converting HOB filter to HOB fuge HELP

Discussion in 'I made this!' started by billybaldwin3, Mar 12, 2014.

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  1. billybaldwin3

    billybaldwin3 Skunk Shrimp

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    so i'm converting a marineland HOB filter into a HOB fuge...

    i cut the plastic strips on the back of the glass tops for it to fit, and the water is splashing a little on top of the glass tops, even up onto my lights.

    there is barely 1/4" extra cut around it, if that. i didn't think it would splash this much, never had an issue with it on my FW tanks, but now salt is building up on top of the tops.

    i was thinking of finding some sort of plastic at a hobby store and DIYing a splashguard or something...

    any suggestions on how to stop this from happening? anyone ever had this sort of issue?

    (i cleaned the salt off before i took the pic, that's why it doesn't look that bad, there was a decent amount though.)
     

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  3. kstafford003

    kstafford003 Feather Star

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    Unfortunately every single tiny bubble will throw salt onto anything it can reach I had to clean my MH bulbs all the time since they would get covered in salt. You could buy a sheet of acrylic from the hardware store and silicon it to your lid. The silicon will stick it down and can be removed if necessary. You could order another plastic section and cut again. Or you could use a flexible piece of plastic like the plastic bath tub trim you can buy. It has a long side and short side. You could silicon the short side to your lid and let the long side rest on your fuge. Just a couple ideas that hopefully spark something.
     
  4. billybaldwin3

    billybaldwin3 Skunk Shrimp

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    well, if i got the new plastic strip n cut it right up on it, it vibrates and is loud all the time. i did that once with this same filter. that's the reason i cut it like 1/4' away this time.

    i was thinking that maybe just getting some airline tubing and siliconing that to the edges?
    maybe that way it would have a little flexibility and not vibrate?
     
  5. FatBastad

    FatBastad Zoanthid

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    What size tank?

    Not being a downer but in the end if your tank is larger than 10 gal you prob will not be able to see any benefit due to its small size...

    How do you plan to light it?
     
  6. billybaldwin3

    billybaldwin3 Skunk Shrimp

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    it's a 55gal.

    and i realize it probably won't be much help, but i figured wth, i have it already, might as well do something with it.

    not sure how i plan on lighting it yet, haven't even put sand or rock in it yet. the tank has only begun the cycle about 4 days ago.

    i might end up just taking it off.

    i wanted to get a mandarin, so i figured any help with getting a good pod population going would be beneficial...
     
  7. FatBastad

    FatBastad Zoanthid

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    I see...
    Assuming you don't have a sump, I would just use it like normal. You can put floss in it along with a sac of carbon and GFO. It will be 10 times more beneficial operating like that than a fuge.

    I'd hold off on the mandarin till you have everything just right, prob about a year minimum. But you'll never have enough pods for one if you don't have a large refugium. He'll wither away to nothing unless your tank is teaming with pods.

    I FINALLY got a mandarin a few months ago, I waited about a year and a half...
     
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  9. Mr. Bill

    Mr. Bill Native Floridian

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    IMOPE, as a filter, every little bit helps. For a fuge however, you would need something much larger, especially if you're trying to farm pods for a mandarin in a 55g. I'd recommend at least a 20g for the pod farm, but bigger would be better. A couple of piles of rubble behind your rockwork would also help maintain the in-tank population.

    EDIT: FB beat me to the punch. :)
     
  10. billybaldwin3

    billybaldwin3 Skunk Shrimp

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    well, i might just take it off then :(

    i already have a fluval 406 canister, and i believe that's good for 125gal. maybe only 100gal. i dont remember, i'd have to look.

    i was just hopeful about the mandarin :(

    even a 20L won't fit under my stand for a fuge :( just barely, like 1/4" :(

    a 10 gal would, but idk how much good that would do as a fuge.

    maybe i'll just do what i was recently thinking and just put a 10 QT tank under there...

    damn science is crushin my dreams! :) hahaha.
     
  11. billybaldwin3

    billybaldwin3 Skunk Shrimp

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    and what really iritates me is that i was originally planning on getting a 75 gal stand and just having the tank pushed forward (considering a 75 & a 55 are the same length) but i was worried about stability.

    if i would've done that, i could've used the 20L that i already have sitting empty as a fuge.
     
  12. kstafford003

    kstafford003 Feather Star

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    It's a lot of work but you could set up a remote pod farm if you are just dying to have a mandarin. Moyers blennys (sp) or scooter blennies are really cool too, they don't eat as much as a mandarin and I have had success with them in a 70gal. The airline tubing idea would work well :) See you didn't need my help... It's hard to tell the size of that HOB but every little bit helps. It may not be drastic but hey give it a shot. Throw some chaeto, rocks and maybe a little bit of sand and see what happens. If anything it would let you run your nitrate levels a tiny bit higher.