skimmer or fuge w/ skimmer?

Mappelbaum37 · 04/14/2008, 07:22 PM

I'm currently battling hair algae/diatoms right now. This is what I have done since the algae started occuring...

1) Switched from spring to RO water
2) Went from 5 to 10 gallon weekly water changes
3) removed noodles in fluval due to the 100 lbs of live rock in my tank
4) Am running chemi-pure in fluval, in addition to carbon.
5) Clean fluval 405 bi-weekly
6) switched from oceanic sea salt to Red sea salt (includes calcium, natural elements, nitrate and phosphate free)
7) increased flow
8) hooked up a phosban reactor
9) put chaeto in the tank
10) switched 2 out of 4 bulbs in light fixture fixture

Now I was looking to upgrade from my prism protein skimmer to an octo BH300F (below). I was talking to someone else today and he said to get the cpr HOB refugium w/ a protein skimmer. I have a few questions about this. (everything needs to be HOB bec. I have no sump)

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...fm?pcatid=12591

http://www.reefspecialty.com/produc...products_id=266

- Is the skimmer that is attached to the HOB fuge better then the prism I have?
- In the future I know I will probably get 1 more fish for my tank. In the long run, for the algae and amount of waste/fish in my tank, which product would be more effective? (7 fish total)
- I am running phosban to lower phosphates and the RO water I started using has already decreased my nitrates to about 10 ppm. Will adding caulerpa or chaeto (which I already have and it isnt doing so well) to the fuge even do well? seeing as I am already removing most of the phosphates/ nitrates with the phos. reactor and RO water.
- If the macro algae wont do well, then whats the point to the fuge?
- Overall, for my situation, which would be better to spend my money on?

Thanks a bunch.. Just making sure I spend my money wisely.

Mappelbaum37 · 04/14/2008, 07:25 PM

sorry about the links--Lets try this again

http://www.reefspecialty.com/product...roducts_id=266

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=12591

Mikeeal · 04/14/2008, 07:39 PM

I have no experience with the Octo, but the CPR's I've had in the past weren't too impressive. A 30 or 40 gallon, sure, but a 75 gallon, nah. Personally I'd put a much better skimmer on there and if the HA still doesn't subside, then look into a HOB fuge alongside your new skimmer.

Mappelbaum37 · 04/14/2008, 08:09 PM

quite agreeable. Thanks for the advice.

Mikeeal · 04/14/2008, 08:45 PM

Good luck homie!!!

Shawn D · 04/14/2008, 10:20 PM

I dont know much about hob but the octo is a much better skimmer, I would look into the bermuda rogue too

OnlyCrimson · 04/14/2008, 10:33 PM

The cpr is not gonna cut it for more than 30g. Octo all the way here.

eddnyster · 04/14/2008, 10:39 PM

when it comes to HOB...in my opinion, nothing beats the Rogue w/mag3 (mag 5 if you want to "mod" it)

04/14/2008, 07:22 PM	#1
Mappelbaum37 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 886	skimmer or fuge w/ skimmer? I'm currently battling hair algae/diatoms right now. This is what I have done since the algae started occuring... 1) Switched from spring to RO water 2) Went from 5 to 10 gallon weekly water changes 3) removed noodles in fluval due to the 100 lbs of live rock in my tank 4) Am running chemi-pure in fluval, in addition to carbon. 5) Clean fluval 405 bi-weekly 6) switched from oceanic sea salt to Red sea salt (includes calcium, natural elements, nitrate and phosphate free) 7) increased flow 8) hooked up a phosban reactor 9) put chaeto in the tank 10) switched 2 out of 4 bulbs in light fixture fixture Now I was looking to upgrade from my prism protein skimmer to an octo BH300F (below). I was talking to someone else today and he said to get the cpr HOB refugium w/ a protein skimmer. I have a few questions about this. (everything needs to be HOB bec. I have no sump) http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...fm?pcatid=12591 http://www.reefspecialty.com/produc...products_id=266 - Is the skimmer that is attached to the HOB fuge better then the prism I have? - In the future I know I will probably get 1 more fish for my tank. In the long run, for the algae and amount of waste/fish in my tank, which product would be more effective? (7 fish total) - I am running phosban to lower phosphates and the RO water I started using has already decreased my nitrates to about 10 ppm. Will adding caulerpa or chaeto (which I already have and it isnt doing so well) to the fuge even do well? seeing as I am already removing most of the phosphates/ nitrates with the phos. reactor and RO water. - If the macro algae wont do well, then whats the point to the fuge? - Overall, for my situation, which would be better to spend my money on? Thanks a bunch.. Just making sure I spend my money wisely. __________________ Matt Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef

04/14/2008, 07:25 PM	#2
Mappelbaum37 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 886	sorry about the links--Lets try this again http://www.reefspecialty.com/product...roducts_id=266 http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=12591 __________________ Matt Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef

04/14/2008, 07:39 PM	#3
Mikeeal Same avatar since '05 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Northern Nevada Posts: 1,285	I have no experience with the Octo, but the CPR's I've had in the past weren't too impressive. A 30 or 40 gallon, sure, but a 75 gallon, nah. Personally I'd put a much better skimmer on there and if the HA still doesn't subside, then look into a HOB fuge alongside your new skimmer. __________________ "The leanest burger in the world!!! can be the MEEEAANEST burger in the world..if you cook it that way......" Current Tank Info: 125g fowlr

04/14/2008, 08:09 PM	#4
Mappelbaum37 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 886	quite agreeable. Thanks for the advice. __________________ Matt Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef

04/14/2008, 08:45 PM	#5
Mikeeal Same avatar since '05 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Northern Nevada Posts: 1,285	Good luck homie!!! __________________ "The leanest burger in the world!!! can be the MEEEAANEST burger in the world..if you cook it that way......" Current Tank Info: 125g fowlr

04/14/2008, 10:20 PM	#6
Shawn D Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Park City, UT Posts: 725	I dont know much about hob but the octo is a much better skimmer, I would look into the bermuda rogue too

04/14/2008, 10:33 PM	#7
OnlyCrimson Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Royal Oak,Michigan Posts: 863	The cpr is not gonna cut it for more than 30g. Octo all the way here.

04/14/2008, 10:39 PM	#8
eddnyster Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Whitter, CA Posts: 275	when it comes to HOB...in my opinion, nothing beats the Rogue w/mag3 (mag 5 if you want to "mod" it)