Filtration for a 20g

[Ztrain]

I have my 20g setup and going currently with nice flow and surface agitation from the Voyager 2 pump. Only lost 2 out of 4 trochis snails so far. 2 Scarlet reef hermits seem to be happy the larger of the two has molted once. Thought it was dead until two days later was watching Netflix from inside his cave with me. Dunno why but that crab just sit and stares at the monitor when I have video's playing. Emerald crab and the two clowns seem to be happy when their not fighting.

I have been getting a lot of particles in the water. When I do a water change I vacuum up everything on the bare bottom of the tank and it's nice and clean. Then when I pour in the water change water whole tank gets really dusty looking like it stirs up all the sand. I'm not sure if it's doing that or if I'm getting the calcium falling out of solution? I'm using regular Instant Ocean. I only have a little green star polyp so haven't been dosing anything. Lately I've been doing 3 gal water changes since the cycle but this weekend plan on cutting back to 2g each week.

My Nitrates are 5-10, don't know about phosphate but my clowns are bigger then when I got them a month ago and maybe a little plump. Definite growth on both and one is noticeable longer then the other already.

I have noticeable particulates in the tank to the point now where I can tell the flow patterns and areas. I'd like to clear up the water. What would be the best filtration system? I've heard a skimmer is great for cleaning up stuff that you can see to prevent nitrates from going up but so far I've been keeping them below 10 and going lower with just water changes. I've heard that canister filters and power filters are bad for marine systems? So how can I clear up this water. I'm not setup for a whole sump. Maybe next summer when I upgrade the tank I can add that but in the mean time are there any good hang on the back options that will clear up the water? I was looking at possibly picking up Marineland Penguin 100 tomorrow but don't know if that would be a good thing. Would the bio wheel be detrimental to the bio filter on the live rock? Could it be a good way to run carbon on the system?

Thank you,

 

[Badbrad8500]

A quick fix is to integrate filter floss into your filter system (whatever it may be). The best option is to have a mechanical filter (filter floss), a skimmer, and a biological filter (a section in a sump with macro algae). I'd suggest a hang-on-back cartridge filter with carbon cartridge and then maybe a skimmer later on. Cartridge filter should catch most of the particulates if it's well suited to the tank size.

 

[Ztrain]

A quick fix is to integrate filter floss into your filter system (whatever it may be).

I don't have any filtration other then the live rock that's what I'm trying to decide on is what to get.

The best option is to have a mechanical filter (filter floss), a skimmer, and a biological filter (a section in a sump with macro algae). I'd suggest a hang-on-back cartridge filter with carbon cartridge and then maybe a skimmer later on. Cartridge filter should catch most of the particulates if it's well suited to the tank size.

Okay so it sounds like the power filter thing would be good then? From what I was reading it looks like it comes with the filter floss card and a carbon card that is replaceable. So that would be my mechanical and chemical filter. It also has that bio-wheel thing that I don't think I really need because of the live rock?

Thank you,

 

[Scott07]

Hey there... I'm running a 20 gal. w/ a HOB filter also. It's definitely doable. Right.. the bio-wheel isn't going to do much for you.. and eventually (so I've been told) has the potential to be more of a problem than it's worth. I'm using an Aqua Clear 110 on my 20. It provides a good deal of flow, as well as filtration (although I have a MP10 on the tank also for flow). Initially I was using the foam block that came with the filter as a means of mechanical filtration... but it did eventually begin contributing to higher nitrates I believe. I've since replaced it with nothing but a piece of regular filter floss you can get at any LFS. I also have a small skimmer (Aquatic Life 115 I believe) in the Aqua Clear, as well as a bag of carbon.

I'm not saying it's the most efficient or best thought out method of filtration out there... but it has been doing a pretty good job for me. Essentially all you need to do is figure out a way for water to flow through a piece of filter floss or similar in the HOB filter. No need for any of the 'stages', media basket, etc... that come with HOB filters.. and are primarially intended for FW use. Of course if you don't like the Aqua Clear... a cartridge filter is a great option also.... same concept, maybe a little easier w/ the cartridges over cutting filter floss. Personally I enjoy the freedom from having to have extra cartridges on hand however.

 

[edinphilly]

I have a 29g (no sump)with a tunze 9004 protein skimmer. It's a high bioload tank and the skimmer does great. I think there might even be a newer model that's slimmer. I have lots of flow and live rock. No other filtration and the tank is great. Will be one year old this weekend.

 

[johanasu]

These get mixed reviews but they act as mechanical and protein skimmer at the same time. I've used them on 20 and 29g tanks at work and they get the job done. Another option to help with nitrates is to put a small ball of chaeto algae in the tank. I think it looks pretty nice even in a display...just imo

http://www.amazon.com/Rio-Protein-S...1412366253&sr=8-1&keywords=rio+skimmer+filter

 

[Ztrain]

That's my tank before I put water in it. You can see I don't have a lot of room for HoB stuff unfortunately so I need to be careful about what I put back there.

 

[Badbrad8500]

Yep, what Scott07 said is good.

Nice tank, I like the rockscape too.

 

[Ztrain]

That's the tank as of this morning. I just mixed up tomorrow's water change water and I'll scrub all the glass right before doing it. I'll also pickup one of those AquaClear filters on my way home.