
Would I be better off replacing one of the Penguinn 350 with the HOB Skimmer? AquaC Remora Protein Skimmer
I would end up with,
1 Penguinn 350
1 Phosphate Reactor
1 UV Steralizer
1 Protein Skimmer
Thoughts ?
_________
Tank Stuff:
46Gal, 1 AC110, CPR Skimmer, VA Reactor, CL t5 ho 4 x 60 w w/lunar lights , 50 lbs LR, 60lbs LS
FISH:
1 Coral Beauty, 1 Flame Angel, 1 Flame Hawk, 1 Clown Goby, 1 Damsel, 2 Chomis, 1 Black Sailfin Blenny, 1 Royal Gramma
CORAL:
Mushrooms, Anemone, Feather Dusters
INVERT:
hermits different kinds, 2 turbos, 4 Nassarius Snail , Bumblebee, Banded Coral Shrimp, 2 Emeralds, 1 Sally Lightfoot
Params:
Temp 78, PH 8.3, Alk 2.9, Ca 480, Sg 1.023, Dkh 10, Mg 1400, Am .15, N2 .5, N3 10, P4 .05 | 
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09-04-2007, 01:43 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Gnarly Old Codfish
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Silverdale, Washington Age: 58
Posts: 4,444
  
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No filter system is going to do what a skimmer will for you.
The Remora is a excellent hang on skimmer.
If you decide to get one, pay the extra few bucks for the one with drain on collection cup. _________ AG "125," AquaC EV 180, 30 gal sump, "SCWD", 80 lbs LR, CoralSeaLife "Moonlite" Hood, PFO 250W HQI Mini-Pendant (SPS HQI 14000k bulb)
12 Gallon NanoCube - 24w stock PC 50/50 light "...nothing good ever happens fast in a reef tank, only bad things happen fast..."
- MIKE PALLETTA - (Davis Family Reef Aquarium - Home Page/Reef Log) (Best Photos of 2008!) | |
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09-06-2007, 01:13 PM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Plankton
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 7
Karma: 1
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Quote:
Originally Posted by double2mk  | Hello Double:
hope you don't mind me piggy backing but I have the same concern with my 45 bow... I have the same two 350 HBO filters on it with no room for the Aqua C. I like the surface agitation ( oxygen )they produce and along with my power head it creates a nice undertow flo through out the tank... But many state you should have a skimmer... Thanks for the UV info:-) | |
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09-06-2007, 02:16 PM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Meriden, Connecticut Age: 43
Posts: 3,865
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I would definitely invest in the skimmer, as it will afford you better water qualityas opposed to using two Penguin 350's.
IMO, the cannister/hang on filters are a waste of money with regards to saltwater!!! Freshwater is a different story...Then cannister filters are a great idea! _________ 125gal.w/Mag9.5 return(dual megaflow)>Mag7 pump Aqua Cev180skimmer.Wave2k Hamilton Reefstar(2)250watthqi(mh)pend.a Yellow, Naso Tang Red Lip Blenny Percula Clown Demoiselles Niger Trigger F. Wrasses Ceriantharia Orn.Shrimp and Stars Hermits Queen Conch asst. snails> Stars Zoos shrooms Montipora Brains Gorgonians Favia Turbinaria(large+small polyp) Acropora Xenia Tridacna (CroceaMaximaSquamosa) Leathers <35+75gal.reef tank as well> 
"IF THE PHONE DOESN'T RING...IT'S ME"  jb  | |
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09-06-2007, 06:09 PM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Whip-Lash Squid
Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Elizabethtown, IN Age: 40
Posts: 2,984
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And don't pinch pennies when you are getting your skimmer, you will only spend more in the long run if you get a cheap one. I had a Remora on my 55g but I hung it in the sump, good skimmer for the size and money. _________ Scott 265g (Peninsula)
3x400w MH's, 4x95w Actinics, AAT Lunar Lights, OM 4-way CL, PM Bullet 3 Skimmer, DelZone Eclipse 1 O3 Generator, WavySea Plus for return, AAT Kalk Reactor, KNOP Ca Reactor w/PM Second Chamber, TradeWinds Chiller, ACIII Controller, Oceanus ATO, PM PO4 Reactor, 75g Sump, 30g Fuge Born March 5, 2007 My 265 Gal. Tank Thread " REAL TIME TANK STATS "   | 
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09-06-2007, 07:03 PM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Montipora Digitata
Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: valencia,pa. Age: 34
Posts: 1,093
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yes.i would sacrifice one of the filters for a skimmer.filters and skimmers filter 2 different types or waste so you need both,but you only need one cup of carbon per 55 gallons so the loss of one of the filters will be fine.
