Is there an easier way to understand filters

Im new for those who have been fallowing me so i know nothing..I am doing a 20 gallon reef that is in the first week of cycling.Right now i have HOB filter just to get water flow and a heater.Have live sand and live rock.

I am reading all of this stuff on this forum and am just not understanding the what ifs and whys of the whole pump thing

I read that HOB filters are fine for a 20
Then i read that i need a canister
Then i read about sumps
I look at pics an i see sumps with sand and rock and something that looks like grass in it
then i read somewhere that just a protein skimmer is needed
Then i read that its not needed at all
Then i read that i should have a skimmer and other

Can i get some help here about what i need

 

a hob filter IME is really useless.

a canister is somthing I would stay away from unless you have already got it on there.

sumps are nice they allow for more water volume and you can hide all of you equipment in there such as a heater, protiene skimmer, ext.

a sump is normally devided into 3 parts, a Refugium for the macro algaes (looks loke grass), a returm for the water to return to the main tank, and a skimmer compartment to mechanically clean the water. these are nice set ups and really are teh best but IME are not needed for smaller tanks.

a HOB protiene skimmer will and does work well for a smaller tank, I had one on my 20 gallon for a while and it really did help.

I have a 20 gallon that has been runnign for 3 years and I have had the HOB filter, canister filter, and skimmer. took the hob filter off, stoped the canister filter once I got my protiene skimmer. stoped the protiene skimmer and do weekly water changes with no filtration.

for what you ha ve in the set up a HOB protiene skimmer will really be all you need IMO

 

BTW what do you have for filtration now? I.E. what type of HOB filter? do you have carbon in it? how many gallons is it rates for?

 

Hob aren't COMPLETELY useless.. They do give you a way to run carbon or phospan sheets which is nice from time to time!

 

im not sure the brand right off hand but its for up to 20 gallons and it does have carbon..LFS said it was all i needed to get it cycling. And when its done i need a canister

 

Basically IMO filtration whether it be mechanical or biological, serve 1 purpose - to export nutrients out of the system prior to them negatively impacting the system.
There are hundreds of ways to do this. Everyone has their personal favourite.
HOB filters are fine if they are doing the job they are meant for
Canister filters again OK if they are working. (I hate the maintenance)
Refugiums in Sump work very well if you have the space
I'm personally a fan of LR as my only means of nutrient export. It's worked well for me for years

J

 

Jason nailed it.

On my 30 gallon, I change 5 gallons of water every sunday. It takes all of maybe 20 minutes or so and keeps everything happy and healthy! Good live rock and some flow are the most important IMO. And be careful with what you put in (FOOD). Everything that goes in.. in some way or another has to come out.

I would keep the HOB filter so you can run some carbon or phosban sheets though. Also if you don't have much liverock yet it gives more space for bacteria to colonize.

 

Hey dinkanber, I have a 20 gallon reef and I asked all the same questions as you. After much research and personal use this is what I use on my tank and I suggest for you.

1.)Get a 110 aquaclear HOB filter and convert it into a refugium, run cheato in it with a
little sand, live rock and slap a light on it (at least 12watts). That helped control algae.

2.) A good good skimmer hob if you do not have a sump, look for a eshopps or bubble magus.

3.) Add another cheap hob( aquaclear 20) to run media like Chemipure, phosban

$55- 110 aquaclear/ refugium
$160- decent skimmer
$25- hob filter for media
$240 TOTAL

That is what I run on my system, works good for me and I due water change every 3 weeks.

Honestly it is better to have a sump....You add water volume, much more space for a large refugium section, a sump model skimmer
(which are usually cheaper and better preforming than hob)

But the draw back is that you either have to drill the tank,which I did not trust myself doing. Or use a overflow box which in my opinion is too risky of a catastrophic spill. If you know how to drill or have confidence in overflow go ahead but I live in apartment and it was not worth the risk for me.

Also invest in a good RO/DI unit to save money on water changes.

 

Can you show me? I dont even know what half of that means

 

It is so confusing because everyone has their own opinion about whats the best way of doing things. It is really about finding what works best for you. There is no right or wrong way as long as you maintain water parameters.