a few questions

[Mark75]

I am setting up a 30L and have a few questions. I will be using a hang on filter with built in skimmer. The filter uses a J-tube and a surface skimmer box. The filter is about 24"-6"-18". The first chamber has the skimmer powered by Rio 800.

The water then goes over an adjustable spill gate into the second chamber which is designed to hold bio balls or carbon.

Water than passes thru egg crate at the bottom of the second chamber into the last chamber were it is return to the tank with a Rio 600. I am guessing this filter holds 8-10 gal. of water. There will be another Rio 600 in the far side of the tank for circulation.

My questions are what should I put in place of the bio-balls?
Is this enough water movement?
Is this enough room to use macro-algea?
I already have this equipment from a tank in the past but used carbon in the wet/dry area of the filter, but had trouble with nitrates, won't carbon act the same as bio-balls in this environment?

I will be lighting this tank with a Nova Extreme T-5 ho 4 bulb. Thank you for your suggestions.

 

[Steverino]

To clarify, you mean the tank is a 30 gallon long, not a 30 Liter, right?

1. I would not trust a hang-on or built-in filter that returns the water with a pump. If that return pump goes out, you are in deep trouble (and probably ankle-deep water too). Can it be set up where the water would waterfall back into the tank?
2. Yes, people use small hang-on-tank filters for refugiums that are much smaller. Little cascades or emperor 280 I've heard.
3. In place of the bio balls you could use live rock rubble pieces.
4. I only use carbon when it is for a specific purpose, not all the time 24/7.

 

[Mark75]

Yes it is a 30 gallon long. The design is such that if the pump fails the water will only fill the filter until it is level with the water in the aquarium. Is this enough water movement? The skimmer is a simple tube about 4" in diameter and 18" tall feed by a Rio 800 with adjustable air line. How does this compare with the more modern skimmers? I ran this setup on a reef tank a few years back just wondering if the newer skimmer are that much better?

 

[Mark75]

ttt

 

[wheelmanca19]

My questions are what should I put in place of the bio-balls?
Is this enough water movement?
Is this enough room to use macro-algea?
I already have this equipment from a tank in the past but used carbon in the wet/dry area of the filter, but had trouble with nitrates, won't carbon act the same as bio-balls in this environment?

1. Use live rock rubble instead of bio balls.
2. Enough water movement? Depends on what you put in the tank, but your probally have enough, could add another powerhead later if needed.
3. Plenty of room for macro algae
4. Like Steverino said, I would only use Carbon sparingly.

The Skimmer you have will probally be fine. I'd see how it works before spending the $$$ for a new skimmer.

hope this helps.

 

[Mark75]

Thank's