What should I do with my Aquaclear 110?

thebanker · 07/31/2009, 03:47 PM

I don't have a sump, but I have a hang-on-back aquaclear 3 stage filter. Currently it has no media in it... I use it just to push water around to supplement my powerheads.

Should I put some sand in that thing? Live rock? GAC? Phos-ban?

mikejrice · 07/31/2009, 03:49 PM

Turn it into a fuge. Just get a small clip on PC light and add some chaeto. I ran one like this on my 20g for about a year and it worked great.

thebanker · 07/31/2009, 04:01 PM

I thought about that. A dude from the fish store said it was too small to be an adequate fuge. It's the biggest HOB they make.

I'm down with the idea. Should I put some live sand in there? What sort of lights work best?

luv4paws2 · 07/31/2009, 04:08 PM

Sand will just cause a nightmare! I modded one by trimming the impellar (halving the flow) and siliconing in a 3" tall dam to keep the sand away from the motor. It didnt work, I was cleaning noisy annoying sand grains out of the motor weekly. I finally took all the sand out and kept alot of lr rubble in there and it worked awesome as a fuge.

thebanker · 07/31/2009, 05:00 PM

I thought so. I don't really have a major need to heavily mod it, especially with the variable flow on the impeller.

I'm thinking about just putting some LR bits in there to use as a bio filter and flow machine... not necessarily a refugium, but maybe down the line.

My other idea is to turn the intake tube into a DIY overflow, though it will take some home depot trips to their pvc section. Anyone have any thoughts around this part?

cveverly · 07/31/2009, 05:10 PM

I used one of these as a refugium. I removed the top, added live rock rubble and chaeto algae. Put a small light over it to support chaeto growth and it gives a great place to grow pods.

I did not cut my impeller. If you move the suction tube all the way (slowest flow) and then lift the tube a little and move it a little more the flow will be greatly reduced. If you leave it in the correct location for slow flow it will still be to fast for a refugium.

koresample · 07/31/2009, 06:02 PM

I have one on my Fluval Osaka 40 gallon and it works great. I added a couple of pieces of lexan to make a bubble trap and filled the main part with lr rubble and live sand plus a bunch of macro. I put a coralife mini PC daylight on top on a timer for 12hrs on and 12 off, stocked it with pods and also run carbon foam in the bubble trap plus phosphate removal media. My mandarin is fat and happy and so is the rest of the tank.

thebanker · 07/31/2009, 07:36 PM

whoa! koresample can you take some pictures? that's really cool. I would love to grow some copepods in there!

thebanker · 08/08/2009, 09:05 PM

my noob *** has been doing some more reading. i'm thinking a turf algae scrubber would be the best option (especially since i feel i've been needlesly battling green hair algae.

... with the turf algae scrubber, i only worry about the smell.

jwalker314 · 08/08/2009, 11:19 PM

using it as a HOB overflow might work well, even for others, if you simply cut the back part out and added one or two bulkheads, it simply wouldn't flow over and back into the tank, and if the bulkhead gets clogged, it wont overflow, it will jsut cascade back into tank. Plus you dont have to worry abouit a siphon, simply cover the bulkhead up and fill the tank with water and turn the pump on.

sounds like it would work to me, might use that idea for a smaller tank build.

bergzy · 08/09/2009, 12:47 AM

i have never found a refugium to be too small for any size tank. it is far better to have an effective, efficient and small refugium than no refgium.

here is a thread to an excellent 110 refugium conversion. overkill but excellent.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1

thebanker · 09/04/2009, 01:10 AM

for the time being, I put about 4 lbs of live rock rubble in the aquaclear, and hooked up its intake tube to a tom's surface skimmer. also i jammed some chaeto in there, since it does get a good bit of light from my PC fixture I modded (bent the reflectors a little, really technical stuff).

j tavares · 09/05/2009, 07:14 AM

I run mine with polyfilters and purigen its upflow like a media reactor moves water across the surface of the tank is really easy to change out once the polyfilter and purigen change color w organics so just use it as is , you won"t find a better hang on the tank filter I have three on var ious Tanks , that and Eheim for canisters are the way to go!

sjfishguy · 09/05/2009, 09:48 AM

What kind of skimmer do you have one your tank?

thebanker · 09/05/2009, 11:00 AM

I have a piece of crap seaclone now. my CPR Aero Force is on order, should get it next week!!!

scubanoah24 · 09/05/2009, 12:37 PM

i just fill mine with carbon or chemipure. works great

07/31/2009, 03:47 PM	#1
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	What should I do with my Aquaclear 110? I don't have a sump, but I have a hang-on-back aquaclear 3 stage filter. Currently it has no media in it... I use it just to push water around to supplement my powerheads. Should I put some sand in that thing? Live rock? GAC? Phos-ban?

