Hang on back filter vs Hang on back refugiam with skimmer

[ReefWhatYouSow]

Want everyone's opinion on this one. I have a 20 gal tank that was gifted to me with a hang on the back filter. When I changed the filters everything spiked a little.

I heard that a hang on back refugiam with skimmer will help maintain everything. Thoughts?

 

[aguila88psi]

I would do a hob refugium with carbon and filter floss so its a combination of both, just run two pads of filter floss at a time where you alternate replacement.

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

Is there one you can recommend or direct me too? I'm lucky enough to have figured out that there was another way of doing it lol...

 

[aguila88psi]

You can use two hob filters actually, one for carbon and filters and the other filled with macro algae and just figure our how to mount a light to it, just Google hang on back refugium and there's lots to read.

 

[brackish10]

I actually use both a refugium and filter. The refugium is a finnex breeder box with a light and around 100gph.

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

Do you have any problems with your levels spiking when you change out your filters? I heard that you should rinse them daily with RO water but I don't always have the opportunity to do that.

 

[brackish10]

I had my fluval running for a year. I never touched the filter sponge. I was using the breeder box refugium then too.

 

[canttouchthis]

I use an aquaclear 70 hob that I converted to a fugeand only use filter floss and I jave a skimmer and personally I was iffy about at first but I have no issues my tank os always crystal clear