HOB Filtration

[Ironclad]

Guys, I'm having a serious back-and-forth in my head about what filtration I need for my reef tank. I am planning on having a 90-gallon tank. I was originally planning on just having a Seachem Tidal 110 for filtration. I am now worried that it won't be enough to take care of the needs of the tank. From the insane amount of research that I have done, I have come to the conclusion that a sump is just too cost-prohibitive, thus the relatively cheap HOB option. Maybe you can put my mind at ease or give me suggestions on how I can augment my current setup. I am planning to stock the tank with around 10 fish. I am also planning, and don't mind at all, a weekly 10% water change to help the HOB filter.

TLDR: Do I need additional HOB equipment such as a protein skimmer or will the Tidal 110 be sufficient?

Thank you so much for your advice!!!

 

[Sleeping Giant]

You should get an Aquamaxx 1.5 HOB
great skimmer, I have one on my 75 gallon and it works great after 2+ years running all day, everyday.

 

[MoshJosh]

It's going to depend on nutrient import. How big are the fish, what type of diet do they eat, what are you feeding the tank, how much are you feeding, how many times a day etc.

I think the most fool proof way of knowing is starting up the tank and test parameters as you add fish. You will find out what your nutrient import and export is and what changes you need to make.

Equipment you can add for nutrient export as needed: Hang on refugium (can buy premade or make one out of an Aquaclear HOB filter and an amazon light), HOB skimmer, chaeto reactor, biopellet reactor. . .

I will add that sumps don't have to be hugely expensive if you are willing to do a little DIY.

 

[Ironclad]

It's going to depend on nutrient import. How big are the fish, what type of diet do they eat, what are you feeding the tank, how much are you feeding, how many times a day etc.

I think the most fool proof way of knowing is starting up the tank and test parameters as you add fish. You will find out what your nutrient import and export is and what changes you need to make.

Equipment you can add for nutrient export as needed: Hang on refugium (can buy premade or make one out of an Aquaclear HOB filter and an amazon light), HOB skimmer, chaeto reactor, biopellet reactor. . .

I will add that sumps don't have to be hugely expensive if you are willing to do a little DIY.

I don't see how this is possible. The skimmer alone can cost upwards of $300. Maybe you can enlighten me?

 

[jft]

Aquaclears in my opinion are the BEST despite multiple posts for the tidal. More surface area and all media included including solid large capacity in 110 aquaclear. I have used them FOR 20 years without any issues. I tried Tidal and was disappointed in three factors one you cannot turn off surface skimmer, two they don t provide long enough intake tubes like Hagen does. You Cannot lower the water level without that grinding noise so you cannot use them in aquaterrariums or paludariums. Years ago Large debate about pumps in tank overheating the water, and then the tidal puts pumps in water which some people love. I have NEVER with the aquaclears 110 NOT restarting that maybe an issue with the smaller 50 and 70 models. Finally the two tidals I have I could not adjust the flow without having to rebend the flow controls. That should work right out of the BOX without an issue! I will stick with aquaclears. Good luck.

 

[Ironclad]

The fish that I am wanting to add:

2 clownfish
Bristletooth Tang
Royal Gramma
Midas Blenny
Orange Spot Gobby
Melanarus Wrasse
Canary Wrasse
Fire Shrimp
Assorted Clean up Crew

 

[MoshJosh]

I don't see how this is possible. The skimmer alone can cost upwards of $300. Maybe you can enlighten me?

Not the equipment, the sump itself. A skimmer for a 90 gallon tank is going to be expensive whether it is in a sump or HOB.

I mean the sump in of itself does not have to be hugely expensive. Using rimmed tanks on sale, drilling the tank yourself, among other things can cut down costs.

 

[Ironclad]

Aquaclears in my opinion are the BEST despite multiple posts for the tidal. More surface area and all media included including solid large capacity in 110 aquaclear. I have used them FOR 20 years without any issues. I tried Tidal and was disappointed in three factors one you cannot turn off surface skimmer, two they don t provide long enough intake tubes like Hagen does. You Cannot lower the water level without that grinding noise so you cannot use them in aquaterrariums or paludariums. Years ago Large debate about pumps in tank overheating the water, and then the tidal puts pumps in water which some people love. I have NEVER with the aquaclears 110 NOT restarting that maybe an issue with the smaller 50 and 70 models. Finally the two tidals I have I could not adjust the flow without having to rebend the flow controls. That should work right out of the BOX without an issue! I will stick with aquaclears. Good luck.

To be clear, you run a tank of this size with just an Aquaclear 110 with no problems?

 

[Thumbster]

FWIW I’ve had a 75 with a sump in the past and recently started up a 40 breeder with no sump and only a Tidal 55 HOB filter. Still undecided if I’ll ever use a skimmer on it.

