Hi everyone, I just broke down my 55g fresh water tank, took all fish to lfs and took all decor out including substrate. My question is....what do I need to do to go "saltlife" on this bad boy? Can I still use my 2 hang on the back filters, or is a sump a must? Any help would b appreciated
fresh 2 salt
- Thread starter take2
- Start date
I wouldn't use HOB filters unless you're going to change them out everyday. After about a day or two any solids that have been collected will start to break down into dissolved organics that can only be removed through water changes, skimming and denitrifying bacteria (if your system could even support the conditions required for denitrifying bacteria). A sump is for housing equipment, convenience, gas exchange and aesthetics. Beneficial? yes, but not required. A skimmer, in my opinion is going to be the most important part of the filtration, besides live rock and sand. You can use a HOB skimmer if you don't mind looking at it.
I suggest doing a lot of research before buying or setting up anything. I read daily for months until I felt like I had a good understanding of how the complicated marine system works. I still read daily and look for answer to new questions I ask myself.
I suggest doing a lot of research before buying or setting up anything. I read daily for months until I felt like I had a good understanding of how the complicated marine system works. I still read daily and look for answer to new questions I ask myself.
VdubbChubb
New member
As far as I've ever been told as long as you have enough filtration you should be fine. Also would probably depend on what you want to put in the tank. As stated above though a hob skimmer would be a very nice investment. I'm sure you can find one on here. To start you would need live sand, live rock and water.
kcsnook
Member
I have learned over the years by making mistakes and then having to redo.
HOB would be fine as you go through your cycle but as a long term solution I would not suggest using. They can be Nitrate factories and can create problems with a heavy bio load. Take advantage of the Petco $1 per gallon sale and buy a tank that can be used as a sump and that will get you started, this particular forum serves as a great place for used equipment sales as well.
It is an exciting time no doubt but do yourself a favor and read here on RC about set-up and do's and don'ts. It is ver easy to put the cart before the horse in this hobby as we all have done it but in retrospect we all know we should have waited at times saving us both time and $$$$.
HOB would be fine as you go through your cycle but as a long term solution I would not suggest using. They can be Nitrate factories and can create problems with a heavy bio load. Take advantage of the Petco $1 per gallon sale and buy a tank that can be used as a sump and that will get you started, this particular forum serves as a great place for used equipment sales as well.
It is an exciting time no doubt but do yourself a favor and read here on RC about set-up and do's and don'ts. It is ver easy to put the cart before the horse in this hobby as we all have done it but in retrospect we all know we should have waited at times saving us both time and $$$$.
otiac
New member
for the first year i had a hang on the back filter on my setup and everything was fine. Of course its nicer to have a sump. I would say in the mean time just set it up with your hob filters to get things going, and buy sump items a piece at a time until you have what you need so you don't have top drop a bunch of money all at once. plus its goin to still need to cycle, which can take a little while. so i say, use what you have now to get it started and then upgrade little by little when you can. hope this helps, good luck!!
Webmanny
Active member
I agree with the guys here. My personal experience includes them all. I started with a HOB filter that I used for 3 months. It was cheap and easy to access, but the splashing noise and the fact that I was getting too much algae building up everywhere forced me to change. Here comes my second mistake, I changed to a canister filter.
Canister filters are also great, but ONLY if you clean them up every 3 days or at least every week. If I could save you the time and efforts, don;t do this to yourself. They are a pain to unplug, drain and clean. Plus, you are forced to do a water change every time you clean it since you have to dump the water in the canister out.
Finally, I decide to go see Chris at FAOIS and get me a stand that could fit a sump and a SUMP and I could not be happier. The filter is just a sock that you can remove in seconds and just clean it with you water hose outside.
I clean the sock every other day in less than 15 minutes and my tank has never been cleaner. I can even say that the green hair algae I had growing everywhere and driving me crazy on my old tank is almost all gone in 3 weeks after installing the sump.
Do yourself a favor and start with HOB, but keep the goal of the sump very close in your future. I would even plan the stand and drill the overflow into the tank before you fill it up again with water. This will save you tons of time, effort and money down the road.
Good luck.
Canister filters are also great, but ONLY if you clean them up every 3 days or at least every week. If I could save you the time and efforts, don;t do this to yourself. They are a pain to unplug, drain and clean. Plus, you are forced to do a water change every time you clean it since you have to dump the water in the canister out.
Finally, I decide to go see Chris at FAOIS and get me a stand that could fit a sump and a SUMP and I could not be happier. The filter is just a sock that you can remove in seconds and just clean it with you water hose outside.
I clean the sock every other day in less than 15 minutes and my tank has never been cleaner. I can even say that the green hair algae I had growing everywhere and driving me crazy on my old tank is almost all gone in 3 weeks after installing the sump.
Do yourself a favor and start with HOB, but keep the goal of the sump very close in your future. I would even plan the stand and drill the overflow into the tank before you fill it up again with water. This will save you tons of time, effort and money down the road.
Good luck.
Thank u all very much for the input and words of wisdom. I agree with u guys, I am very eager to get started and getting a little ahead of myself. My previous tank was a freshwater setup, thus the hob setup and the wrong stand for a sump. I'm going to take the advice and wait till I at least get a stand fit for a sump. Again, thank u
I've had an HOB filter for the past 5 years. I've also been without a protein skimmer for the past 2 years. Sumps are nice to hide equipment and other things but not absolutely necessary. I change out my filter media regularly and do regulare water changes as well. Since I'm not heavily stocked I do OK without a skimmer but I always check my parameters just to make sure everything is balanced. It depends really on your setup and how much or what type of livestock you have as well as how much waste is being procuced. Some species are extremely delicate to water parameters and you will benefit from having a skimmer. I also have live sand and rock which are much needed for biological filtration.
