Next piece of filtration equipment

So the time has come where I am looking to add on to the tank instead of more inhabitants at this time.

If you had room for only one of the following, which would it be and why?
A HOB refugium
A HOB protein skimmer

I am not sure which one would help more, if it helps in making your decision the tank is a 46gallon bowfront with 3 powerheads and a fluval C4 HOB filter with sponges, carbon, and small pieces of liverock rubble in the tiny trickle chamber area. I like to stock somewhat on the heavy side and plan on having 5 or 6 fish that adult size will be 2-4inches and also soft and lps corals. Nitrates test out anywhere between 5-20 depending on where I am in my WC schedule and how much you believe those liquid test.

 

Personally I would go for a skimmer, but I dont know of any good HOB skimmers....is there anyway you could get a sump and get the best of both worlds?

 

unfortunately no the stand is open underneath. I have heard Reef Octopus HOB skimmers are pretty good but wasnt sure if I would be better off with a Fuge to handle nitrates and grow pods since I want a wrasse of some sort

 

Well, maybe the fuge would be better for you. The reef octopus hob skimmers are probably pretty good.

 

PghSteeler the Reef Octopus HOB are good. I personally have a bak pak which has a protein skimmer and bio media for my quarantine tank but they also make an HOB protein skimmer call aeroforce. Your Fluval C4 is made by hagen which also makes AquaClear. I've read a lot of posts on this site where some reefers have converted the Aquaclear into an HOB refugium. I believe that you can do the same with the C4. You already have the rubble in there and you model allows for flow control so get rid of the carbon and sponges add some live sand if you like, macro algae such as chaeto a clip on light and presto HOB refugium. Now you have a HOB Skimmer and a HOB Refugium

 

I do not want to convert my fluval into a fuge, ples I do not think it would work as well as the AC conversion they are built differently.

Any other opinions on what would be a better investment for my system either a fuge or a skimmer?

 

Ok then I would go with the protein skimmer

 

Any reasons why a fuge or a skimmer would be better?

 

I have read that refugiums needs to be pretty large in comparison to the tank in order to be truley effective. Skimmers are just equipment and as long as you dont buy a cheap one and spend a little coin it will do its job.

 

That is why I did nto want to make an AC70 fuge conversion I figured it would be too small. CPR looks they make a few nice systems though wasnt sure if a 4-8gallon fuge on a 46gal tank would really help all that much with nitrate reduction