filter question

R

ReeferItIs2

New member
So I have someone coming to buy all my freshwater festaes which means I will have an extra filter...it is an emperor 400 rated for a 90 gallon...can I use this on a 30 gallon reef tank as the only filtration besides live rock or should I still purchase a protein skimmer??

P.S. I appreciate all the help so far this club has shown me and I will definitely return it in the future thanks alot
 
You can still benefit from it as a way of using it as a filtering along with media carbon/gfo. You don't have a sump right? If not this is good. I'd suggest a skimmer but you can get away with water changes based on the vol of the tank.
 
I really want a sump on this project but I don't know, everything is still up in the air...so basically I should add a protein skimmer either way...i know this is a silly question but what is gfo?
 
Fwiw I ran a sumpless reef for 12+ years and imo the most important part of going sumpless is a good hob skimmer.. There are a few out there not many I tried quite a few.

Pm me if your looking to buy a good used one.. I can bring it to the meeting if your attending..

And also in my experience gfo is best used in a reactor if not it just bricks up and doesn't do its job as efficiently..
 
Dapg8gt said:
Fwiw I ran a sumpless reef for 12+ years and imo the most important part of going sumpless is a good hob skimmer.. There are a few out there not many I tried quite a few.

Pm me if your looking to buy a good used one.. I can bring it to the meeting if your attending..

And also in my experience gfo is best used in a reactor if not it just bricks up and doesn't do its job as efficiently..
Click to expand...

Right now I'm running a cpr backpack 2r+ with an a quackery 30 with phos Zorb in it...ihave 2 clumps of chaeto behind rocks inside the tank that have made my tank filled with copepods...

check your pm
 
For just a 30g you can do a multitude of things. I basically just sit around all day at work and read the forums and everyone has a different take on it. I'm currently running a 35g no sump setup with six fish and a whole lot if inverts and feed a lot. Like a whole lot. Weekly 5g water changes without fail and just a ac70 with carbon and purigen and a skimmer rated for up to 20g. I also run less than the recommended amount of LR. No nitrites at all and grates never see over 5 if I don't miss any water changes. Basically I'm "just getting by" with the absolute minimum and if I missed a water changes I would risk my nitrates going up rather quickly.
 
That's some good info Steve thanks bro...i have alot of homework to do before i get started but after the holidays i plan on just getting it up and running with the basics...tank sand heater circulation pump filter and live rock
 
Yep, got one free with a bunch of stuff I purchased off some lady on CL.. REALLY finicky adjustment. I tossed it.. My little aqualife 115 worked better and its only a $50 skimmer
 
If that's all you got I guess it's OK to run it but if you bought it new return it ASAP. Not worth the hassle and it really doesn't work.

I would look for quality used stuff to save $. A skimmer is not 100% necessary if you have other means of filtration and do weekly water changes. It's just a good tool to not have to just get by and run into issues later when you get comfortable and start buying things, then you start feeding those things, then you say tank looks good right now I'll do a water change later.

Having a decent skimmer will make the world of difference on keeping the export on the tank up to par. Not only that it's adds aeration that helps off Gass c02 that keeps/raises your pH and adds clarity overall to the tank.

I'm not saying you need to go buy a $500 skimmer but I would save yourself the fiddling and wasted time and stay away from the crap ones.

I would get an ato before a skimmer if I was you. You can keep up on the water changes and every few days cleaning the sponges in your hob filter and have a successful reef but imo auto top off should not be left out of the equation. Plus it will make whatever skimmer you use work way better. All just my experience with my sumpless so take it just as that..
 
Ok I think I'll put it on Craigslist for sale I bought from a guy on a Facebook group for 20 dollars...so what is a good hob skimmer? It seems like they are all crap...an a to was already next on my list for my tank that's already running...thanks Steve and dap for the responds I appreciate it
 
The eshopps comes with a sicce pump now so if you read any reviews ignore any that are more than about two months old.
 
The aquamax gets great reviews and so do most Of the reef octopus hob's. You should be able to find a reef octopus used bh 100 or similar for pretty cheap. The bh90 I have is also a great skimmer for sumpless tank.

Whatever skimmer you decide to get its usually a good idea to go bigger than your actual water volume as most are overrated by the manufacturer.
 
Back to square 1. Save your money and do weekly water changes. The money saved should go towards a sump and a good skimmer.
 
If you would like to buy a good used skimmer and sump I can hook you up. I have an ATB nano cone you can have for $100( Sorry John I found it in an ice chest in the garage) I also have a sump don't know the dimensions but should be great for you're tank and you can make sure the skimmer fits.

If you'd like to check it out Nick is coming over this Sunday at 4pm with the saw to cut up the club chalices I have for the raffle.

1935 Alderbrook lane santa rosa

If anyone else wants to come over and cut something up the saw will be here and Nick knows how to cut things up and we got stuff to cut up
 
thysrof said:
If you would like to buy a good used skimmer and sump I can hook you up. I have an ATB nano cone you can have for $100( Sorry John I found it in an ice chest in the garage) I also have a sump don't know the dimensions but should be great for you're tank and you can make sure the skimmer fits.

If you'd like to check it out Nick is coming over this Sunday at 4pm with the saw to cut up the club chalices I have for the raffle.

1935 Alderbrook lane santa rosa

If anyone else wants to come over and cut something up the saw will be here and Nick knows how to cut things up and we got stuff to cut up
Click to expand...

That's what you want, ATB nano cone and a sump!
 
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