New and need advice

[Joybird]

I'm so glad to have found this forum and I thank everyone for sharing their experience with new folks like me. Early this summer I bought a 30 gal setup from a friend and have been running it pretty smoothly since June. It came with crushed coral substrate, a couple of very small live rocks, and clownfish. I left some of the coral in the bottom and mixed in live sand, added 10 lbs. more live rock and snails and hermit crabs.
We've also added a feather duster, scooter blenny, and royal gramma, and yellow boxing shrimp. I suspect the tank is overstocked, but so far so good.

My question for the moment is this--the tank came with a HOB filter, but it's been hiccuping every time I turn it off to feed (it doesn't want to come back on). I'm going to replace it this weekend, but I'm not sure what's the best thing to do. I have small children and no room under the tank for a big anything. Protein skimmers look enormous to me, and this is a pretty small tank. Would it make the most sense for me to just buy a similar filter to this one? I'm thinking I might buy a bit larger tank for christmas (I saw a 45 gallon one that will fit in my space), so I'm keeping that in mind as I choose. Any advice for me? I think I'm stuck with this old fashioned type filter, but I'm not sure if there are other options out there that I haven't uncovered?
If you read my novel there, I thank you, and thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[rock_lobster]

Filter is not needed just regular water changes every 2 weeks. If you must have a filter there are small hob protein skimmers that will do much better than a mechanical filter.

 

[Chrisfish]

Welcome to R2R first off you've come to the right place for questions , lots of great people here that can help you, is it possible for you to post some pictures of your setup?

 

[Sabellafella]

I'm so glad to have found this forum and I thank everyone for sharing their experience with new folks like me. Early this summer I bought a 30 gal setup from a friend and have been running it pretty smoothly since June. It came with crushed coral substrate, a couple of very small live rocks, and clownfish. I left some of the coral in the bottom and mixed in live sand, added 10 lbs. more live rock and snails and hermit crabs.
We've also added a feather duster, scooter blenny, and royal gramma, and yellow boxing shrimp. I suspect the tank is overstocked, but so far so good.

My question for the moment is this--the tank came with a HOB filter, but it's been hiccuping every time I turn it off to feed (it doesn't want to come back on). I'm going to replace it this weekend, but I'm not sure what's the best thing to do. I have small children and no room under the tank for a big anything. Protein skimmers look enormous to me, and this is a pretty small tank. Would it make the most sense for me to just buy a similar filter to this one? I'm thinking I might buy a bit larger tank for christmas (I saw a 45 gallon one that will fit in my space), so I'm keeping that in mind as I choose. Any advice for me? I think I'm stuck with this old fashioned type filter, but I'm not sure if there are other options out there that I haven't uncovered?
If you read my novel there, I thank you, and thanks in advance for any advice!

Welcome =) you could always use an hob filter just incase, even if you do upgrade tanks. I would get another one for now, you could also try cleaning the hob pump you have now in some vinegar. May not be doomed yet

 

[Reeferfourlife]

Welcome aboard! I wouldn't buy another hob filter if that one is dead. Just spend a lil more for a small hob skimmer. I had hob filter in the past and just to much work cleaning it. Also they don't last too long in saltwater like a skimmer would. I rather spend time checking chemistry then clean filter. Just my 2 cent.

 

[Joybird]

Thanks for the advice. Would this be a decent protein skimmer? I wish it had a photo of it IN a tank. It's hard to visualize.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FRWUOGU?psc=1

I've been working to keep our water chemistry good, but my nitrates remain a little bit elevated. When I bought the tank it was kind of a mess--absolutely full of green hair algae and some red cyano. I scrubbed the rocks when I moved it and there's not a ton of algae left. It does have a bunch of tea cup macroalgae growing now, which is sort of cute, but it's really getting out of hand. I'm getting the hang of how much to feed without overfeeding, which I suspect is my biggest problem. These fish just go crazy for their food every day--the little clown is a little piggie!

 

[JaimeAdams]

I would totally suggest a protein skimmer. People do run tanks without them, but every time I have tried to after awhile it always ends poorly.

 

[billaras]

welcome. if you don't want a skimmer check if you can make a refiugium or/and an ATS filter

 

[JaimeAdams]

Good advice. Buy the 45 gallon tank and use the 30 gallon under it for a sump/refugium

 

[Joybird]

Good advice. Buy the 45 gallon tank and use the 30 gallon under it for a sump/refugium

I'd love to do this and I know it's ideal, but I have no room underneath. I have you g children and the aquarium sits on a wide, low cabinet for super stability.

 

[Sabellafella]

Thanks for the advice. Would this be a decent protein skimmer? I wish it had a photo of it IN a tank. It's hard to visualize.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FRWUOGU?psc=1

I've been working to keep our water chemistry good, but my nitrates remain a little bit elevated. When I bought the tank it was kind of a mess--absolutely full of green hair algae and some red cyano. I scrubbed the rocks when I moved it and there's not a ton of algae left. It does have a bunch of tea cup macroalgae growing now, which is sort of cute, but it's really getting out of hand. I'm getting the hang of how much to feed without overfeeding, which I suspect is my biggest problem. These fish just go crazy for their food every day--the little clown is a little piggie!

Looks ok. Theres a few hob skimmers you can buy, look on bulkreefsupply.com or marinedepot.com . Eshopps, tunze, reef octopus makes a nice hob, adam(battlecorals) got deltec hob skimmers i think hes having a sale on the forum.

 

[yaridong]

I have a jbj 24 gallon nano and i currently use the aquamaxx hob.

I have tried quite a few different smaller skimmers but at the end of the day i realized it was so worth the money to buy a reef octopus hob or aquamaxx hob. I know these are a little bigger but i really dont think the smaller ones work that well. Dont waste your money, just get a good one right from the start.

 

[czhao1009]

I have a jbj 24 gallon nano and i currently use the aquamaxx hob.

I have tried quite a few different smaller skimmers but at the end of the day i realized it was so worth the money to buy a reef octopus hob or aquamaxx hob. I know these are a little bigger but i really dont think the smaller ones work that well. Dont waste your money, just get a good one right from the start.

+1.
Get a decent one in the beginning so you don't have to constantly mess/adjust the cheap one and fear it might overflow or something... I know this from experience

I heard some hob skimmers prefer/need a constant water surface level, just FYI in case you don't have ATO set up yet.

Also another thing to consider is whether the pump sits inside the tank or outside. I don't really like the look of a big pump inside the tank, plus it generates additional heat [emoji1]

I have a 45 gallon and bought a used reef octopus bh2000. Bh90 also seems to be a good choice.

 

[Salty1962]

Welcome to R2R! If the HOB has worked for you well, I'd just get on like it or a little larger. The Tunze 9001 is a pretty good skimmer and is small if you go that route.