Still getting the hang of this...

[kirkplunkett]

So... I recently set up a Protein Skimmer. I've been using a HoB filter. I was told that I could probably loose the HoB filter after the Skimmer has broken in well enough.

Here's my question: Is that possible? Can I actually remove the HoB filter once my skimmate is good (and by "good", I mean NAS-TAY)?

What about carbon??? I don't have a closed stand and don't want a Carbon Reactor sitting in my living room.

Aquarium Specs:
6 1/2 months old.

30 gallon tank with 30 lbs. of Live Sand and 26 lbs. Live Rock

HoB filter (no sponge... removed 1 1/2 weeks ago) containing bio-media and carbon.

HoB Reef Octopus BH 100 Protein Skimmer (running for 2 1/2 weeks, skimmate has started to be consistently syrupy and brown, and I have to clean the cup about every 3-4 days)

I use RO/ID Water to top off from my LFS, and have recently switched from a purchased salt mix (Instant Ocean) to mixing my own saltwater using Red Sea Coral Pro. I've only done 1 water change since the switch. I do a 5 gallon water change every Tuesday, religiously.

I have a T5 light fixture with two 10,000K daylights and two 420 nm Actinic. These lights have only been running for 2 1/2 months.

Inhabitants include:
2 Ocellaris Clowns (6 1/2 years old)
1 Four-Line Wrasse (1 1/2" in length)
2 Emerald Crabs
1 Coral Banded Shrimp
1 Sand Starfish
1 Large Coco Worm
2 colonies of Florida Ricordea Mushrooms (and about five smaller ones starting to spawn on LR)
1 colony of Polythoas
1 small Finger Leather
1 small Frogspawn
3 very small Red Mushrooms that randomly appeared
1 very small colony of Green Star Polyps

Water Parameters:
pH - 8.2 ppm
Ammonia - 0 ppm
Nitrites - 0ppm
Nitrates - 3 ppm
Alkalinity - 9.3 dKH
Phosphates - 0.26 ppm
Calcium - 280 ppm
Magnesium - 1160 ppm
Salinity - 1.025

By switching salts I've managed to raise my Salinity, which was extremely low(1.021). All inhabitants are doing fine with no adverse reactions to raising the Salinity. (I have not tested my Ca or Mg since changing last Tuesday. I will do so tonight and hope that the new salt mix is doing it's job.)

I've also been dosing my tank with 3 drops of Vodka daily to address the NO3 and PO4. This will be day 5, but as of yesterday there has not been any change in either.

And I should note, I've not seen any additional growth of Coralline at all... Until two days ago. I've got four tiny (less than 1/8" in diameter) spots that appeared on LR.

Here's the thread in which a lot of what you see above is being addressed in... I think I'm on the right track with parameters. I just need to know about the skimmer+HoB filter vs. skimmer-HoB filter.

Thanks guys and gals!!!

[mysterybox]

I would keep your HoB filter and put Rox Carbon and GFO in it. nothing else.

[kirkplunkett]

Originally Posted by mysterybox

I would keep your HoB filter and put Rox Carbon and GFO in it. nothing else.

That's what I thought... I've got a mesh bag of Fluval Carbon and another with Seachem Purigen in it... That's all.

On my next trip to my LFS, I was going to pickup some High Quality Carbon (even though Fluval is pretty good), more Seachem Purigen and some more bags.

I've got another tank (30 gallon Oceanic Cube) almost done cycling too. It's got a Fluval Canister using the same plus Seachem Matrix Bio-Media. I'm gonna take this tank reeeaaaaaallllllyyyy sloooooooooow though. I wanna see if I can surpass many of the obstacles I've encountered with the new tank by going extremely slow.

[heathlindner25]

ditch that filter, use a hang on the back protein skimmer, and a hang on the back refugium. put your media bags in the Fuge,along with chateo ,matrix,or whatever.i've seen rust in soom of those hob

[kirkplunkett]

Originally Posted by heathlindner25

ditch that filter, use a hang on the back protein skimmer, and a hang on the back refugium. put your media bags in the Fuge,along with chateo ,matrix,or whatever.i've seen rust in soom of those hob

I've thought about that too... I'll jus need the funds to do so. My next purchase is gonna be a light for my Oceanic cube. I'm getting the Kessil A350!

[heathlindner25]

people sell used fuges all the time.just post a thread and they will come.

[AquaticFuture]

Those kessil 350 LEDs are amazing, you will love it. Im going to agree with heathlinder25, a little HOB Refugium would work wonders. I use Chemi-Pure for my carbon and i would sware by it.

[Frantz]

I have a good sized HOB filter. Why? Several reasons. One, it breaks up surface tension on the water surface and adds flow to the tank. The second? It's great filtration peace of mind for when I go on vacation and leave my tank in others hands. You won't need it though. If you're using that for carbon your probably paying too much unless you're using the old refillable bag style, which I haven't see for awhile, but I haven't looked either.

[kirkplunkett]

Yeah... I seriously thinking about a HoB Refuge and ditching the HoB Filter. Reef Octopus makes a NICE one! And it's about the same size as my Skimmer, which is Reef Octopus too.

The Carbon is $12... Not too expensive for a three pack of replaceable inserts. It's good Carbon too. Naturally activated, but I have been considering switching to Chemi-Pure. I've heard it's the BEST!