Fluval 305

[kimmi.kim]

does anyone have a fluval 305? is this good for a 46 gallon tank?
i have always just had a hang on the back penguin filter, and no sump or refugium. is it a good idea to replace my current filter with a fluval 305? i dont like the idea of getting a sump, even tho i'm sure everyone will say its better, because i wont be able to drill holes in my tank.

[Shiandy]

You could always go for a HOB overflow and use a sump if you don't have a drilled tank.

The Fluval will be ok, but many steer away from External Canister filters are they can be a source for Nitrates, but if your prepared to clean them regular basis (every 2 weeks) you should be fine.

Some people use them with live rock rubble in with better results.

They can also be useful for running carbon or phosban etc or even just to provide water movement, so if you do get one to start with and then later decide to retro fit an overflow it can still have its uses.

Additionally with the right amount of flow and live rock and regular water changes, you can get away without any external mechanical filtration.

[kimmi.kim]

Thanks shiandy for the info, that really helps!
Does anyone have any designs/pictures with an HOB overflow and sump?
yea, i'm not really the diligent regular cleaning type of person, so maybe i should research on other ways to get a sump instead.
This hobby is getting more and more expensive. i regret not doing the research before and asked my lfs to hook me up with everything. so far, she gave me the wrong lights, and now the wrong type of filter. now i do not go to that lfs. grrr....

[kimmi.kim]

oh and i think i might not have enough flow, since i am getting cyano and hair algae on my sand. i checked my phosphates and they are 0, all my other params are good too. this was actually why i started looking into getting a canister filter to get more flow....

[Shiandy]

What type of setup are you going for ? fish only or corals ?

You can add a couple of powerheads to increase the flow you want to aim for 15x the tank volume, a couple of Hydor Koralias 2's would go well.

Here's a pic of a HOB overflow:



And a good link here also:

http://www.melevsreef.com/install_sump.html

[Michael]

hi-kim, what have you got in the way of flow at present

[kimmi.kim]

Shiandy- i currently have 2 clownfish, and lps corals - leather, mushrooms, zoas and green star polyps. but i would like to keep an anemone as well.
i have been researching, and lots of comments are that HOB overflows can leak??

Michael - i have 2 koralias, a 1 and a 2. and the water flow from the HOB filter and prism protein skimmer.

[Michael]

sounds ok for a 46, perhaps adjusting a ph may help, fwiw i dont think koralia 1s are much cop, but on paper your flow is ok, id change the 1 myself though

[Shiandy]

I've no real experiance with the HOB overflows, but I'm sure many on these forums use them, so I'm sure they will be able to comment on there reliability.

[Shiandy]

oh, and I agree with Michael, your flow seems ok for a 46g, perhaps try moving them around a little and elimate some of those dead spots, I would also be tempted to upgrade the no.1 for another no.2

[kimmi.kim]

right now i have one on each back corner of the tank, pointing up. should i point them down then to give the bottom of the tank more flow?

[Michael]

Originally posted by kimmi.kim
right now i have one on each back corner of the tank, pointing up. should i point them down then to give the bottom of the tank more flow?

put them a few inches down on each side and point them acroos the tank at each other slightly towards the front glass to start with, they should then meet around the centre front and cause some turbulance, then it this dont work just move them about abit, you will get there, im always messing about with my flow

[Shiandy]

I try and get the two streams to hit each other, this will create lots of random flow patterns, but it really is trial and error.

[kimmi.kim]

ok will try that tonite. if i remmeber correctly, i think one of mine is higher than the other hmm.......that might be the cause of bad flow....

[kimmi.kim]

but has anyone else tried a fluval instead of a sump and HOB overflow? just wondering what are the pros and cons for each.

[Michael]

kim they are not compairable, a canister and a sump, the advantage of a sump is its somewhere to hide your equipment, heater, phos reactor, skimmer etc, a canister can add to water volume and can be used for multiple tasks, it depends on what you want it to do, its not a filter really for a reef, its good for water volume and adding a chemical filteration like carbon or rowaphos, etc, you can use them as filters, but need to keep them fairly clean, best not to rely on them for filteration but they can be, if you intend to run this 305 then fill it will some carbon and nothing else, clean it every 2-3 weeks and replace the carbon when you clean it

[kimmi.kim]

hm...having a sump to hide all the 'ugly' stuff is a good idea, but i'm not really good with plumbing, so i dont feel confident about that. i am thinking of replacing my existing hob filter with this canister filter, to run carbon and to add water flow.
so for some people instead of a filter, they have a phos reactor..correct?

[Juruense]

I have owned many canisters of various types and they are just too much trouble to clean and will eventually leak out on the floor. I do not recommend then in any situation.

I have a 40 gallon with no sump and its a hassle because I have so much visible stuff, so get or build a sump my friend its the best way to go. Until then you might consider a better skimmer and convert the HOB to a refugium.

[BurntOutReefer]

Kimmi,,
To answer your question, yes a Fluval 305 will be right for your tank, and yes, I have succesfully used them on my reeftanks...
HOWEVER, after stating that, you really need to keep your maintainance up with them, They are quite good at what they do, which is converting ammon and nitrite into nitrates.
I would suggest running it filled with LR rubble an carbon if you are really set on using them, and clean once a week along with 10% waterchanges...
good luck....

[kimmi.kim]

i guess i will just have to keep up with my maintenance with them....thanks guys for all the input! greatly appreciate it!

[kimmi.kim]

ok...so i repositioned my powerheads to aim at each other and i see very good flow in the middle of the tank going downwards. and i siphoned out all my cyano and algae out with a turkey baster. poor clownfishes went to hide everytime the turkey baster was in their tank.
i am not really "set" on using the fluval 305....i guess i'm just not sure what i should do. i just want what's best for my tank....sigh. (and i guess the easiest for me..heh heh...but from my experience, salt water is nothing but easy...)

[Shiandy]

Kimmi, just go with whats best for you.

I've been running a sumpless system for the last 3 years, and using an external canister filter with good results, just get yourself into a routine of cleaning it out when you do a water change, either 10% weekly, or 20% a fortnight and you will be fine.

As you've found out Salt water does take a certain amount of commitment, and there really are no short cuts, but with time and dedication you will have a beautiful reef in your home as a reward.

[kimmi.kim]

yea i just don't want to buy something and then later find out that its wrong for my tank and i have to buy something else. so you use a canister filter yourself? ok that is more reassurance for me that a canister filter will be ok to use just as long as i clean it regularly....i guess i'll have to! Thank you shiandy for all your comments!!

[Shiandy]

Read this post also, as it came up a week back with pro's / cons of Canister Filters:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1509343

[kimmi.kim]

shiandy, i read your comment on that post, and seems like the cleaning isnt so bad. i was thinking that i had to unhook everything and clean out the ENTIRE canister. but if its just the baskets and replacing the media, that doesnt sound bad at all.