The sump allows you to hide equipment so you’re not looking at it hanging off the back of the display tank and opens up some different filtering options. Filter socks etc. I made my sump out of a 15 gallon tank and cut some plexi glass for dividers. Not expensive.

I would have went with a sump again this time around but wanted to keep it simple. Plus I made my cabinet and wanted drawers in it to store the metric ton of supplies needed for the tank.

The Tidal 55 works fine. It has a large filter area that you can add stuff to. I’ve put carbon and some bio balls in there along with some filter floss occasionally. I used the Tidal filter because it has a big enough area to add my own filter material. The aqua clear might also. I’ve never used it.

 

[Thumbster]

Forgot to mention… I used 5% window tint on the back of the tank and the Tidal filter kind of blends in and isn’t an eyesore EXCEPT for the stupid baby blue flow knob and heater holder.

 

[Ironclad]

My issue is that there aren't many examples out there of people with the size tank I am wanting running a HOB filter so I'm second-guessing whether it's possible to do what I am proposing to do and it's driving me crazy LOL

 

[Thumbster]

In my “not an expert by any means” opinion, I think it is totally do-able. You’ll have power heads that will keep things suspended and the HOB will catch them. I just looked and the 110 is rated for 350 GPH so tank turnover will be 3.8 times an hour. If that’s not enough put two on there later on.

I have two clowns in my tank and purposely feed waaaaay too much several times a day. What the fish don’t eat the snails gobble up. I don’t have rotting food setting on the bottom of my tank.

The sump makes some things easier and looks better but initially it’s slightly more expensive assuming you can drill your own tank and make a sump.

 

[MoshJosh]

Forgot to mention… I used 5% window tint on the back of the tank and the Tidal filter kind of blends in and isn’t an eyesore EXCEPT for the stupid baby blue flow knob and heater holder.

I used black out screen door tint for the back of my tank and it works great!!!

I actually like the heater holder as long as you are using it, the way the cord gets hidden in the filter housing is cool. FYI in case you didn't know, the heater holder is removable.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Guys, I'm having a serious back-and-forth in my head about what filtration I need for my reef tank. I am planning on having a 90-gallon tank. I was originally planning on just having a Seachem Tidal 110 for filtration. I am now worried that it won't be enough to take care of the needs of the tank. From the insane amount of research that I have done, I have come to the conclusion that a sump is just too cost-prohibitive, thus the relatively cheap HOB option. Maybe you can put my mind at ease or give me suggestions on how I can augment my current setup. I am planning to stock the tank with around 10 fish. I am also planning, and don't mind at all, a weekly 10% water change to help the HOB filter.

TLDR: Do I need additional HOB equipment such as a protein skimmer or will the Tidal 110 be sufficient?

Thank you so much for your advice!!!

Hello and welcome, a sump can be a 40 breeder 1/2 off Petco. 60.00. plexiglass sheets for home Depot and cutting tool. A hang on back skimmer of any quality will be more expensive than an I sump skimmer. That money can go for the tank with overflow. Use soft plumbing. Jebao return pump 70.00 Amazon. Skimmer first, refugium and then return section. This won't be much more than what you are planning

 

[MoshJosh]

Hello and welcome, a sump can be a 40 breeder 1/2 off Petco. 60.00. plexiglass sheets for home Depot and cutting tool. A hang on back skimmer of any quality will be more expensive than an I sump skimmer. That money can go for the tank with overflow. Use soft plumbing. Jebao return pump 70.00 Amazon. Skimmer first, refugium and then return section. This won't be much more than what you are planning

I am definitely a soft plumbing fan. I am using it for drain and return!

 

[Thumbster]

I used black out screen door tint for the back of my tank and it works great!!!

I actually like the heater holder as long as you are using it, the way the cord gets hidden in the filter housing is cool. FYI in case you didn't know, the heater holder is removable.

I like the heater holder too! Lol just wish it wasn’t stuck out like a sore thumb blue.

 

[RBZ]

I run 2 Aqua Clear 110s on anything from 40 to 90 gallons.
I currently have 6 tanks setup this way for many years without any problem.
With the AC 110 and Live Rock in the tank it filters just fine.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

My question is "what do you think this hob filter will achieve for you"?

To me, its unnecceassary unless you have a specific intention. But a hob just provides mechanical and chemical filtration.

The most important filter is the biofilter, which is provided by the rocks and water flow. HOB filter does nothing in this regard.

For a 90 gallon tank, I would invest my money into a protein skimmer first, which I believe is much more important than a hob filter. Just my 2 cents.

 

[jft]

To be clear, you run a tank of this size with just an Aquaclear 110 with no problems?

Two aquaclear 110s GREAT flow and filtration.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

My issue is that there aren't many examples out there of people with the size tank I am wanting running a HOB filter so I'm second-guessing whether it's possible to do what I am proposing to do and it's driving me crazy LOL

@OrchidMiss don't you run an HOB on your 110?