Is a hang on filter enough???

[dantj99]

Okay, so I have talked to some people and they are all suprised that I use a hang on for my 40 gallong tank as a filter. I use an aqua clear 70, rated for up to 70 gallon tank. Is this not good enough? I don't have the space or money for a sump, so that is out of the question. Should I invest in something else? Your thoughts and help is welcomed, and thanks. :reading:

Dan

 

[reeflover101]

you can find cheap used sumps and overflow boxes for that size of tank. i have seen them for as low as 50.00 or if u can find one that is cracked i will help repair. But a sump is a great investment. for a saltwater tank.

 

[spieszak]

Sumps are a great thing to have. You don't have to have one. Listen to your tank, it will tell you if you need more...People ran for years without them.. they make things easier but for the most part that's really only because of added volume. Depending on what your doing, they can be overkill. Your tank will tell you.

 

[macclellan]

What is the HOB filtering? Sumps aren't filters exactly.

 

[reeflover101]

A sump helps cool the main display and "does" filter if it is setup to, with bio balls, live rock exc some have a place to put filter floss exc. a sump also hold good bacteria in the bio balls or as i would choose live rock. I have been told over the years that bio balls can build up nitrates. I never did get into the tech stuff but i have been keeping a saltwater tank for over 20 years since i was 15. but you need to chose what you want to do. everyone does different you will have to learn from your mistake like all of us has done. I have made some big one in salt water lol. But sumps are really a good thing. plus more water volume

 

[Flavum]

If I were going with one filter Id probably put my money into a nice protein skimmer. Although most of the efficient ones go in sumps. I would agree with Joel that just a sump doesnt really do much for you besides added water volume .

I Currently run a 34 gallon with just a skimmer. do waterchanges every other week but only have 2 fish so it works out great. Its called the berlin system, tends to be alot easier on the wallet.

 

[S13<3]

im using an aquaclear 50 on my 20l and have been the 2yrs my tank has been up (i used the aquaclear for 4yrs freshwater prior to converting to full blown saltwater, great filter imo) i see nothing wrong in using a hob filter, but u cant use it alone, you NEED more circulation than the hob filter can provide, i keep all kinds of corals including a couple sps with no issues, all my corals show great growth and my fish/inverts are doing just as good as the corals, i do weekly water changes of 1-2.5gal and my water tests great the few times i test a month

 

[macclellan]

A sump is a box with water pumped through it, just like an HOB. It's what goes on inside that counts.

I see nothing wrong with using a HOB for mechanical (small amount of filter floss changed weekly) & chemical (carbon and/or purigen) filtration and water movement. That plus a skimmer, as Flavum said, is a great combo for a small tank... it's what I do anyways, lol. People also mod HOBs (especially the large aquaclears) into refugiums.

 

[cee]

If you want another hang on filter for free and are willing to pick it up I have one

 

[Steve W]

Keep up with your water changes and the more live rock the better, and I think you should be fine.

I have one nano tank (24 gallon) and the only sump it has is 3 or 4 gallons in the back where I have filters (a lot like the HOB) and a HOB skimmer. Seems to work great. I have another 10 gallon tank with stuff I eventually plan to move into my 72 gallon when I get it up. It has a HOB filter and no skimmer. I have lots and lots of live rock and sand in both and they seem to do well for the most part. I do 10-15% water changes every week religiously.

IMO, the most important thing you need is lot of live rock. If you've got that you can get away with a lot of sins.

I plan on a sump and refugium on the 72 gallon but I'm wondering if they are more convenience than necessity.

Steve W

 

[Knox_Legend]

I have a Aqua Clear 70 on my 5 gallon converted to a fuge and I run some chemi pure elite and purigen in it and my tank is going great! I have seen some pretty good looking tanks on here with nothing but HOB stuff.