Ok so to keep this short and to the point I have a standard 20g that I was to make into a basic reef setup. I'm living in a appt so space is limited and I can't have my 75 set up so the 29 will have to do until I move out. So where I'm going to put itmthenonly option I really have is a HOB. Is this worth it? I've always had sumps with skimmers and what not on my tanks so this is a little new to me. What's the best way to go about setting up this aquarium? PLEASE HELP IM GOING THROUGH WITHDRAWELS HERE!!!
Need some advice and opinions please
- Thread starter chris31
- Start date
I have a 17gallon tank and I don't have any filters, pumps, skimmers, or refugium. I simply have 3 power heads, a heater, and a light. I do a 2 or 3 gallon water change every 7-10 days and have had the tank for over a year now with a mixed reef. As long as you do the water changes, you don't really need the skimmer or filters IMO.
mandarin_goby
New member
I had an Aquaclear that I turned into a fuge on my 12 long. I also had 2 pumps/powerheads - a Koralia nano at one end (the tank was 36" long) and a little Red Sea at the other end with the Aquaclear. Some corals really like flow.
Currently, I have a CPR Bak Pak HOB skimmer and an Aquclear on my 40 breeder and 2 powerheads, one on each end. I've never used a sump.
Currently, I have a CPR Bak Pak HOB skimmer and an Aquclear on my 40 breeder and 2 powerheads, one on each end. I've never used a sump.
mandarin_goby
New member
30" lights are hard to find, but if you do find one, a dual t5ho would work.
You could also try a clamp on LED bulb, one may do the trick.
A Koralia nano for flow can't hurt
You could also try a clamp on LED bulb, one may do the trick.
A Koralia nano for flow can't hurt
I have a 20g false biotope SPS / LPS reef that I have no mechanical filteration on. It's been running for a good 3 months or so now.
For water movement I have a small Sicce powerhead and a Koralia Nano, each on either side of the tank.
For heating a small 50w heater.
For lighting... a single Kessil A150w Sky Blue (the far sides of the aquarium are a little dim, doesn't prevent the Caulerpa and Halimeda from growing there though)
For filtration...
- 4-inch DSB (collected from the reefs around my beach house)
- Two large pieces of LR, roughly around 7 KG.
- Caulerpa that I harvest monthly.
- Halimeda
- Chaeto Ball
- A single mangrove tree
- Water change of 5g once a week with local reef water (if i go to the beach house that weekend), or with a synthetic salt mix + distilled water.
The only thing about running this system skimmer-less is that I need to "skim" the surface of the water daily with a pitcher to remove oil's and waste that eventually collect from fish waste.
The only inhabitant I have in the tank is a 1.5 inch Volitan's Lionfish. (He decimated my pod population and is now being fed baby guppies from my pond)
I don't really have algae growth on the glass, it's just a very thin and barely noticeable layer that the micro-fauna usually eat up by the next day so I don't really have to clean the tank glass but once a week.
Overall I'm happy with it. Hope this helps / gives you idea's for your own reef ecosystem.
For water movement I have a small Sicce powerhead and a Koralia Nano, each on either side of the tank.
For heating a small 50w heater.
For lighting... a single Kessil A150w Sky Blue (the far sides of the aquarium are a little dim, doesn't prevent the Caulerpa and Halimeda from growing there though)
For filtration...
- 4-inch DSB (collected from the reefs around my beach house)
- Two large pieces of LR, roughly around 7 KG.
- Caulerpa that I harvest monthly.
- Halimeda
- Chaeto Ball
- A single mangrove tree
- Water change of 5g once a week with local reef water (if i go to the beach house that weekend), or with a synthetic salt mix + distilled water.
The only thing about running this system skimmer-less is that I need to "skim" the surface of the water daily with a pitcher to remove oil's and waste that eventually collect from fish waste.
The only inhabitant I have in the tank is a 1.5 inch Volitan's Lionfish. (He decimated my pod population and is now being fed baby guppies from my pond)
I don't really have algae growth on the glass, it's just a very thin and barely noticeable layer that the micro-fauna usually eat up by the next day so I don't really have to clean the tank glass but once a week.
Overall I'm happy with it. Hope this helps / gives you idea's for your own reef ecosystem.
Cloudburst2000
Active member
On my old 25g, I had a HOB CPR Aqaufuge. This increased gallonage by about 3g. It also worked great as a fuge. My particular Aquafuge model also had a built-in skimmer. A friend also an Aquafuge minus the built-in skimmer so he also had a HOB skimmer.
TylerHaworth
New member
Mediabaskets.com/inTank makes a media basket for the Aquaclear 110 that has a specific spot to house a Tunze 9002... I'd check that out, they have great products.
http://shop.mediabaskets.com/images/IMG_3473.jpg
http://shop.mediabaskets.com/images/IMG_3473.jpg
reefgoddess808
New member
I have a 56 gal FOWLR with a HOB marineland 350 and a HOB aquatop pse1 skimmer. So far so good. The skimmer is a bit bubbly but other than that it keeps my tank clean.
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