Filtration ideas

[Teemingtank]

was thinking about converting my 125 gallon to a SW setup. It’s not drilled, what would be the best way to filter a tank that size?

 

[BarSnackz]

You have a few different options: you can use a HOB filter (nothing wrong in that - I ran one for a year and everything seemed to flourish); you could use HOB overflows down to a sump; or your best and safest bet would be to just drain the tank while you're making the transition to SW and drill it and add some bulkheads, overflows and a sump.

 

[DLHDesign]

What are your goals with the tank? Supporting a FOWLR (fish only with live rock; eg - no corals) is easier than growing soft corals. Growing hard corals (SPS especially) is much harder than just soft corals. The "harder" the system is, the more equipment (and thus room to use it) you will need. After a point, it's going to be cheaper and easier to drill the tank with return lines (search "overflow box") than to try and do everything as a HOB. Especially with the hard corals, it's likely you won't even have HOB options for a tank that size. For example; an undersized skimmer is better than nothing, but is less likely to give you a solid chance of success than a properly sized one. Same with a refugium, should you choose to go that route in your design.

 

[Teemingtank]

You have a few different options: you can use a HOB filter (nothing wrong in that - I ran one for a year and everything seemed to flourish); you could use HOB overflows down to a sump; or your best and safest bet would be to just drain the tank while you're making the transition to SW and drill it and add some bulkheads, overflows and a sump.

Thank you! You really used hob filters? What kind? And did you have to pair with a skimmer?
I remember seeing a sticker on the bottom of my tank that said “tempered glass do not drill”. Not sure if I want to risk it, but I like the aesthetic of a drilled tank! I was leaning towards the hob over flows to a sump, maybe make my own wiers.

 

[Teemingtank]

What are your goals with the tank? Supporting a FOWLR (fish only with live rock; eg - no corals) is easier than growing soft corals. Growing hard corals (SPS especially) is much harder than just soft corals. The "harder" the system is, the more equipment (and thus room to use it) you will need. After a point, it's going to be cheaper and easier to drill the tank with return lines (search "overflow box") than to try and do everything as a HOB. Especially with the hard corals, it's likely you won't even have HOB options for a tank that size. For example; an undersized skimmer is better than nothing, but is less likely to give you a solid chance of success than a properly sized one. Same with a refugium, should you choose to go that route in your design.

I would like to do soft corals, like mushrooms and possibly euphylia(not sure if that’s a softie).

 

[BarSnackz]

Thank you! You really used hob filters? What kind? And did you have to pair with a skimmer?
I remember seeing a sticker on the bottom of my tank that said “tempered glass do not drill”. Not sure if I want to risk it, but I like the aesthetic of a drilled tank! I was leaning towards the hob over flows to a sump, maybe make my own wiers.

Yep, both me and my brother-in-law ran HOB filters last year on our tanks, his being a 75g and mine being a 40g long. I have since upgraded my tank and now have a sump but he is still chugging along with his overly stocked 75g, HOB filter and HOB protein skimmer. He keeps SPS in his tank that look amazing, nems, plenty of fish, etc. I think mine was Marineland brand, I just made sure that I got one that was bigger than needed for a tank my size.
If the bottom of your tank said it was tempered glass it should just mean the bottom panel - there are a few tests that you can tell from home if your other glass panels are tempered or not. Like the polarized sunglasses and laptop screen trick.
I would say if you could drill it and plumb it down to a sump it's definitely a game changer. Running all HOB stuff on my last tank was cool, easy, and cheaper - but now being able to throw all my equipment in a sump and having the option to run a fuge down below as well is a total game changer and a lot more appealing to the eyes when looking at my DT. But it's all really just personal preference though!

 

[ReeferReefer]

Best way is to drill it. I have a 90g AIO that I regret going with. You could likely get away with a similar set up as mine though if you don't want to drill.


I use a HOB Skimmer from Reef Octopus, the BH-2000. I use the back chamber as a fuge, but you could use a cpr fuge if you want. I also run a phosban reactor.


In the end though I would drill the tank. I am planning an upgrade to a 120 because it just sucks having everything hob.