HOB filter for quarantine tank

[taylor-moon]

Hi,

I'm looking at putting together a quarantine tank, just looking up HOB filters, somthing cheap and cheerful. Would somthing like this be suitable for a 20g tank?

AKKEE Fish Tank Filter, Aquarium External Hanging Filter, 8W 500L/H
https://amzn.eu/d/8NAoTVL

Should I also get an air stone?

 

[StatelineReefer]

Hi,

I'm looking at putting together a quarantine tank, just looking up HOB filters, somthing cheap and cheerful. Would somthing like this be suitable for a 20g tank?

AKKEE Fish Tank Filter, Aquarium External Hanging Filter, 8W 500L/H
https://amzn.eu/d/8NAoTVL

Should I also get an air stone?

More than adequate, no airstone needed unless you're dosing meds that are known to deplete oxygen or interfere with respiration.

I have similar on my two quarantines. They work like a charm.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi,

I'm looking at putting together a quarantine tank, just looking up HOB filters, somthing cheap and cheerful. Would somthing like this be suitable for a 20g tank?

AKKEE Fish Tank Filter, Aquarium External Hanging Filter, 8W 500L/H
https://amzn.eu/d/8NAoTVL

Should I also get an air stone?

For a 20 gallon QT, I prefer using a large air driven sponge filter (pre-seeded from an existing tank) and then a HOB for water circulation and for filtering out particulates. If you just go with just a HOB, I would suggest also using an air stone, (because the effluent from the HOB may not allow for enough gas exchange) but also you need to ensure there is sufficient beneficial bacteria in the system to control any ammonia present.

Jay

 

[sfin52]

I always have bio media in my canister that I've given out to friends or in case of an emergency like I'm going through now.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I always have bio media in my canister that I've given out to friends or in case of an emergency like I'm going through now.

I always have my own bio media ready to go at a moments notice - but getting some from a friend (with a clean tank!) is also a good idea!

jay

 

[cba191]

I always have my own bio media ready to go at a moments notice - but getting some from a friend (with a clean tank!) is also a good idea!

jay

what do you use for biomedia that won't mess with the quarantine?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

what do you use for biomedia that won't mess with the quarantine?

I like seeded sponge filters. Another option is an inert bio media like Siporax. That is sintered glass and is inert to the compounds used to treat fish diseases. There are likely other products that are inert as well.....

 

[cba191]

I like seeded sponge filters. Another option is an inert bio media like Siporax. That is sintered glass and is inert to the compounds used to treat fish diseases. There are likely other products that are inert as well.....

do you just throw out the sponge after you've used it in qt?

 

[overhead]

what do you use for biomedia that won't mess with the quarantine?

I used this: Amazon product ASIN B09X788KVP Kept it in one in my DT tanks for over a month before I used it. Just stuffed it into a HOB filter canister. I threw it away after QT, but I still have some in my DT now so I can use it when I need it, it is fairly cheap. Edit: Not sure why I have issues here with amazon links, but it you don't see it search on Amazon for "Aquarium filter sponge pad 30PPI"

​

 

[cba191]

I used this: Amazon product ASIN B09X788KVP Kept it in one in my DT tanks for over a month before I used it. Just stuffed it into a HOB filter canister. I threw it away after QT, but I still have some in my DT now so I can use it when I need it, it is fairly cheap.

pic isn't showing up

 

[overhead]

pic isn't showing up

I know, it is annoying. I posted what you can search for to find it. I also used a standard air stone run filter sponge that I seeded with bottled bacteria. I had isssues with my QT, but they were not related to the media or ammonia.

 

[cba191]

pic isn't showing up

I know, it is annoying. I posted what you can search for to find it. I also used a standard air stone run filter sponge that I seeded with bottled bacteria. I had isssues with my QT, but they were not related to the media or ammonia.

I ordered a couple of these.
https://a.co/d/0bjeerst

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

do you just throw out the sponge after you've used it in qt?

No - I either keep using them in the QT, or I rinse them out and put them in the DT sump until I need them again.

 

[cba191]

do you just throw out the sponge after you've used it in qt?

No - I either keep using them in the QT, or I rinse them out and put them in the DT sump until I need them again.

Do you sterilize them and then reseed them?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Do you sterilize them and then reseed them?

It depends on how many times I used prazi on the tank - more than 5 times, I’d consider sterilizing them. If I know I won’t need them for at least 12 weeks, I might also sterilize them and let them reseed in the DT. Less than that and it’s better to just rinse them in seawater to keep them biologically active.