Oxygen and HOB filter

Jenny_rs · Nov 13, 2020

Hello

sorry in advance for the long post but it is necessary for the dilemma that I have. I used to have my nano reef set up in a 7 gallon glass cube aquarium that was not all in one (just 4 walls of glass). I had a HOB filter, heater, a power head, all parameters were normal aside from 20ppm of nitrates. (Temp 78f, salinity 0.026ppm, nitrite and ammonia 0ppm, ph 8.3 to 8.5, etc.). Corals were growing well but for some reason I kept losing fish and could never figure out what the cause was. I even had my water tested at my last which came back normal. One morning I watched my clownfish die of suffocation. Or at least thats what it looked like (it looked like it was gasping for air). Now I do have my evo13 set up but it has come to the point right now where I need to downsize but I am deathly afraid to use the cube again with the hob filter and risk losing my fish again. Has this happened to anyone else? I really don't have the money to buy another small aquarium. I was thinking I could buy the supplies I need to make my own in tank overflow but have never done that before. If anyone has any thoughts/tips/ suggestions I would really appreciate it as I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place

sfin52 · Nov 13, 2020

Small powerhead at the surface or a nano skimmer. I would also recommend the aquaclear or tidal hob

Jenny_rs · Nov 14, 2020

sfin52 said:
Small powerhead at the surface or a nano skimmer. I would also recommend the aquaclear or tidal hob

I tried pointing the power head to the surface but that alone didn't work. Out of curiosity, why an aquaclear or tidal hob specifically?

sfin52 · Nov 14, 2020

Jenny_rs said:
I tried pointing the power head to the surface but that alone didn't work. Out of curiosity, why an aquaclear or tidal hob specifically?

They have bigger chambers easier to work with and can be converted to a refugium. In mu opinion the filter capacity is greater the water flows up through the media. Less going around the media.

Jenny_rs · Nov 14, 2020

Okay that makes sense. Thanks for the help, I'll decide on one and make plans for a possible move. Still not sure I fully understand why an in tank overflow works well but the hob would cause lack of oxygen/ gas exchange in the water but thats above my pay grade

Uncle99 · Nov 14, 2020

With a PH of 8.3-8.5 I would not diagnose low oxygen, and I have run 10-65g units with nothing but an Aquaclear HOB.

What comes to mind is a parasite, Ick for slow death, velvet for fast death.
Both parasites get into the gills of fish which might account for your breathing observation.

I would not change a thing.

Jenny_rs · Nov 14, 2020

Uncle99 said:
With a PH of 8.3-8.5 I would not diagnose low oxygen, and I have run 10-65g units with nothing but an Aquaclear HOB.

What comes to mind is a parasite, Ick for slow death, velvet for fast death.
Both parasites get into the gills of fish which might account for your breathing observation.

I would not change a thing.

I know for sure it wasn't ick, it could have been velvet but I went through a fallow period and everything has been good since then. I have officially completed the downgrade and am temporarily using an aqueon filter I have until I can go and get either the aquaclear or the tidal hob.

HuduVudu · Nov 14, 2020

Jenny_rs said:
Hello sorry in advance for the long post but it is necessary for the dilemma that I have. I used to have my nano reef set up in a 7 gallon glass cube aquarium that was not all in one (just 4 walls of glass). I had a HOB filter, heater, a power head, all parameters were normal aside from 20ppm of nitrates. (Temp 78f, salinity 0.026ppm, nitrite and ammonia 0ppm, ph 8.3 to 8.5, etc.). Corals were growing well but for some reason I kept losing fish and could never figure out what the cause was. I even had my water tested at my last which came back normal. One morning I watched my clownfish die of suffocation. Or at least thats what it looked like (it looked like it was gasping for air). Now I do have my evo13 set up but it has come to the point right now where I need to downsize but I am deathly afraid to use the cube again with the hob filter and risk losing my fish again. Has this happened to anyone else? I really don't have the money to buy another small aquarium. I was thinking I could buy the supplies I need to make my own in tank overflow but have never done that before. If anyone has any thoughts/tips/ suggestions I would really appreciate it as I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place

HOB Skimmer. That is what I had to do with my 20 breeder. Works wonders.