quentin8

I have a 29g tank and really dont want to spend the money on a sump so i was wondering if a emperor 400 or equivilant would work for a reef tank everyone i talk to says use a sump but i really dont want too..plus i value my fish lore hommie's advise much more thanks

Alessa

an HOB really does not do much for a SW... the live rock does most of the trick, with enough powerheads...

plus you can do your own sump with a rubbermaid container...

cerianthus

even w/ rubbermaid, stii need overflow box unless RR, not to mention return pump.
If have not gotten HOB filter, get HOB prot skimm. As Alessa said, LR will do the trick as far as bio-filtration. If already have HOB filter, then use it as chemical filter, place for PO4remover, silicate remover, etc) and of couse pH.
If you are knowledgeable in electronic gadgets, build your wavemaker to operate your PH.

DARB

If you turn your HOB filter in to a surface skimmer (very easy to do)to help rid some of the Muck on top and instead of a filter maybe live rock or some chetoes. I could be wrong maybe someone with allot more experience may help.

quentin8

ok so i have not got a HOB yet.....so if im correct all i need to do is add a protein skimmer and let my liverock naturaly filter.....really is it that easy ...also what do u guys think about a hob refuguim?

Hypnox

I have a HOB filter on my 20g right now. It has a light over it and chaeto in it to help control nitrates and phosphates. I have a skimmer on order with my LFS as I want to get more in to harder to keep corals than zoas and shrooms. For zoas and shrooms you could probably get away with a HOB refugium that has chaeto and some LR rubble in it. If you are going to start getting in to touchier LPS/SPS corals then a skimmer is almost a requirement as it will help with water quality even more.

This is what I have gathered from my research.

Mike

I agree, I don't use a "hob power filter". Live rock does the bio, the power heads keep stuff suspended for the fish to eat and protein skimmer does its job. A hang on refugium (with a light) would let you incorporate some macro algae such as chaetomorpha which is fast growing and would compete for nutrients with undesirable algae in the display tank, thereby lowering the amount of algae in the display tank. The chaeto also encourages "pods" to grow which are tiny crustaceans that can be used to feed some species of fish and some corals.

Mike

Haha, posted the same time as Hypnox - I agree with ya on getting a good protein skimmer.

Hypnox

simulpost, now we must kungfu!

In reply to mikes above post. What is your opinion on the Reef Octopus BH-100 HOB skimmer? I've read quite a lot of good things about them and it's the one i've got coming in.

Mike

Bring it, grasshopper.



I haven't used the BH-100, I almost got that one too. I also read a lot of good things about the bh-100 and the octopus skimmers in general. I got the Octopus 800s protein skimmer and it's prolly the best skimmer I've used so far.

Hypnox

Good to know you've had a good experience with another of their products. The guy who runs the LFS has really like the 2 or 3 he's had on his nano tanks. Been kind of an interesting two weeks for me, got my first refractometer (and consequently found out just how out of whack my hydrometer was) and now i'm getting my first skimmer. :P

We should stop de-railing this thread however. :P

CoryMac

I've seen a HOB filter with a skimmer on it it i think it was drfosters,if i find link i will post.

CoryMac

looks pretty ghetto to me i wouldn't buy it , heres the link:http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...9&pcatid=16729

Hypnox

I have heard both good and bad things about skilters. The more common one is the Taam Rio Nano-skimmer. However, I have read a number of reviews that state it tends to leak and sometimes overflow during normal operation. It also does not perform nearly as well as a more expensive skimmer does.

cerianthus

This is not a filter w/ Prot Skim but HOB filter w/ surface extractor (skims surface).
Skilter, would not recommend but better than no PS.

reefplayground

you can definitely use it. The more water flow the better. The concept of the filter will work just fine on a saltwater system if you do not want to dish out the money for a sump. But don't let it be your sole filter unit. Get a good, skimmer. Unfortunately, most of the best skimmers are designed as sump skimmers.

Hypnox

The reef octopus skimmers are supposed to be awesome HOB skimmers. I just got mine yesterday so it's still breaking in and i'm still learning how to get it perfectly adjusted. However, for the money you pay they can't be beat from the reviews i've read. Here's a great site with them for extremely extremely cheap.

Reef Octopus BH-100 should be all the skimmer you need for a 29 gallon.