07/31/2009, 04:08 PM	#4
luv4paws2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lakeland, FL Posts: 612	Sand will just cause a nightmare! I modded one by trimming the impellar (halving the flow) and siliconing in a 3" tall dam to keep the sand away from the motor. It didnt work, I was cleaning noisy annoying sand grains out of the motor weekly. I finally took all the sand out and kept alot of lr rubble in there and it worked awesome as a fuge. __________________ If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed. Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: 110 x-tall, 30 gal sump/fuge

08/09/2009, 12:47 AM	#11
bergzy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: OC CA USA Posts: 5,299	i have never found a refugium to be too small for any size tank. it is far better to have an effective, efficient and small refugium than no refgium. here is a thread to an excellent 110 refugium conversion. overkill but excellent. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1 __________________ The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule it. H.L. Mencken Ben. Current Tank Info: 180g sps, 90g cube clam biotope.

09/05/2009, 09:48 AM	#14
sjfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Delray Beach, FL Posts: 2,212	What kind of skimmer do you have one your tank? __________________ Rich nanoTOTM May '08 29 years saltwater, 19 years reefs Current Tank Info: 65 mixed reef

07/31/2009, 03:49 PM	#2
mikejrice Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 278	Turn it into a fuge. Just get a small clip on PC light and add some chaeto. I ran one like this on my 20g for about a year and it worked great.

07/31/2009, 04:01 PM	#3
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	I thought about that. A dude from the fish store said it was too small to be an adequate fuge. It's the biggest HOB they make. I'm down with the idea. Should I put some live sand in there? What sort of lights work best?

07/31/2009, 05:00 PM	#5
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	I thought so. I don't really have a major need to heavily mod it, especially with the variable flow on the impeller. I'm thinking about just putting some LR bits in there to use as a bio filter and flow machine... not necessarily a refugium, but maybe down the line. My other idea is to turn the intake tube into a DIY overflow, though it will take some home depot trips to their pvc section. Anyone have any thoughts around this part?

07/31/2009, 05:10 PM	#6
cveverly Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Port Clinton, Oh Posts: 1,470	I used one of these as a refugium. I removed the top, added live rock rubble and chaeto algae. Put a small light over it to support chaeto growth and it gives a great place to grow pods. I did not cut my impeller. If you move the suction tube all the way (slowest flow) and then lift the tube a little and move it a little more the flow will be greatly reduced. If you leave it in the correct location for slow flow it will still be to fast for a refugium.

07/31/2009, 06:02 PM	#7
koresample Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Westbank,BC, Canada Posts: 1	I have one on my Fluval Osaka 40 gallon and it works great. I added a couple of pieces of lexan to make a bubble trap and filled the main part with lr rubble and live sand plus a bunch of macro. I put a coralife mini PC daylight on top on a timer for 12hrs on and 12 off, stocked it with pods and also run carbon foam in the bubble trap plus phosphate removal media. My mandarin is fat and happy and so is the rest of the tank.

07/31/2009, 07:36 PM	#8
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	whoa! koresample can you take some pictures? that's really cool. I would love to grow some copepods in there!

08/08/2009, 09:05 PM	#9
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	my noob *** has been doing some more reading. i'm thinking a turf algae scrubber would be the best option (especially since i feel i've been needlesly battling green hair algae. ... with the turf algae scrubber, i only worry about the smell.

08/08/2009, 11:19 PM	#10
jwalker314 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Landenberg, PA Posts: 421	using it as a HOB overflow might work well, even for others, if you simply cut the back part out and added one or two bulkheads, it simply wouldn't flow over and back into the tank, and if the bulkhead gets clogged, it wont overflow, it will jsut cascade back into tank. Plus you dont have to worry abouit a siphon, simply cover the bulkhead up and fill the tank with water and turn the pump on. sounds like it would work to me, might use that idea for a smaller tank build.

09/04/2009, 01:10 AM	#12
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	for the time being, I put about 4 lbs of live rock rubble in the aquaclear, and hooked up its intake tube to a tom's surface skimmer. also i jammed some chaeto in there, since it does get a good bit of light from my PC fixture I modded (bent the reflectors a little, really technical stuff).

09/05/2009, 07:14 AM	#13
j tavares Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,157	I run mine with polyfilters and purigen its upflow like a media reactor moves water across the surface of the tank is really easy to change out once the polyfilter and purigen change color w organics so just use it as is , you won"t find a better hang on the tank filter I have three on var ious Tanks , that and Eheim for canisters are the way to go!

09/05/2009, 11:00 AM	#15
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	I have a piece of crap seaclone now. my CPR Aero Force is on order, should get it next week!!!

09/05/2009, 12:37 PM	#16
scubanoah24 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: columbus, ohio Posts: 58	i just fill mine with carbon or chemipure. works great