Can a HOB filter be used in place of a reactor?

[Squibege]

I have an old HOB kicking around. Not sure if I want to use it for the QT tank (along with a heater and air stone) or if I want to run it in the sump with carbon/ other media if necessary. I figure the HOB is more effective than jut putting carbon in a stocking and plopping it in the sump, but if I need to add better flow/ a filter to my QT then maybe I should just save up for a real reactor rather than buying another HOB?

Any experience/ suggestions here?

 

[username in use]

A baggie of charcoal in a hang on back will work fine in the right setting. I see no inherent issue with using it on a quarantine or small display.

 

[MondoBongo]

i would eventually be eyeing a reactor. the HOB won't be as efficient at getting water flow past your media, but it should be better than just leaving a media bag sit in the sump or similar. kind of a middle ground.

i wouldn't be too concerned with using a reactor on a QT tank. the HOB should be just fine there. unless there is a specific need i'm missing.

 

[bmrigs]

I have 2 Aquaclear 70's running on my nano. One houses the foam block, 50 micron pad and phosguard, the other houses foam block, 50 micron pad, purigen and carbon. All the filtration I need.

 

[Sk8r]

It won't work as well for GFO as a reactor, because a GFO reactor wants a 'fluidized bed' but not to the point granules abrade each other to microdust. As a carbon bag container a hob would work fine.

 

[BigCountry74]

on smaller tanks absolutely.