How muck filtration

[Larry64]

I have a fish only tank with a very small snowflake eel, about the size of a pencil, a two inch bursa trigger, and a saddle back puffer. It’s not drilled and I’m running a 407. Do I need more filtering for all the excess food and waste? Lists of rock and caves. It’s a wide brim take, any suggestions on a HOB protein skimmer?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

That is the fluval canister right? Its a good unit to clear particles from the water and you can run activated carbon, but it doesn't actually "export" nutrients out of your system, such as a skimmer would. A protein skimmer and canister combo IMO is a fine idea. Reef Octopus classic 1000 hob is the king of hob skimmers, another great one I used for many years is the Aquamaxx 1.5 hob skimmer

 

[cycletim]

Canisters are fine for a small fowlr and some reef tanks, just make sure there is good water movement inside like a power head or gyre to get the particles moving so the filter inlet can suck them up. Adding a skimmer is a great idea.

 

[Larry64]

Canisters are fine for a small fowlr and some reef tanks, just make sure there is good water movement inside like a power head or gyre to get the particles moving so the filter inlet can suck them up. Adding a skimmer is a great idea.

Yeah, my other two tanks have sumps. I had this 75 non drilled tank that was freshwater and got a bug up my but to have a predator tank. The other two tanks are basically taken over by my girlfriend, and “fancy”. I call it my A hole tank. I set it up for an eel and a small lion. Then couldn’t find either. Got the small trigger and the puffer. Then this weekend my LFS had three baby snowflakes in stock for 50 each. I jumped. He’s eating good, he’s happy, he found a cave opposite of the trigger. Just never ran salt with a canister. It’s working. Three small fish in 75 works.

 

[kavinreed]

I have a fish only tank with a very small snowflake eel, about the size of a pencil, a two inch bursa trigger, and a saddle back puffer. It’s not drilled and I’m running a 407. Do I need more filtering for all the excess food and waste? Lists of rock and caves. It’s a wide brim take, any suggestions on a HOB protein skimmer?

With such a small bioload, I’d probably keep the setup simple and focus on good mechanical filtration and regular maintenance first. A small HOB skimmer could still be useful for extra nutrient export, but I wouldn’t go overboard and risk stripping the tank too much.