Help Me Choose Some Equipment!

EmilyXLC · Jul 21, 2012

Hi all!

After a 3 year hiatus, I am jumping back into the hobby. I'm QUITE rusty, so I need some advice on what kind of equipment I should get... Right now, I am trying to decide which powerhead, skimmer & filter I should get.

We have a 36 gallon bowfront. We will not be putting in a sump. We intend on it becoming a reef tank.

For the powerhead, I was looking at the Hydor Koralias. I really like this style... Does anyone have any input?
I always used Coralife Super Skimmers on my old tanks, but does anyone have any suggestions that would better suit a tank of my size?
I had good luck with my Bio-Wheel filter. I know a lot of people dislike them, so I'm open to ANY suggestions on anything that would be better.

Thanks in advance!

Rockadile · Jul 21, 2012

My first tank was a 55 sumpless and I used the reef octopus bh 2000 HoB skimmer along wit a marineland 400 biowheel filter. I removed the wheels and used it for carbon and GFO. My biggest problem with the filter was salt creep clogging the spray bar, but this was a very successful softy lps tank.

Poseidon · Jul 21, 2012

Hi Emily, welcome back to the hobby.

As for the powerhead, the Korallia style are very popular, I have one in my tank right now. As for the Bio-Wheel, they are fine for fish only tanks, but they are less then ideal. The reason is that the Bio Wheel is VERY good at removing NH3 and NO2, but it lacks any ability to process Nitrate at all, these Nitrates will then be sent into the tank.

The Coralife Super skimmer is a very temperamental choice, in my experience even a small change in water level or water chemistry requires constant attention from the reef keeper. (Not the best solution.)

So... one out of three on your initial choices.

EmilyXLC · Jul 21, 2012

Poseidon said:
Hi Emily, welcome back to the hobby.

As for the powerhead, the Korallia style are very popular, I have one in my tank right now. As for the Bio-Wheel, they are fine for fish only tanks, but they are less then ideal. The reason is that the Bio Wheel is VERY good at removing NH3 and NO2, but it lacks any ability to process Nitrate at all, these Nitrates will then be sent into the tank.

The Coralife Super skimmer is a very temperamental choice, in my experience even a small change in water level or water chemistry requires constant attention from the reef keeper. (Not the best solution.)

So... one out of three on your initial choices.

Fabulous! So do you happen to have any recommendations for a skimmer & filter, then?

scooterc268 · Jul 21, 2012

Another decent powerhead are the coralvue ones. As far as Skimmers go, you got me on that one. I use an ASM G4 on my 120. But I got that skimmer used to save $$$

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MBG75 · Jul 21, 2012

I'd run a hang on skimmer. Read up on different brands, see what people seem to like. Bubble magus, Eshopps, CPR.
I've used a CPR on my old 30l and it was a little monster.
I have a Coralife 65 on my 20 gal qt tank. It works fine, but does leak on occasion.

Instead of a bio wheel I'd get an Aquaclear 70 or 110 depending what fits, do a Fuge mod, and run it as a fuge with Cheato, maybe even section off an area in it to drop a Baggie of carbon or GFO in it.

Steelerfan747 · Jul 22, 2012

Welcome back. I think the equipment depends on what kind of system you plan on running. If you will be doing softies or lps, I say go with the Tunze 9002 doc skimmer. I would also recommend Tunze nano streams for the power heads. If you choose one that is not controllable it will be pretty inexpensive. As far as the filter, I would go with something other than the bio wheel. Possibly something with a fuge. Good luck

EmilyXLC · Jul 22, 2012

Steelerfan747 said:
Welcome back. I think the equipment depends on what kind of system you plan on running. If you will be doing softies or lps, I say go with the Tunze 9002 doc skimmer. I would also recommend Tunze nano streams for the power heads. If you choose one that is not controllable it will be pretty inexpensive. As far as the filter, I would go with something other than the bio wheel. Possibly something with a fuge. Good luck

I feel super dumb asking this, but how would I set up one with a fuge? Do you have any tips?

Steelerfan747 · Jul 22, 2012

EmilyXLC said:
I feel super dumb asking this, but how would I set up one with a fuge? Do you have any tips?

