Does my HOB filter serve a purpose?

RedM3 · 12/24/2010, 09:56 AM

The more I read and research, it appears the live rock provides the vast majority of the filtration capabilities in saltwater tanks. That being said, does my HOB BakPak 2 filter really serve a purpose beyond the protein skimmer feature and some surface agitation? More directly, do I really need that filter medium that I have in there?

I'm wondering if I'd be able to turn the chamber with the filter medium into a VERY makeshift and small fuge...

Palting · 12/24/2010, 10:21 AM

Depending on the amount of live rock you have relative to your livestock, you can SLOWLY remove the biomedia from the HOB. You can then convert the HOB into whatever you want. Most people use it for the flow/surface agitation, carbon filtration. If you want to convert it to a refugium, it has to have a light for the macros to thrive.

dmarkham · 12/24/2010, 10:26 AM

There are people that turn them into fuges. You could also run carbon in it. I personaly do not have one. I think there are better options out there.

Gary Majchrzak · 12/24/2010, 10:29 AM

liverock provides BIOLOGICAL filtration.

there is also mechanical filtration and chemical filtration.
BakPak 2 can do all 3.

However..... IME/IMO it's best to allow liverock to perform biological filtration in a reef aquarium and use the HOB power filter for other things.

FWIW refugiums need not be lit.

RedM3 · 12/24/2010, 10:32 AM

Ah, I forgot about the mechanical / chemical portion of the filtration. FWIW, I'm running about 60 lbs of LR in my 55g.

Gary Majchrzak · 12/24/2010, 10:36 AM

personally, if using a BP2 I would use the BP's skimmer coupled with GAC (carbon)

dublo8 · 12/24/2010, 11:53 AM

I used a HOB filter on my 20 for almost a year before I broke the ice and built a sump. Unfortunatly rock will not break down and filter large pieces of uneaten food. I used the foam block and carbon in my ac70. I changed the media weekly.

syrinx · 12/24/2010, 01:30 PM

While I would not set up a tank with one, unless it was primarily a fish tank, I wouldn`t take one off that was on. As stated it is fine for a particulate filter as long as regularly cleaned. It is also as stated a great place for carbon and such- and provides flow. I wouldn`t use it for bio though.

Agu · 12/24/2010, 06:50 PM

Back when I still used skimmers the media chamber in the BakPak was used to hold a heater.

joeychitwood · 12/25/2010, 10:33 AM

Given the amount of live rock in your tank, I think you can remove about 20% of the filter media every few days, allowing time for the LR to increase its filtering capacity. Watch your water parameters carefully when doing the removal and slow down if the parameters change. Consider running carbon in the chamber, but whatever you do run, be sure that you clean it regularly so it doesn't become a detritus trap.

12/24/2010, 09:56 AM	#1
RedM3 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 187	Does my HOB filter serve a purpose? The more I read and research, it appears the live rock provides the vast majority of the filtration capabilities in saltwater tanks. That being said, does my HOB BakPak 2 filter really serve a purpose beyond the protein skimmer feature and some surface agitation? More directly, do I really need that filter medium that I have in there? I'm wondering if I'd be able to turn the chamber with the filter medium into a VERY makeshift and small fuge... __________________ Fish: 2 Percula Clownfish Inverts: 2 Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, CUC Corals: Kenya Tree, Long Polyp Leather Current Tank Info: 55g Reef

12/24/2010, 10:21 AM	#2
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	Depending on the amount of live rock you have relative to your livestock, you can SLOWLY remove the biomedia from the HOB. You can then convert the HOB into whatever you want. Most people use it for the flow/surface agitation, carbon filtration. If you want to convert it to a refugium, it has to have a light for the macros to thrive. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

12/24/2010, 10:29 AM	#4
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	different types of filtration! liverock provides BIOLOGICAL filtration. there is also mechanical filtration and chemical filtration. BakPak 2 can do all 3. However..... IME/IMO it's best to allow liverock to perform biological filtration in a reef aquarium and use the HOB power filter for other things. FWIW refugiums need not be lit. __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

12/24/2010, 10:36 AM	#6
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	personally, if using a BP2 I would use the BP's skimmer coupled with GAC (carbon) __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

12/24/2010, 11:53 AM	#7
dublo8 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Morgan Hill, Ca Posts: 3,225	I used a HOB filter on my 20 for almost a year before I broke the ice and built a sump. Unfortunatly rock will not break down and filter large pieces of uneaten food. I used the foam block and carbon in my ac70. I changed the media weekly. __________________ 10g IM fusion. Zoa and SPS dominant, Apex monitored, Ai Prime, MP10, sicce return.

12/24/2010, 10:26 AM	#3
dmarkham Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Joshua, TX Posts: 153	There are people that turn them into fuges. You could also run carbon in it. I personaly do not have one. I think there are better options out there.

12/24/2010, 10:32 AM	#5
RedM3 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 187	Ah, I forgot about the mechanical / chemical portion of the filtration. FWIW, I'm running about 60 lbs of LR in my 55g.

12/24/2010, 01:30 PM	#8
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	While I would not set up a tank with one, unless it was primarily a fish tank, I wouldn`t take one off that was on. As stated it is fine for a particulate filter as long as regularly cleaned. It is also as stated a great place for carbon and such- and provides flow. I wouldn`t use it for bio though.

12/24/2010, 06:50 PM	#9
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	Back when I still used skimmers the media chamber in the BakPak was used to hold a heater. __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

12/25/2010, 10:33 AM	#10
joeychitwood Schrödinger's Mod Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 3,488	Given the amount of live rock in your tank, I think you can remove about 20% of the filter media every few days, allowing time for the LR to increase its filtering capacity. Watch your water parameters carefully when doing the removal and slow down if the parameters change. Consider running carbon in the chamber, but whatever you do run, be sure that you clean it regularly so it doesn't become a detritus trap.

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