Is there an easier way to understand filters

I don't understand why LFS are still selling this bs to reef tank people.. You will never, I repeat NEVER need a canister filter if you have a reef tank. You will need a protein skimmer (or do very frequent water changes.. once or twice a week) I had a Bak-Pak on my 35 gallon and it worked great. Also Tunze makes a wonderful nano protein skimmer and reef octopus makes a nice one too that is only like $40...
the little wheel filters hob are also equally worthless in my opinion. Once your tank gets established all they will do is be a nice little place to harbor nitrates. Which are big no-nos.. Canister filters are the same.. great concept.. great for fresh water tanks and fowlr tanks but not reef tanks. Sump sounds out of the question for you but that is ALL GOOD.. Here are the filters..
Live rock: stores and breeds nitrifying bacteria.. Power Heads.. circulates water by and through the live rock..(biological filter)
Protein Simmer: Takes the nasty proteins from fish food, poop, death etc. out of the water so it doesn't have a chance to build up nitrates. (mechanical filter)
Carbon in a sock.. I always had a mesh bag that I changes once a week with activated carbon in it stuck down in the skimmers return. (Chemical Filter)
The last one can be done w/o carbon if you keep up on your water changes and go by the other 2 methods religiously.
HAHA sorry that was way long winded..
I just don't get it when you go to a LFS and ask what you need to set up a reef tank and they try to sell you the most expensive whisper hob and a canister fuval..krikies.. thats just not right.
My Advice save your money and spend it on the 2 most expensive and most important things to grow coral... Lights.. and a protein skimmer.

hehe
Thanks for reading hope this helps a bit
Heidi

 

Thanks Heidi.I think i will fallow this.So would it be wise to keep the HOB just for the carbon aspect?

 

No point in throwing it out or anything. Really though, live rock is the number one filter (Biological) it's going to be your heavy lifter no matter what. And it's the only piece everyone agrees with.

After that the most common form of filtration for a reef tank is a protein skimmer. A hob Protein skimmer and your HOB filter to run carbon will go very far. But nothing can replace that weekly 5 gallon water change. If you do that religiously and don't overfeed, you don't need anything but live rock. The protein skimmer will definetly give you more room to handle unexpected things. Like a fish death, double feedings, or something similar.

 

I have a HOB filter that I use in my quarantine tank. I got is originally when I started up and just didn't take it back "just in case" ( if you treat fish with copper or other meds you can take it out of of the water with the carbon.) I did take the "big $300 fuval back lol. You could keep it and have it incase you ever NEED to run carbon it makes it easier. But I wouldn't keep it hooked up on your tank running media all the time, it wouldn't do much good and you need a bit of "bad" stuff in your tank to start a cycle so carbon running during a cycle would be a bit counter productive IMO.
Time I would use it.. when I needed to add a medication to the tank for some odd reason. Maybe a fish was sick etc. To do some sort or antibiotic treatment way way down the road. So if you have it already and it was cheap (because truly the cheeper the better as it wont make a difference in a reef tank) keep it. Store it somewhere clean and dry until you need it.
hope that answered your question.
Heidi

 

+1, agreed!

 

This a youtube link to the AquaClear refugium MOD.

AquaClear Refugium

You are simply using the large media area of the AquaClear as a refugium aka a space in which pods can can "refuge" and propagate, spill back into the tank.

Even more so its a place used to grow macro algae/mangrove. The point of the macro algae is that it has a confined place to grow and suck up the nutrients that bad algae would use to grow in your tank. You need a light to aid in the growth and it needs to be pruned to remove the stuff it absorbs, its a living filter that you don't have to keep on buying.

You can go out and buy a already made hob refugium but they are way way overpriced IMO, here is a link to one.

CPR refugium

 

Like I said before I think the most important aspect is the skimmer, that's where you need to spend the bulk of your money.

Then load up on as much live rock as possible for your tank to cover biological filtration, and the refugium with macro algae