HOB Emperor Filter question

[TD2K]

I've had my 55 gal for 10 years with an Emperor 400 and 280 on the back. I was fish only for the first 8 years or so, but recently I've been adding a few corals. I'm in the process of getting my new 225 up and running with a fuge, skimmer, etc, and plan to use the 55 as a quarantine or coral grow out tank. I read recently that the filters cartridges are nitrate factories, and I've always had issues with higher nitrates (5-20) even with frequent water changes. So, I'm taking out the filters. What do I put in their place? A bag with carbon? I have some hard plastic mesh type filters that I could add some carbon to if those would work.


Thanks

 

[mapn4reef]

Just use the Emperor filters for mechnical filtration (carbon/GFO)... Search the web for Aquaclear Filter refugium conversions, they are the best to use for this...there are several designs out there.

 

[TD2K]

I saw those when I was researching a nano tank design. may have to do that in the near future. Just want to try to make do with what I have for a while because any extra $$$ is going into the 225 build.

 

[TD2K]

took out the 280 and replaced it with a Reef Octopus BH1000. It's only been running since last night and the water already looks so much clearer.

do you guys normally stop your skimmers during feeding? it seemed to pick up a lot of food, want to make sure my corals are getting fed instead of it all going to the waste cup.

 

[Rockadile]

When I first started I had a 55gal with both the BH 1000 skimmer and the 400 HOB emp filter. I basically used the filter to run carbon ad it worked great.