AquaClear vs. Bio Wheel series HOB for 20-30Gal AGA

[o2zen]

I am looking at starting a cheap 20-30gal AGA setup with two HOB filters and I was wondering which is the better type of HOB filter for a mixed reef or frag tank.

Aquaclear 110 vs. a Bio Wheel series like Emperor 400 or Penguin 350

My second question - should I get the surface skimmer attachments for them.

 

[manse]

I think that some folks have reported that Bio-wheels cause nitrate buildup after a while.

 

[o2zen]

I have seen many use AquaClear 110's and even a few putting two on the back of the tank which seems very insane at 1000GPH.

Is that much GPH with two 110's on the tank bad or good and how do you set them up? I read where someone was using LR rubble and carbon in his and it was doign well.

With two on the tank will you still need powerheads in the tank? What about bubbles from the spill back? How do you prevent that?

 

[o2zen]

Bump

 

[DSie]

Most tanks that I have seen use the Aquaclear because you can modify it. The 110's have a large open area in the back that can be turned into a refugium. I run the bio-wheels for my freshwater tanks and use the Aquaclear for my 20g long reef. I also have heard that the biowheels can house nitrates.

If you're using two HOB filters I think the surface tension created would be enough. You might want to pass on the surface skimmer or at least wait and see how it goes.

 

[jamynsdad]

i ran a penguin 350 on my 20g and NEVER had any nitrates at all. i took it off because i didn't have room for it with a skimmer. i wish i still had it on tho cause i kept the tank pretty clean.

 

[kingfisher62]

I have been very happy with my penguin 330 that I have had for 4 years. Most any filter can produce nitrates if the filter media is not cleaned or changed. If you are concerned about nitrates you can rinse out the wheels in your water that you just pulled out from a water change dont rinse with any other water it will kill the beneficial bacteria.

Are you going to put Live rock in the tank If you are I would recommend just getting one HOB w/biowheel and a couple of powerheads for circulation!

 

[o2zen]

I am thinking about going BB with racks for frags in the tank and using the tank that way. I might have 1-2 fish in the tank and some snails but thats about it. If I do add LR its going to be a LR wall along the back attached to egg crate or something like that. I was also thinking about filling the chambers in the filters with LR Rubble over the other media since I can get about 10 pounds of LR rubble in each 110 if I use the AquaClear systems.

Still playing with ideas.

 

[kingfisher62]

If you put 10 # of rubble I think that could be a nitrate problem , lots of nooks and crannies for sediment to rot in. If going with the aqua clear , I would mod it into a refugium and put some macro algaes in there.
Or you can make a LR wall on the egg crate like you mentioned and leave a few inches behind it for a refugium.

To be honest with you I still don't have a refugium in either of my tanks But from what i have learned, that is the best way to attain pefect water quality. Which is what you want for good coral growth.

Keep asking questions ! there must be a thousand ways to set up a reef tank. You just have to decide what is best for you!

What are your lighting plans? That is very important when it comes to corals!

 

[o2zen]

I am starting off cheap with some PC lighting and mushrooms and others softies that will take the PC lighting. As I get more into Frags I will upgrade but for now I am growing huge mushrooms on N/O lighting.

Do you have a link to the AquaClear being turned into a Refugium? That sounds like a nice plan and since I will have two of them why not make one a refug and one a LR filter.