Hi, I'm going to make a predator tank, 55 gall. I had a sump on it at one time but I won't have room for a sump where I am putting it now. Does anyone have any recommendations on a filter for this tank. There will be a few rocks and just a very few fish. One LFS told me all I would need is a protein skimmer to take care of the filtering needs.
Filtering Decision
- Thread starter phantomg
- Start date
Bogue Chitto
New member
A canister filter with carbon would keep it looking good.
Sapelo
New member
Most of us who have used canister filters would not go back to them as they do make for extra work.
Protein skimmers are very useful which is why so many of us use them.
I can personally vouch for the Reef Octopus HOB skimmer.
Having said that, now that my skimmer is in my sump I will NEVER go back.
It may not be possible, but you're going to want to think very carefully about your options before you proceed.
Very little rock means you'll have to work extra to provide the filtration even a lightly stocked tank will require.
Dkulmann is right, you're gonna need HOB everything
Protein skimmers are very useful which is why so many of us use them.
I can personally vouch for the Reef Octopus HOB skimmer.
Having said that, now that my skimmer is in my sump I will NEVER go back.
It may not be possible, but you're going to want to think very carefully about your options before you proceed.
Very little rock means you'll have to work extra to provide the filtration even a lightly stocked tank will require.
Dkulmann is right, you're gonna need HOB everything
Reef_junkie91
New member
Caster filters are nitrate factories hang on back protein skimmers are usually inefficient but better than a canister
cloak
New member
Being that you will have some rocks in the tank and I'm assuming some sort of substrate, I would just get yourself one of the Aquaclear HOB filters and call it a day. Throw a couple foam pads in there and perhaps some GAC and just rinse these things out in a bucket of saltwater every couple weeks or so to preserve the bacteria on/within them. Also, when your doing your water changes don't be afraid to stir up the sand bed and blast the rocks with a power head every now & then as well. Removing all this muck will be key in the long run.
Keeping a happy healthy reef tank doesn't have to be so complicated sometimes, much or less a predator tank such as this. KISS, GL.
http://www.aquacave.com/hagen-aquaclear-70-300-power-filter.html
Keeping a happy healthy reef tank doesn't have to be so complicated sometimes, much or less a predator tank such as this. KISS, GL.
http://www.aquacave.com/hagen-aquaclear-70-300-power-filter.html
Last edited:
I would run two aquaclear 110 's with the sponges , matrix, and some chemipure elite. That's what I do. I have a light bio load but I have zero absolute zero nitrates. And as for them sponges that are so called nitrate traps. I hardly ever clean them. Maybe once every three or four months. If that I have left them even longer. I have a 110 and a 70 just cuz my 30 g hasn't enough room. But for the cost better to go with 110's even though it's overkill.they have lots of room in them for media.
Bogue Chitto
New member
I have to disagree. I have used canister filters all my fish keeping life and have never had a problem with them. I clean them out about once a month and my water stays sparkling clear. Why would there be so many of them on the market if they were so bad. Some people just don't want to have to take a few minutes out of their time to do maintenance on them. I have no nitrates on my reef tank and everything is looking good so far.
dustinkimpel
Member
When I first started this hobby I tried canisters.... Never had good results. 5 years later and I am now convinced that every marine tank should have a sump... I'm sure you could run one with canisters but man those things are a pain in the a***
Bogue Chitto
New member
Don't get me wrong, I wholly believe in having a sump for most of my tanks but I use canisters for extra filtration.
CStrickland
New member
A lot of the issues with canisters and other mechanical filtration is the way they elevate nitrates. That's why they need careful cleaning. Predator tanks tend to run high in nitrates anyway cause they are such big messy eaters. Coral tanks need lower nitrates, so predator + reef = a tricky balance.
If you go fowlr predator then you don't have to worry much about nitrates, you can run any kind of filter you want. A lot of the advice about filtration assumes you'll want low nitrates for coral.
If you go fowlr predator then you don't have to worry much about nitrates, you can run any kind of filter you want. A lot of the advice about filtration assumes you'll want low nitrates for coral.
I have another tank, like I mentioned, and I have coral in that one. In this one, I'm just planning on sand, rock and a few fish so my initial thinking was that my filtering needs would not be as great as in my other tank. I really don't plan on having more than 3 or 4 fish in this tank.
newbie2014
New member
I also have Aquamaxx-1 on a 40B. Very quiet and collects lots of skimmate. I just hate how it spits out lots of mini bubbles into the tank after each cleaning. This is a big reason why I'm contemplating on how to add a sump to my setup.
I also have an AC 110 on the same tank. Very powerful, but can be noisy at times. The noise comes from the motor and vibrations. The splashing noise of the falling water can also be annoying. Therefore, I have to maintain consistent water level. I would have preferred a canister over any HOB filter. As long as you keep up with maintenance, the canister would be a lot more efficient and QUIET. I miss my Fluval 306.
Pigpen17
New member
Did you buy the bubble trap for the HOB-1? I added it after a few months and zero bubbles. Plus I love the look of it.
newbie2014
New member
Did you buy the bubble trap for the HOB-1? I added it after a few months and zero bubbles. Plus I love the look of it.
No I didn't. I do attach a small tray full of filter floss to the outlet for the first 24hrs or so after I clean the skimmer. I may have to look into that bubble trap thingy.
Thanks for the tips.
Similar threads
