Advice for filtration in 20 gallon long?

[gobylove]

Hi, I'm looking to improve my filtration. I have a 20 gallon long without plumbing. I have a decent amount of live rock, deep sand bed (for goby), power head and hang on back filter. The fish and ricordea are doing just fine but I feel that the filtration could be improved.

Do any of you use just a protein skimmer instead of hob filter? If so, which would you recommend? I need a small profile given space constraints. thanks

 

[Highgrade]

Could you run a canister filter? Eheim makes some pretty nice canister filters. A hang on filter will cause splash with major salt creep and evaporation. As for skimmer that can be considered filtration but not necessarily needed. It removes excess waste from the water column and aerates the water. If used solely as filtration you would most likely have a lot of detritus build up and frequent vacuuming and water changes would be needed. You should have some sort of biological filtration besides the sand and rock.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I would double chek that the HOB is full of gunk when you clen it. If not, repack the hob with sponge or floss. The hob recommendations on the box are for fresh water. I've had better luck making sure I get as much funk out of the tank as possible.
I cannot recommend enough HOB refugiums. You can make one out of a large aqua clear or buy a cheap one or breeder box for $14. Its good for Ph, nutrints, and bugs.
Google aquaclear refugium in image searches. You can use cheap led ribbons to light it.
I ran a 30 for many years this way, a 5g pico for 2.5 this way.

 

[ahiggins]

I would double chek that the HOB is full of gunk when you clen it. If not, repack the hob with sponge or floss. The hob recommendations on the box are for fresh water. I've had better luck making sure I get as much funk out of the tank as possible.
I cannot recommend enough HOB refugiums. You can make one out of a large aqua clear or buy a cheap one or breeder box for $14. Its good for Ph, nutrints, and bugs.
Google aquaclear refugium in image searches. You can use cheap led ribbons to light it.
I ran a 30 for many years this way, a 5g pico for 2.5 this way.

a breeder box.....interesting!
Pics?
If I get one small enough I would love to do that

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

a breeder box.....interesting!
Pics?
If I get one small enough I would love to do that

https://www.amazon.com/Marina-Hang-...F8&qid=1487877305&sr=1-2&keywords=breeder+box
If you look at the finnex hob refugium its the same thing.
I wanted to use the largest Aquaclear and wrap it with led but its too big to fit behind my 30 gal. I used the next size down(AQ70), and have trimmed the chato twice in less that 2 weeks.
I used a tiny 12v on this current one. I used an air pump previously on the old tanks with the breeder box one. Air is good. 12v is gooder for my electricity bill.
AQ Fuges.
https://www.google.com/search?q=aqu...KEwikgqno96bSAhWFSCYKHW0lC94Q_AUIBygC#imgrc=_
You will want to clean the fuge. It gets detritus build up like everything does..

 

[ahiggins]

ohhhhh thank you, I like that breeding box
whats the best lighting to grow chaeto. I tried once and failed lol

 

[gobylove]

Very interesting ideas. Thanks. Will check them out.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

ohhhhh thank you, I like that breeding box
whats the best lighting to grow chaeto. I tried once and failed lol

the cheap ribbon with RGB + W works fine. the goofy ones with the controller.

I will admit, I use this stuff. Pure and actual 5600k full spectrum and pure actual 3200k
http://www.litegear.com/product/led-literibbon/vho-pro-literibbon-led/

 

[JoshH]

http://www.marinedepot.com/CPR_Aqua..._On_Refugiums_Sumps-CPR-CR1721-FIRFEB-vi.html

Another option if money isn't an issue, they have a few different sizes available as well. I believe they make another version with a built in skimmer. Obviously won't be the best skimmer out there but it's kind of the best of both worlds situation.