_________
55 gallon reef with 4x54 watt t5,29 gallon sump,red monti cap,1blue echinophyllia,trumpet,red lobo,2 toadstools 1purple and 1neon,gsp,xenia and yellow xenia,red ,many mushrooms,2 giant frilly shrooms,cabbage coral,yellow polyps,many zoos,1 orange and one neon green nepthia,duncans,cladiella | |
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09-06-2007, 07:58 PM
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#7 (permalink)
| | 3reef Moderator |
In Salt water a filter is really unnecessary. I will assume you have Live rock in the tank. That is your filter.
UVs are also not really necessary Many people use them and like them but you are killing all the good bacteria along with the bad.
I would really get a good skimmer, skip the filters all together. If you really want a UV than OK. As for the Phosphate reactor they also are great at housing carbon or any other media that you might want in the future. I would get the 2little fishes Phosban reactor it's a great little fluidized filter unit.
I run carbon in mine
J | |
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09-07-2007, 12:05 PM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Feather Duster
Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sacramento, California
Posts: 233
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason McKenzie In Salt water a filter is really unnecessary. I will assume you have Live rock in the tank. That is your filter.
UVs are also not really necessary Many people use them and like them but you are killing all the good bacteria along with the bad.
I would really get a good skimmer, skip the filters all together. If you really want a UV than OK. As for the Phosphate reactor they also are great at housing carbon or any other media that you might want in the future. I would get the 2little fishes Phosban reactor it's a great little fluidized filter unit.
I run carbon in mine
J | I have a Nano - it has 3 rear compartments (if you will). The intake area has this gigantic square sponge, the middle section has bio balls, those ceramic rings (don't even know what they're for), and a bag of really expensive carbon; the third section houses the small pump that pumps the water back into the tank (and that's where my heater is, as well). I've been thinking about getting rid of the sponge and replacing it with a skimmer - there's quite a few out there to choose from that have been designed for the Nanos. Oh, and I do have live rock and sand.
What's the general consensus? _________ Linda 29g Nano 2 FSL 8000k 36w & 2 AquaLux 36w Blue Pump: 1200 LPH; Maxi-Jet 600 Powerhead 100w Visi Stealth submersible heater 15 lbs. live rock 20 lbs. live sand LIVESTOCK: 1 cleaner shrimp; Asst. snails, 1 emerald crab, Pierre the Cleaner Shrimp and acrobat extraordinnaire, 1 button polyp, 1 green star polyp, 1 red mushroom, 1 Xenia, 1 octopus coral, 1 torch, 1 frogspawn, 1 tree coral, 1 stag coral. Established: 6/20/07  | |
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09-07-2007, 12:32 PM
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#9 (permalink)
| | Gnarly Old Codfish
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Silverdale, Washington Age: 58
Posts: 4,444
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Linda I have a Nano - it has 3 rear compartments (if you will). The intake area has this gigantic square sponge, the middle section has bio balls, those ceramic rings (don't even know what they're for), and a bag of really expensive carbon; the third section houses the small pump that pumps the water back into the tank (and that's where my heater is, as well). I've been thinking about getting rid of the sponge and replacing it with a skimmer - there's quite a few out there to choose from that have been designed for the Nanos. Oh, and I do have live rock and sand.
What's the general consensus? |
Sounds like my nano, which has only been running for a couple of months now.
Get rid of sponge, ceramic rings & bio balls.
Replaced with a poly-filter.
Did not feel was getting enough flow with original pump, so added a small hangon filter I had laying about.
Any carbon will do...just get a media bag and use it...cheap.
Nano looking and acting great.
(and I do a weekly water change - couple of gallons)
Let LR and sand to their job. | |
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