Good filter?

[ZachariahBeanz]

Is filtration like this

Yes

 

[VintageReefer]

In order of water flow

Comes in through grate
1) Layer of filter floss or sponge
2) inside media basket - bag of chemipure
3) bio wheel - remove, replace with a handful of Seachem Matrix or Live rock rubble
4) return pump - suitable for filtration purposes but not enough flow for corals. If doing a few small fish only it will likely be ok. If doing coral you will need to add a power head or wavemaker in the tank

Wave maker suggestion
https://a.co/d/cvWKGU3

 

[ZachariahBeanz]

In order of water flow

Comes in through grate
1) Layer of filter floss or sponge
2) inside media basket - bag of chemipure
3) bio wheel - remove, replace with a handful of Seachem Matrix or Live rock rubble
4) return pump - suitable for filtration purposes but not enough flow for corals. If doing a few small fish only it will likely be ok. If doing coral you will need to add a power head or wavemaker in the tank

Wave maker suggestion
https://a.co/d/cvWKGU3

I bought a power head already, but thanks for making sure. However, for the replacing the bio-wheel, I also found Fluval BioMax Biological Material Remover 500G. Do you think this also works?

 

[aSaltyKlown]

Pull bio wheel and filter cartridge.

I use stuffing as well as filter floss on top. This will last a while, I’m going on a year withthe roll on my 13.5g Evo.

Stuffing - PolyFill -
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Poly-Fil...zROJWky4UempRGtZL59GSMAkgTlzknZBoCp6kQAvD_BwE
Floss -
Aquatic Experts Aquarium Filter Floss for Fish Tank Filters - FilterFirst Aquarium Filter Pad - Aquarium Filter Media Roll for Crystal Clear Water, 3/4" - 1" Thick (12 Inch Wide, 72 Inch Long) https://a.co/d/1BNuRIm

 

[VintageReefer]

I bought a power head already, but thanks for making sure. However, for the replacing the bio-wheel, I also found Fluval BioMax Biological Material Remover 500G. Do you think this also works?

Ceramic rings are not too great in reef world. Use this for 6$

https://a.co/d/eqTrM4P

 

[GARRIGA]

The tank in a 20 gallon all in one, and I’m planning on stocking it with a pair of Darwin clowns, and one other fish

If that's the limit of your stocking then it shouldn't be an issue. Clowns are tough fish. What the other fish is what may cause concerns. Unless keeping delicate corals then filtration doesn't need to be extreme. Marineland will work just fine. Plus you can add rock to the display which will aide in biological depending how porous it is and amount of surface area it provides. Although three fish likely not causing much in the way of pollution.

Look into carbon dosing to resolve your nitrates and phosphates or just do a 30% WC when needed. Just because it has saltwater fish doesn't mean it's full blown reef needing more extensive equipment.

Have never used the bio wheel although I actually have one of their filters. Could just rinse it often and keep it somewhat clean. Bacteria will survive being rinsed in tap even though that's fresh and contains chlorine. Just don't do it for more than a few quick minutes. They are easy enough to remove and service. Monitor ammonia and nitrite and see how that goes. Be surprised how little is needed to process ammonia and nitrites with latter less of an issue in salt than fresh where it's lethal. Worse case. Upgrade the filtration later. Hobby is expensive enough. No need buying that never needed. Not everyone needs live rock and a skimmer.

 

[ZachariahBeanz]

Ceramic rings are not too great in reef world. Use this for 6$

https://a.co/d/eqTrM4P

If I get these, would I just take out the bio-wheel, and plop these in?

 

[VintageReefer]

Yea you can put in a media bag or just a pile in the bio wheel area so water flows over them

 

[ZachariahBeanz]

Yea you can put in a media bag or just a pile in the bio wheel area so water flows over them

Sorry, just to make it clear, I should only take out the bio-wheel who compartment with the sponge?

 

[VintageReefer]

Sorry, just to make it clear, I should only take out the bio-wheel who compartment with the sponge?

The wheel itself should just lift out. It is in a half circle tray. You can add the matrix media right in that tray

 

[Neoma369]

I have the Bio-Wheel from Marineland, I’m planning on this tank being a reef tank, is this filter good?
PS.. My heater and other filtration is from Marineland too, are these products good?

Marine Land products are my favorite

 

[-XENOMORPH-]

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.84/

 

[carol3]

Actually, if you keep soft corals and have a small bio load that filter will work fine, lots of nano people use hang on backs or aio. This is a 2 yr old tank and it's never had anything but a hob and heater, I have had to give away some corals due to one of my yellow clown gobies being a coral murderer so
I only have:

6 masked gobies
2 yellow clown gobies
pistol shrimp and yellow watchman goby
2 skunk cleaner shrimp, dove snails,
macros, gorgonians and a few softies

So yes, low bioload, you can get away with more though.

I think on a minimalist tank water changes are important, I do 10-15% a week. I rigged my hob with a cut up piece of filter sock and I take it out and rinse it with the hose, easy! I also use well water, no RO, so yes salt water nano tanks can be easy. I do still have to dose NeoNitrate and NeoPhos and some ChaetoGro but thats all....easy :)

I also have a 10 gal, hob and heater only

A very important thing, I did start my tanks with real live rock.

 

[carol3]

BTW, check out the minimalist reefer thread on R2R, you will see lots of cool minimalist tanks.

 

[carol3]

Actually, if you keep soft corals and have a small bio load that filter will work fine, lots of nano people use hang on backs or aio. This is a 2 yr old tank and it's never had anything but a hob and heater, I have had to give away some corals due to one of my yellow clown gobies being a coral murderer so
I only have:

6 masked gobies
2 yellow clown gobies
pistol shrimp and yellow watchman goby
2 skunk cleaner shrimp, dove snails,
macros, gorgonians and a few softies

So yes, low bioload, you can get away with more though.

I think on a minimalist tank water changes are important, I do 10-15% a week. I rigged my hob with a cut up piece of filter sock and I take it out and rinse it with the hose, easy! I also use well water, no RO, so yes salt water nano tanks can be easy. I do still have to dose NeoNitrate and NeoPhos and some ChaetoGro but thats all....easy :)

I also have a 10 gal, hob and heater only

A very important thing, I did start my tanks with real live rock.

After a little thought....I want to amend a word I used in my previous post, 'easy'. I've had fresh water aquariums for 60 years, I still have two, they are relatively simple and fairly easy. Yes, you can have a minimalist saltwater aquarium and it will work, it will be a lot less expensive and a lot easier than a high tech stoney coral reef tank would be. Yes, you certainly can use your Marineland hob filter but keeping living marine things in glass tanks maybe shouldn't be said to be 'easy'.

 

[ZachariahBeanz]

The wheel itself should just lift out. It is in a half circle tray. You can add the matrix media right in that tray

I finally got the matrix media, did I put it in right?

 

[VintageReefer]

I finally got the matrix media, did I put it in right?

Yes