HOB Filter or Protein Skimmer?

[FutureBoyGenius]

If you only had space for either a protein skimmer or a Emperor HOB Filter which woud be more beneficial?

This will be on a 30 gallon extra-high tank for a pair of seahorses (hippocampus reidis). I will have LR, and be growing macro algea in this tank. I also plan on an army of snails.

The skimmer is a coralife 65 gallon and up skimmer. Venturi Style of course. The HOB is for a 60 gallon tank and has carbon filters in it.

 

[otisforme]

i would say a skimmer the filter will just become nitrate trap...

 

[BurntOutReefer]

HOB. It will help with flow. and as far as "nitrate trap"....just keep up your cleaning schedule....in your case, replacing carbon pads....
....keep in mind Hippos dont like strong direct flow......so there should be lots of macro algae form them to cling to....what you going to feed them...brine shrimp?

 

[masonicman]

Protein Skimmer def.
I had an Emperor HOB Filter, a canister and a PS. My nitrate problems did not stop until I got rid of both filters and just use the Protein skimmer only.

 

[SaltSolutions1]

CPR makes a HOB protein skimmer and biological filter all in one. I just bought one.

 

[Michael]

skimmer

 

[FutureBoyGenius]

Thank you for the responses, I feed frozen mysis shrimp. It seem to me that the protein skimmer would do a most neccessary job, but the HOB probably polishes the water more than I realize.

 

[GSMguy]

skimmer of course.

the HOB polishes the water but it does not remove organics from the system.

 

[chrisp074]

Skimmer

 

[FutureBoyGenius]

Would 175MH be too much power for a 30 gallon extra tall? (almost 25" deep)

 

[Gold Stripe]

Skimmer. You dont need the 175 unless you are going to have corals in there. If so then it would ok as long as you have a way of dealing with the heat.

 

[FutureBoyGenius]

Well I heard that seahorses aggrivate corals because they hitch onto them all the time. Do any of you know?

I have asked on the Seahorse Forum, but it seems to be dead most of the time. I think seahorses are pretty mysterious even to the experts. Maybe I just haven't found the right information.

 

[Michael]

they need a secure base to hang, usually it can be a coral, so your right there, they are also very finniky eaters, having said that thought they are gorgeous, so perhaps you should try the seahorse forum again

 

[BurntOutReefer]

http://hippocampus-info.com/seahorses/species.html

http://seahorse.org/

 

[GSMguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13099550#post13099550 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FutureBoyGenius
Would 175MH be too much power for a 30 gallon extra tall? (almost 25" deep)

no perfect, i have to say there is only one 175w bulb that is worth using, the iwasaki 15k , the other bulbs are meh

 

[FutureBoyGenius]

I would really just like to get rid of this problem and run a sump under it. I doubt you can buy a 30 gallon tank with an overflow though. There is no other way to plumb a sump is there?

 

[Gold Stripe]

Hang on back overflow box. But then you run the risk of a flood if power goes out and the siphon breaks. If you intend to keep a 30 then you should look at having the back drilled and use an internal overflow box from glass-holes. I believe there is one in the selling forum right now brand new for only $35 shipped. Thats the way I would go.