who has HOB filters?

dan987 · May 13, 2015

I was looking on the equipment/filtration forum and didn't see anything about HOB filters. I'm curious now.

If you have never used one, I'm not interested. Just first-hand experiences please.

If you have one, which one, and how are you using it?
(I.e. as directed, for mechanical only, hob fuge, etc.)

If you had one, but no longer do, why?

dan987 · May 13, 2015

I will get this stated. I have marineland filters for a couple things. I also use a skimmer, a refugium, and chemi-pure.
The filters on my large tank are primarily mechanical. The chemi-pure fits nicely into the extra space. The added water movement is nice. And I left the biowheels in for now. Not sure if they are good or bad or nothing.
For my pico reef, my HOB filter does circulation, mechanical, (biowheel maybe)?, and it holds my heater and chemi-pure.

AdamNC · May 13, 2015

I use an AC70 to hold all my media and a sponge for when I blow the rocks off. In order from bottom to top it holds my sponge, Seachem de*nitrate, Chemipure Elite and then the Aquaclear Biomax on the top. Once a week though you must clean the sponge.

philfree · May 13, 2015

Currently using a SRO LX1000s on my 29g mixed reef. Its a beast.
Also, periodically use a Modified AC for holding media, or as a hob refugium.

Miketc17 · May 14, 2015

I currently run an AC70 on my 40B with the inTank media basket as a fuge. I've been using it with chemi-pure elite (yesterday I changed to chemi-pure blue), chaeto and filter floss. I've been running it like this for almost 8 months without any problems. I'm looking at purchasing a Reef Octopus BH1000 HOB skimmer just to change things up.

kevinsmixed90 · May 14, 2015

I have two 40g fish only tanks with the penguin bio wheel 350 HOB. on my 55 and my 90 I have bulkheads and sumps so I hang a drawstring filter sock on my pipe from the overflow box to the sump. I have no problems with the penguins, didn't notice any benefits with the bio wheels as far as nitrates are concerned. I have read that these filters were designed for freshwater tanks and should be used for freshwater tanks only but I will keep them on my tanks anyway.
good luck

jsker · May 14, 2015

I have a 75 with a CPR bak-pak 2. Many years ago I built a HOB filter and it worked great and I like the concept, so when I did my latest setup i was going to build again but saw the CPR and decided to go with that one.

mr.reeferman · May 14, 2015

i have my hob layered bioballs then sock with smaller bits of carbon a sponge floss sandwich and a uv sterilizer attached to the intake dont really like my current uv sterilizer but it was a gift and works well with hob filters i just find hob easier to maintain and it keeps the job simple for sitters cleaning your filters but i wouldnt recommend hobs for a lazy reefer they should be fine with someone willing to do a lil extra

dan987 · May 14, 2015

I was looking at the CPR bakpak2. I just recently installed an overhead sump. So now I have an option for in-sump skimmer too. But either way that's gonna cost a couple hundred.

Marineland says the penguin/emperor filters are good for saltwater and freshwater but nobody seems to know how effective those bio-wheels are. IMO its just more space for bacteria. How can that be bad? But I don't really know.

I'm glad to see I'm not alone in using these HOB filters though.

mr.reeferman · May 14, 2015

also you can use them to make a pretty cool sump out of a two litre bottle if you like to diy

philfree · May 14, 2015

dan987 said:
I was looking at the CPR bakpak2. I just recently installed an overhead sump. So now I have an option for in-sump skimmer too. But either way that's gonna cost a couple hundred.

Marineland says the penguin/emperor filters are good for saltwater and freshwater but nobody seems to know how effective those bio-wheels are. IMO its just more space for bacteria. How can that be bad? But I don't really know.

I'm glad to see I'm not alone in using these HOB filters though.

You would think so. But I've read that since it cultures high amounts of aerobic bacteria, you can have challenges with controlling nitrates and possibly phosphates. Since these convert ammonia into nitrites into nitrates. Potentially out competing the anaerobic bacteria that might not keep up.

Bensadork · May 14, 2015

I am very interested in this post because all of my tanks use to be freshwater so I have 4 marineland biowheel 200 filters sitting around collecting dust. If i could use them to set up my 36 gallon bowfront it would save me a ton of money. Now i just gotta find a sweet stand to put it on and different lighting since it just comes with the hood with 1 flourescent light in it.

LetItReef · May 14, 2015

I have a Topfin30 HOB that comes in a standard 29g tank I bought. I use it to put a bagged of activated carbon and a 50w heater. A year with no issues.

MrDJeep123 · May 14, 2015

I used to have an aquaclear set up as a fuge type thing on an older tank. Until one day, the seal decided to leak where the pump was connected. Water travel via the cord and dripped onto a surge protector. I had a drip loop, but the water traveled another cord that wasn't. So no more of that.

dan987 · May 14, 2015

That's the one flaw I see in the AC design. I don't think the marineland filters are as prone to leaks, but that's just speculation.

Where I like the AC better is in its versatility.

that Reef Guy · May 17, 2015

dan987 said:
I was looking on the equipment/filtration forum and didn't see anything about HOB filters. I'm curious now.

If you have never used one, I'm not interested. Just first-hand experiences please.

If you have one, which one, and how are you using it?
(I.e. as directed, for mechanical only, hob fuge, etc.)

If you had one, but no longer do, why?

I use Tetra Whisper Filters.

I am probably going to stop using them though as the Impellars Rust.

I think that this may be why I have Slow Growth and why Some of my Corals are not Vibrant in Color like other peoples.

These Filters are great for Freshwater but they were not Designed for Saltwater use hence the Rusting.

Somebody should invent a Saltwater Hang on the Back Filter.

that Reef Guy · May 17, 2015

Also, I stopped using the Tetra Carbon in all my HOB Filters.

I have noticed increased Growth.

Now I am sad because I used that crappy Carbon for 5 Years and can only imagine how much growth I lost because of it.

kevinsmixed90 · May 17, 2015

CPR bacpac

philfree said:
You would think so. But I've read that since it cultures high amounts of aerobic bacteria, you can have challenges with controlling nitrates and possibly phosphates. Since these convert ammonia into nitrites into nitrates. Potentially out competing the anaerobic bacteria that might not keep up.

I have a bacpac 2 on the shelf. used it about 3 months. I could not stop the micro bubbles so I gave up on it. you can have it if you pay the shipping