Anyone running a Seachem Tidal filter?

Dw79 · Jan 30, 2020

Just ordered a Seachem Tidal filter and wanted to know if anyone is using them, what you thought of it and what type of media you are running? I have heard good things, but would like to hear first hand if I made a good choice.

Feet4Fish · Jan 30, 2020

Great HOB! Okay have run one for over a year now. Very flexible for whatever media you want to run.

lakai · Jan 31, 2020

yeah great hob though you will need to clean it weekly because of all the gunk it will pull out of your water. I used marine pure gems at first but eventually just ended up using the matrix that it comes with. You can cut a piece of the blue/white filter pad and place it between the sponge and media and you can go 2-3 weeks without cleaning it.

eric.tech · Jan 31, 2020

My reef has a sump so i cant speak to how it'll perform in a saltwater environment, but i have one on my 30 gallon discus tank and it works great. +1 on Iakai's comment that it needs maintenance frequently. This is only due to the fact that he was correct in that it pulls all sort of goodness out of the water. I'm currently using a coarse sponge on the bottom, carbon in the middle, and coarse matrix on the top. Great HOB filter that finally gives the option to use the media you want in it. Also it's very ease to clean, takes maybe 5-10min to pull the basket out and clean up/change the media.

EDIT: i will also mention, for the first week or two, be prepared as it will seem a bit noisy. This WILL go away once the bio film has had a chance to build up on the impeller. Just a FYI so you don't think the pump is about to implode.

ekoed · Jan 31, 2020

I use the big one on my fresh water tank filled with sponges and matrix and for a 55 gallon it works great. Lots of flow!

Dw79 · Jan 31, 2020

Thank you all for your comments. It just showed up today, so looking forward to see how it works.
Thanks again

Blue Ring Octopus · Jan 31, 2020

One thing I like about it is that it will restart after a power outage.

Sebastiancrab · May 13, 2020

Dw79 said:
Thank you all for your comments. It just showed up today, so looking forward to see how it works.
Thanks again

Hi, I am curious how the Seachem Tidal worked out for you and is it running on a SW tank and what size? Is it noisy?

Sebastiancrab · May 13, 2020

Feet4Fish said:
Great HOB! Okay have run one for over a year now. Very flexible for whatever media you want to run.

Is yours a SW tank, what size, model filter and is it noisy?

Dw79 · May 13, 2020

Elaine123 said:
Hi, I am curious how the Seachem Tidal worked out for you and is it running on a SW tank and what size? Is it noisy?

Tidal filter works great. I got the Tidal 55 on a 46 gallon SW tank. The filter it self is silent, but if you let your water level drop, the water sound gets louder same as any other HOB filter. Lots of room for filter media. I have also found that because it skims the surface aswell, my protein skimmer doesn't have to work as hard and pulls less gunk. Great HOB filter!!

Feet4Fish · May 13, 2020

It is the 110. Not loud. Run them all on my QT tanks. All saltwater.

Elaine123 said:
Is yours a SW tank, what size, model filter and is it noisy?

Sebastiancrab · May 13, 2020

So you decided not to get a sump. Do you have a HOB protein skimmer? What model? Can you post pictures of your tank? How much do you have in it?

Sebastiancrab · May 13, 2020

Feet4Fish said:
It is the 110. Not loud. Run them all on my QT tanks. All saltwater.

Do you have protein skimmer?

Feet4Fish · May 13, 2020

Not on these systems. I choose not to run a skimmer on my QTs. The decision to use a skimmer is based on your bioload and/or husbandry goals. If you plan on light stocking and doing regular sufficient water changes you can go without a skimmer.

Elaine123 said:
Do you have protein skimmer?

Proteus Meep · May 13, 2020

Awesome piece of kit i personnaly think they are the best HOB filter money can buy, got the 35 on my 55 litre nano

I just run Polyfilter in mine with no other filtration

Sebastiancrab · May 13, 2020

Proteus Meep said:
Awesome piece of kit i personnaly think they are the best HOB filter money can buy, got the 35 on my 55 litre nano

I just run Polyfilter in mine with no other filtration

I found the Poly Filter here, thank you! But now I am trying to figure out whether I really need a 20 gal sump with a 40 gal tank. Things really add up. Do you have a HOB protein skimmer or just do more water changes and how often?

BullyBee · May 13, 2020

I run a 35 and hate it. it’s a glorified surface skimmer. Can’t wait to replace with a canister when my new Oase gets here.

I had run a 55 and thought it was pretty good. There is bypass though, you will noice the top of your media is more dirty than the bottom.

I’d never do a hob again unless it was as good as a canister. But again coming from fresh water with them. Don’t expect crystal clear water

BullyBee · May 13, 2020

Elaine123 said:
I found the Poly Filter here, thank you! But now I am trying to figure out whether I really need a 20 gal sump with a 40 gal tank. Things really add up. Do you have a HOB protein skimmer or just do more water changes and how often?

I started off all hob. Bought everything only to sell it and realize I needed a sump. There was wayyyy to much **** in my tank. 2 heaters, protein skimmer, hob filter, hob reactor.....

So I now have a 40 gallon breeder with a 20g sump and am so glad that did.

Dw79 · May 13, 2020

Elaine123 said:
I found the Poly Filter here, thank you! But now I am trying to figure out whether I really need a 20 gal sump with a 40 gal tank. Things really add up. Do you have a HOB protein skimmer or just do more water changes and how often?

My 46 gallon is all HOB and no sump only because my stand isn't big enough for a sump. If I had the room in my stand, I would have one.

Proteus Meep · May 14, 2020

Elaine123 said:
I found the Poly Filter here, thank you! But now I am trying to figure out whether I really need a 20 gal sump with a 40 gal tank. Things really add up. Do you have a HOB protein skimmer or just do more water changes and how often?

No other filtration at all and just a 10% weekly water change....but as you can see what works well for one doesnt always work for others, been running my current nano above for several years now with just this filter and media

Personally would never run a canister again after running the seachem tidal 35 the Seachem's are just so much easier to use and provide excellent aireation of the water

Like sumps some people love them myself i prefer to run without one even when running a larger tank unless it is an all in one and built into the back section of the tank,won't run a skimmer either i let the Polyfilter deal with it so running sumpless is not a problem for me

I like to give my fish plenty of personal space though, really can't abide a heavily fish stocked aquarium myself...in my last 40 gallon with a filtration section in the back i kept 2 clowns a bangaii cardinal and a yellow watchman goby and considered that fully stocked, i ran that one for a decade with just Carbon, Polyfilter and 10% weekly's, my filtration choices work well for me but if you like a heavier stocked aquaria then beefier filtration options would offer you a smoother ride without your tank ending up looking like Frankenstein's Monster of HOB equipment and leaves your future options wider

My advice to you If you plan to add plenty of fish....go sump or rear filtration section
If you plan to stock sparingly...a single hob filter can work well

The one thing i found that works best for me after 20 years of reefing is.... Keep It Simple