thinking of hob filters need help.

Hey guys 20 gallon saltwater tank. I've got two clowns, a black clown goby(who by the way has strted eating dry food), 2 shrimp, 7 hermits and 6 snails. Water perameters where they should be. Temp at 78. Just moved houses for a short time while building our house. But to get to the point I get a lot of diatoms everyday and at water surface is a brownish film. O was looking at the aqueon hob filter. Do you think it will help to clear water on surface up and help with diatoms. Right now I have to power heads one pointed at water surface. And a slI'm skI'm protein skimmer. All animals great but the water surface is tearingmy nerves up. Going to get a couple more snails today. So any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

Hi,
The diatoms will clear up on their own once the tank reaches it's equilibrium.

You say water parameters are where they should be. What are the exact readings for:
Salinity/Specific Gravity
pH
Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate

What is your water source?

What sort of snails?

If I'm honest, I think what you're experiencing is excess waste from an over-stocked tank, and adding more snails may only make it worse.

Is your skimmer the SlI'm SkI'm or SlI'm SkI'm Nano? What is the flow rate of the skimmer? How much skimmate is your skimmer producing? If the skimmer is filling quickly, your skimmer may be under-rated and not able to cope with the DOC in the water. If it is not producing much, it may not be tuned adequately enough to remove everything from the water.

Personally, I don't think a HOB would work, it may help (if you only use it for mechanical), but I don't think it would alleviate the problem.

 

sg 1.024, ph 8.0, ammonia 0ppm, nitrite 0ppm, nitrate 5.0ppm. water from lfs r/o. nano slI'm skim. it could possibally be tuned better. I could be feeding to much but I only feed once a day but I put a good bit in there.so how do I clear the surface water?

 

With surface agitation and a good skimmer, the surface should remain fairly clear.

I would work on tuning the skimmer first. You should be able to get this skimmer pumping out about a cup of skimmate everyday, possibly more.

There is a good review on the nano https://www.fishlore.com/er_slimskimproteinskimmer.htm that might give you some ideas.

Your other option would be to try and add a surface skimmer (different to a protein skimmer)

 

yea the skimmer works great but like you said I think I'm going to have to get a surface skimmer. I'm going to try the hob filter to see if that helps if not I will purchase a surface skimmer to attach to the hob skimmer. let me ask ya'll this do you turn you power heads off to feed your fish? I think I feed them to much at one time.