That's not a dumb question, it's good that you want to research it before you start it up. There are a lot of different manufacturers that offer pre made sumps with refugiums built in. Look for the biggest one you could find that would fit for your system then you will need to add some live rock (you could use rubble) and some folks like to add a deep sand base to it although it's not needed and lastly add some chaetomorpha (also known as chaeto) which is a macro algae and you will be ready to go. Keep the questions coming if you need any help. You could also look at some of the Sponsors here like marine depot as well as others so you could see what they offer, what would fit in your system and your budget plus what you like.

Bluejawtrigger · Jul 22, 2012

When I had a HOB system, I used an aqua remora C pro skimmer. That thing was awesome. I swear my best tanks were HOB's. Welcome back and good luck.

EmilyXLC · Jul 22, 2012

MBG75 said:
I'd run a hang on skimmer. Read up on different brands, see what people seem to like. Bubble magus, Eshopps, CPR.
I've used a CPR on my old 30l and it was a little monster.
I have a Coralife 65 on my 20 gal qt tank. It works fine, but does leak on occasion.

Instead of a bio wheel I'd get an Aquaclear 70 or 110 depending what fits, do a Fuge mod, and run it as a fuge with Cheato, maybe even section off an area in it to drop a Baggie of carbon or GFO in it.

Does this mean I would mod a HOB filter & stuff Chaeto in it? I used to cram Chaeto in my old filter...

Poseidon · Jul 22, 2012

EmilyXLC said:
Does this mean I would mod a HOB filter & stuff Chaeto in it? I used to cram Chaeto in my old filter...

Exactly! I think the 70 would be choice in filters, the 110 may not fit, it is pretty BIG, especially if you are going to try and put a hang on skimmer on the back too. As for hang on options, the remora is a great choice, and believe it or not, the Eshopps is a good one too, I had one running as a demo on a Reef tank when I ran a LFS, the reef had a 30" tall Euro Reef dual pump skimmer on it, and the Eshopps still pulled gunk from the tank.

Keep the questions rolling...

So far, I'd go Korallia, Eshopps, and Aqua Clear 70. Take some measurements to make sure they fit across the back though.

MBG75 · Jul 22, 2012

All in one skimmer/fuge

http://www.marinedepot.com/CPR_Aero...On_Refugiums_Sumps-CPR-CR13410-FIRFEB-vi.html

Or here is how u mod an aquaclear

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showt...rpage=25&highlight=how to DIY an&pagenumber=1

EmilyXLC · Jul 22, 2012

Wow, thanks, guys! I'll probably end up modding the AC 70. Thanks for the link! : )

Poseidon, I found this on Amazon... http://www.amazon.com/AquaClear-70-...8&qid=1342976361&sr=8-1&keywords=aquaclear+70

I'd get the one that says 70 gallon, correct? If I'm using it on a 36 gallon, there will be NO nastiness left in that water! Cheers!

reefman88 · Jul 22, 2012

If you search for refugiums on ebay you can get a small hang-on huge for about $125. I would not recommend the CPR huge mentioned above because the skimmer is not the greatest.

Go with just a hang on fuge and separate skimmer. For a skimmer I would definately recommend the Reef Octopus brand.

Chameleon · Jul 22, 2012

Welcome back to reefs fellow Alabamian

. Like mentioned before the korallias are great for inexpensive flow. Aquaclear 70 will make a great fuge and as for protein skimmer I would go with:
CPR Bak-Pak Protein Skimmer

Chameleon · Jul 22, 2012

Oh I forgot to mention the reef octopus HOB skimmers are nice too

Pappy · Jul 22, 2012

Mp10 for power head

Mike D "like the beastie boys" Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

EmilyXLC · Jul 22, 2012

Are the CPR Bak Pak, Reef Octopus, etc. really that much better than the Hydor skimmers?

Poseidon · Jul 22, 2012

EmilyXLC said:
Wow, thanks, guys! I'll probably end up modding the AC 70. Thanks for the link! : )

Poseidon, I found this on Amazon... AquaClear 70 Power Filter - 110 V, UL Listed (Includes AquaClear 70 Carbon, AquaClear 70 Foam & AquaClear 70 BioMax: Amazon.com: Pet Supplies

I'd get the one that says 70 gallon, correct? If I'm using it on a 36 gallon, there will be NO nastiness left in that water! Cheers!

That is the one, I have one on the back of my son's 15 gallon tank, they work really well. I am a fan of the CPR brand, if you get the fuge/skimmer combo from them it is an all in one type... I would skip the "Bio Bail" that they sometimes offer.