Ditch the Fluval?

joshh81 · 02/11/2009, 10:07 AM

Hey everyone....

I have a 29 gallon reef thats been setup for about a year now. I have 2 power heads as well as a fluval. I was considering removing the fluval completly since all thats in it is the foam and some bio blocks. I clean it out ever 2 weeks but since my tank is in a cove above my fireplace (which is never used) its a HUGE pain to get it in and out to clean.

My question is, if I have enough water flow via upgrading to larger power heads for water movement... can I ditch the fluval? I currently do not have a protein skimmer but I am in the process of purchasing that.

The tank is stocked with mostly soft corals, (1 hammer coral, green star polyps) a crap load of xenia that I am having to corral, and a couple of kenya trees.

I have 3 true perculas and plan on adding maybe 1 or 2 more small fish. Not sure which ones yet.

I have aprox. 25~ or so pounds of live rock.

SO.... what do you guys think? With an upgrade in powerheads, and a AquaC remora protein skimmer.... will that be enough to ditch the fluval?

sikpupy · 02/11/2009, 10:24 AM

I would think so. I had a 20L with a 204 fluval. It cleaned the tank (had crap in it everytime I cleaned it) but I think vacuming the tank did WAY more than anything else. Its nice to have, as long as you keep it clean, but I think a skimmer would be fine. Be careful though, adding another power head will not do anything for cleaning but rather blow stuff around. If you take off the canister, then you may be going backwards a little because you do not have that extra bit of water getting strained, so, it may end up looking dirty with stuff floating around and not getting picked up right away.

joshh81 · 02/11/2009, 10:33 AM

Thanks... I wish I had chosen a diffent location for it to make it easier, however without a decently large teardown...the tank has to stay where its at.

Its just such a huge pain to have to get that fluval out from behind it, usually spilling some water of an electrica cord or 2.

jbird69 · 02/11/2009, 10:42 AM

I would ditch the fluval, add a skimmer and another 10-15lbs LR. I had a fluval 305 for my 29 and it did a great job with a ton of maintanance. Now I have a 50 w a sump/fuge and skimmer and its a lot eaasier to maintain and the water quality it even better. Dont get rid of it tho as it can com in handy as a GFO reactor.

sikpupy · 02/11/2009, 01:31 PM

Yea, you could always take it offline for a while and experiment. As long as you dont sell it right away, your good to go.

YE||0W TA|\|G · 02/11/2009, 01:42 PM

+1 on ditching it. My 38 that I have right now has the fluval 405 and its such a pain in the butt. I feel like it needs to be cleaned constantly.. Thats why my 155 has a sump and the 38 is getting taken down

joshh81 · 02/11/2009, 04:34 PM

Thanks for the good input. I think I will shut it off and see how it goes for a few days. If I need it down the line I can always turn it back on and throw some carbon in it.

reefscape15 · 02/11/2009, 05:06 PM

Yes get rid of it. I have about 90lbs. LR in a 54gal. and 3 powerheads and a skimmer and 2.5gal fuge. I've never had a problem and water quality is great!

02/11/2009, 10:07 AM	#1
joshh81 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 113	Ditch the Fluval? Hey everyone.... I have a 29 gallon reef thats been setup for about a year now. I have 2 power heads as well as a fluval. I was considering removing the fluval completly since all thats in it is the foam and some bio blocks. I clean it out ever 2 weeks but since my tank is in a cove above my fireplace (which is never used) its a HUGE pain to get it in and out to clean. My question is, if I have enough water flow via upgrading to larger power heads for water movement... can I ditch the fluval? I currently do not have a protein skimmer but I am in the process of purchasing that. The tank is stocked with mostly soft corals, (1 hammer coral, green star polyps) a crap load of xenia that I am having to corral, and a couple of kenya trees. I have 3 true perculas and plan on adding maybe 1 or 2 more small fish. Not sure which ones yet. I have aprox. 25~ or so pounds of live rock. SO.... what do you guys think? With an upgrade in powerheads, and a AquaC remora protein skimmer.... will that be enough to ditch the fluval?

02/11/2009, 10:42 AM	#4
jbird69 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The beautiful State of Jefferson Posts: 2,751	I would ditch the fluval, add a skimmer and another 10-15lbs LR. I had a fluval 305 for my 29 and it did a great job with a ton of maintanance. Now I have a 50 w a sump/fuge and skimmer and its a lot eaasier to maintain and the water quality it even better. Dont get rid of it tho as it can com in handy as a GFO reactor. __________________ Broke Back Mountain is not a movie, its the pile of dead ninjas in Chuck Norris' back yard

02/11/2009, 01:42 PM	#6
YE\|\|0W TA\|\\|G Registered Member $YE\|\|0W TA\|\\|G's Avatar$ Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Hillsborough New Jersey Posts: 699	+1 on ditching it. My 38 that I have right now has the fluval 405 and its such a pain in the butt. I feel like it needs to be cleaned constantly.. Thats why my 155 has a sump and the 38 is getting taken down __________________ Rome was not built in a day, and neither was the ocean.. or our aquariums.. patience is they key to success.
$YE\|\|0W TA\|\\|G is offline$

02/11/2009, 05:06 PM	#8
reefscape15 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Elmira Heights, NY Posts: 2,812	Yes get rid of it. I have about 90lbs. LR in a 54gal. and 3 powerheads and a skimmer and 2.5gal fuge. I've never had a problem and water quality is great! __________________ A new beginning........... JIM Current Tank Info: 5g standard softie/zoa tank, just starting a 20H

02/11/2009, 10:24 AM	#2
sikpupy Moved On Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,431	I would think so. I had a 20L with a 204 fluval. It cleaned the tank (had crap in it everytime I cleaned it) but I think vacuming the tank did WAY more than anything else. Its nice to have, as long as you keep it clean, but I think a skimmer would be fine. Be careful though, adding another power head will not do anything for cleaning but rather blow stuff around. If you take off the canister, then you may be going backwards a little because you do not have that extra bit of water getting strained, so, it may end up looking dirty with stuff floating around and not getting picked up right away.

02/11/2009, 10:33 AM	#3
joshh81 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 113	Thanks... I wish I had chosen a diffent location for it to make it easier, however without a decently large teardown...the tank has to stay where its at. Its just such a huge pain to have to get that fluval out from behind it, usually spilling some water of an electrica cord or 2.

02/11/2009, 01:31 PM	#5
sikpupy Moved On Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,431	Yea, you could always take it offline for a while and experiment. As long as you dont sell it right away, your good to go.

02/11/2009, 04:34 PM	#7
joshh81 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 113	Thanks for the good input. I think I will shut it off and see how it goes for a few days. If I need it down the line I can always turn it back on and throw some carbon in it.