Filtration?

[FrickMasterFlex]

Back again with another question! I'm running this filtration system in my tank that's currently cycling. Of course, now that I'm reading a bit more on this site and around the internet, seems like this may not have been a good idea. Yay or nay on filtration, and if nay, any recommendations for something that can hang on the tank? A sump at the moment is just not going to work with my space and may be a bit out of my budget range.

 

[HuduVudu]

Nay.

HOB Skimmer.

 

[FrickMasterFlex]

Nay.

HOB Skimmer.

Any recommendations for a 20-gallont tank?

 

[HuduVudu]

Protein Skimmers

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[Super Fly]

nay for long term success however its doable as long as you can carry out regular weekly water change w/o missing one week. For a 20G, regular WC will be just as effective if not better than any filtration. If it was me, I'd add some live rock as filtration and use the Aquaclear as mechanical filter... then again, guess u can also add some bio media like Seachem matrix inside the Aquaclear for additional bio filtration. Just carry out regular WC and should be fine.

 

[FrickMasterFlex]

nay for long term success however its doable as long as you can carry out regular weekly water change w/o missing one week. For a 20G, regular WC will be just as effective if not better than any filtration. If it was me, I'd add some live rock as filtration and use the Aquaclear as mechanical filter... then again, guess u can also add some bio media like Seachem matrix inside the Aquaclear for additional bio filtration. Just carry out regular WC and should be fine.

I promise you that for the foreseeable future I'm going to be ALL over the weekly water changes. With a newborn and this stupid butt virus, lots of staying indoors and time to kill! Thanks for the help. I'm going to try to start this way and see what I can do. If in the long term is completely fails I'll look into the skimmer. I've seen some nice reef tanks on YouTube using the filtration system I have so going to give it a go.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Reef octopus H.O.B.
Other option is a power filter with chemipure blue pouch and a skimmer such as ice cap k-1

 

[Super Fly]

I promise you that for the foreseeable future I'm going to be ALL over the weekly water changes. With a newborn and this stupid butt virus, lots of staying indoors and time to kill! Thanks for the help. I'm going to try to start this way and see what I can do. If in the long term is completely fails I'll look into the skimmer. I've seen some nice reef tanks on YouTube using the filtration system I have so going to give it a go.

LOL, "butt virus"?! If you do add live rocks, just make sure to have power head push water through/around the rocks for proper filtration, w/o water movement the live rocks aren't effective. BTW, congrats on the newborn! At least u get to spend more time home w the baby & more opportunity to catch up on lost sleep... boy I don't miss those sleep deprived days of having a newborn.

 

[FrickMasterFlex]

LOL, "butt virus"?! If you do add live rocks, just make sure to have power head push water through/around the rocks for proper filtration, w/o water movement the live rocks aren't effective. BTW, congrats on the newborn! At least u get to spend more time home w the baby & more opportunity to catch up on lost sleep... boy I don't miss those sleep deprived days of having a newborn.

Speaking of sleep deprived... butt virus? lol I’m losing it.

 

[blasterman]

Answer the following question: what are you trying to filter?

Marine tanks, unless there's something wrong are typically pretty clear, and what does cloud water is usually bacteria or algae. Neither of which are touched by a mechanical filter.

However, mechanical filters will build up decaying matter which moves the biological filter from the tank to your filter. Given the high flow rates of water and hence oxygen in the filter beneficial bacteria will move there vs your tank. That is counter productive because you want that biology loop in your tank. So, if you are going to use them they need to be cleaned every couple of days to keep bacteria colonies from setting up shop. This is usually a PITA for most reef keepers.

Mechanical filters work logically when you are scrubbing crud off glass, blowing crud out of live rock, etc. This is typically material you want out of the tank and is when mechanical filtration makes sense. The problem is that you aren't always scrubbing glass and doing maintenance and the rest of the time they are just building up bacteria and moving water.
Your $$$ is better spent on a skimmer.