Hang on filter

jpocock · 09/21/2013, 10:02 AM

I was wondering if I should put my whisper hang on filter on my take. Right now I have a wet/dry filter, live rock and a protein skimmer. My hang on filter is from A old fresh water tank I had set up years ago. Will it help do anything?

spieszak · 09/21/2013, 10:07 AM

They can help with flow, and can be a good place to run carbon if you don't have another spot for it. That is the good side. The bad side is they can cause excess salt creep, and if you run them with media and do not clean them often, the can "cause" a build up in nitrates.

MondoBongo · 09/21/2013, 10:09 AM

It's not needed with live rock and a skimmer. Generally HOB, canister, and wet/dry filters are frowned upon for reef tanks. They can turn in to nitrate factories.

I have two small HOB filters on my QT tank, but only because I needed gentle water movement and the sponges in lieu of live rock.

jpocock · 09/21/2013, 10:12 AM

Can you ever have to much flow or carbon?

Cu455 · 09/21/2013, 10:12 AM

I had an extra hang on back filter so I put it on my tank to run carbon one time. Now it's filled with rock rubble. It's kind of like my garbage for rocks, whenever I find a lose piece I throw it in there. Since I have been doing this I have notice the great growth a constant polyp extension from the corals that are underneath the waterfall. I am not sure if it is the current or getting hit from falling food all day but it has something to do with it. I was thinking of adding another one.

I have to say lots of stuff gets stuck in there. When I rinse the rocks the water gets pretty dirty. I found a hermit crab in there once. He had to live there for at least a month.

jpocock · 09/21/2013, 10:16 AM

What precautions do I need to take with my wet dry filter stop nitrates from get out-of-control?

spieszak · 09/21/2013, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpocock

Can you ever have to much flow or carbon?

Yes, you can. Too much flow will make coral placement tough, and too much carbon (or maybe low quality carbon) has been linked to HLLE. (As much as anything hobby related can be linked, in that no one is really doing great scientific studies on ornamental fish)
Having said that, its not likely a HOB is going to get you to too much flow, and honestly, as far as the carbon thing, buy high quality, and only run when you feel necessary.
I'm not endorsing the HOB use, just trying to provide the facts. Whether or not it makes sense on your tank is something the tank will tell you over time. Make sense?

jpocock · 09/21/2013, 10:34 AM

My wet dry filter has a spot to put a carbon pad. With that being said I do not want to run carbon in two places? I have been changing the carbon pad every three mouths or so.

09/21/2013, 10:02 AM	#1
jpocock Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 67	Hang on filter I was wondering if I should put my whisper hang on filter on my take. Right now I have a wet/dry filter, live rock and a protein skimmer. My hang on filter is from A old fresh water tank I had set up years ago. Will it help do anything?

09/21/2013, 10:07 AM	#2
spieszak Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,877	They can help with flow, and can be a good place to run carbon if you don't have another spot for it. That is the good side. The bad side is they can cause excess salt creep, and if you run them with media and do not clean them often, the can "cause" a build up in nitrates. __________________ I'm new to this saltwater thing, all comments should be taken with a BUCKET of salt! :-) -Stacey

09/21/2013, 10:12 AM	#4
jpocock Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 67	. Can you ever have to much flow or carbon?

09/21/2013, 10:34 AM	#8
jpocock Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 67	. My wet dry filter has a spot to put a carbon pad. With that being said I do not want to run carbon in two places? I have been changing the carbon pad every three mouths or so.

09/21/2013, 10:09 AM	#3
MondoBongo Obligate Feeder Obsessed Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,061	It's not needed with live rock and a skimmer. Generally HOB, canister, and wet/dry filters are frowned upon for reef tanks. They can turn in to nitrate factories. I have two small HOB filters on my QT tank, but only because I needed gentle water movement and the sponges in lieu of live rock.

09/21/2013, 10:12 AM	#5
Cu455 Moved On Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 672	I had an extra hang on back filter so I put it on my tank to run carbon one time. Now it's filled with rock rubble. It's kind of like my garbage for rocks, whenever I find a lose piece I throw it in there. Since I have been doing this I have notice the great growth a constant polyp extension from the corals that are underneath the waterfall. I am not sure if it is the current or getting hit from falling food all day but it has something to do with it. I was thinking of adding another one. I have to say lots of stuff gets stuck in there. When I rinse the rocks the water gets pretty dirty. I found a hermit crab in there once. He had to live there for at least a month.

09/21/2013, 10:16 AM	#6
jpocock Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 67	What precautions do I need to take with my wet dry filter stop nitrates from get out-of-control?