What to do with my old HOB refugium?

[esloan88]

I have a 45 gallon cube aquarium. I bought it used and it only had a small wet/dry style filter underneath and no refugium at all. So, I bought a CPR HOB Aqua-Fuge refugium and got it set up with some sand and chaeto and pods. It has been on there a few months now.

Last week, I decided to completely replace my wet/dry filter and protein skimmer and I bought a Trigger Systems cube sump/refugium and a new SCA-302 Protein Skimmer. Both are working great. I have the sump set up with chaeto and a shallow sand bed and the skimmer is kicking butt.

Now I need to decide what to do with the HOB refugium. Right now, I have all the chaeto pulled out and put into my new refugium. The only thing left in the HOB is the sand. It is still set up and has water pumping through it from the display tank but it is just hanging there uselessly right now.

I have thought about setting it up with a deep sand bed and just using it for that but I am not sure if that would even help reduce nitrates or just cause issues.

I could just clean it out and use it has a semi-quarantine tank for stressed or aggressive fish. Or I could just remove it completely.

What would you guys suggest I do with it?

Thanks!

 

[moseley75]

IMHO, You should probably leave it running as is for a short while. It is part of the biological filter. Once the sand in the new sump has had time to mature then remove it if you wish.

 

[esloan88]

IMHO, You should probably leave it running as is for a short while. It is part of the biological filter. Once the sand in the new sump has had time to mature then remove it if you wish.

Yeah, it is still on there at the moment. I am just looking for something constructive to do with it after. Not sure just putting a deep sand bed in there would be worthwhile, heck, it may cause more problems.

 

[Coralreefjunkies]

I would consider replacing it with Fiji Mud or Miracle Mud, if you have sps. otherwise, i would use it to house unique creatures that would get lost in the big tank. depending on how big it is, a harlequin shrimp, an angler fish, or even some pony or mandarin would be perfect. lots of options.

 

[Reef_Tank_Fan_SC]

I would consider replacing it with Fiji Mud or Miracle Mud, if you have sps. otherwise, i would use it to house unique creatures that would get lost in the big tank. depending on how big it is, a harlequin shrimp, an angler fish, or even some pony or mandarin would be perfect. lots of options.

I like this idea. As a matter if fact I have a finnex Hob fuge for my 29 gallon build and I've been thinking about putting a mantis shrimp in it. I love the mantis but don't need a serial killer running around in my display tank... lol

 

[esloan88]

The HOB truly hangs on the back of my tank so I don't really want to keep live stock in there permanently except for snails and such.

 

[Reef_Tank_Fan_SC]

Oh, I gotcha. Your is on the backside of the tank right? I have mine hanging on the side so it is actually a little extension of the DT

 

[esloan88]

Yep it's on the back. Between the tank and the wall. I've got a slight nitrate issue, which is why I was thinking of just putting a deep sand bed in there.

I even thought about putting a bunch of Seachem DeNitrate in there and just letting the water flow through it. But I'm up for ideas.