Looking for suggestions on a filter.

[D'sreef]

I have recently received a lowboy 8.5in tall aquarium calculated volume is around 17.5 gallons. I don't plan on doing a sump on this tiny tank, any suggestions on HOB that would be short enough or a canister filter that won't be over powering?

 

[mcarroll]

Assuming it's going to be a reef tank....

Live Rock + Protein Skimmer might be worth considering instead.

Otherwise, I think just about any power filter would work. There are some that have a protein skimmer or other "extra" feature built in that you might consider instead. Danner's Skilter, Sicce's, Marineland's that has micron filtration looks NICE....my old-school picks would be Whisper or AquaClear. (Tho the Danner option is old-school too!)

If I didn't name your favorite, feel free to go for that option instead....it's hard to go TOO wrong with any of the major brands, IMO. All have specific PRO's and not too many CON's....so still worth reading up on the option you select.

Personlly I wouldn't buy a canister for a reef....might use it if you already had one, but even that might be temporary. Too much work to keep it clean.

 

[D'sreef]

Assuming it's going to be a reef tank....

Live Rock + Protein Skimmer might be worth considering instead.

Otherwise, I think just about any power filter would work. There are some that have a protein skimmer or other "extra" feature built in that you might consider instead. Danner's Skilter, Sicce's, Marineland's that has micron filtration looks NICE....my old-school picks would be Whisper or AquaClear. (Tho the Danner option is old-school too!)

If I didn't name your favorite, feel free to go for that option instead....it's hard to go TOO wrong with any of the major brands, IMO. All have specific PRO's and not too many CON's....so still worth reading up on the option you select.

Personlly I wouldn't buy a canister for a reef....might use it if you already had one, but even that might be temporary. Too much work to keep it clean.

The only issues that I have found so far is most of the HOBs are too tall, not many that are under 8 inches. I have legit thought 20lb of sand, 20lb of rock rubble and a sponge filter and a power head. I am going to use it to grow out soft corals like mushrooms and zoas I think.

 

[mcarroll]

Just a skimmer alone *might* be enough flow for that. Perfect height for a skimmer. ;)

But if you're still wanting an HOB, can you tell be what brands you have available to you (locally)?

Tunze's little skimmer only needs 5-6 inches...the bigger ones need a deeper tank, but IMO the little 9001 would be OK.

Also, check out the Whisper internal filters plus Danner has a nice line of internal filters – the classic Ovation as well as the newer EZ clean that has an interesting water change/gravel siphon feature built in.

An internal filter might be the way to go vs hang on...if you don't go skimmer instead.

 

[D'sreef]

Just a skimmer alone *might* be enough flow for that. Perfect height for a skimmer. ;)

But if you're still wanting an HOB, can you tell be what brands you have available to you (locally)?

Tunze's little skimmer only needs 5-6 inches...the bigger ones need a deeper tank, but IMO the little 9001 would be OK.

Also, check out the Whisper internal filters plus Danner has a nice line of internal filters – the classic Ovation as well as the newer EZ clean that has an interesting water change/gravel siphon feature built in.

An internal filter might be the way to go vs hang on...if you don't go skimmer instead.

For the most part local is basic Petco fair, Sicce, whisper, fluval, and imagination whatever Petcos brand is, one LFS store and hour away sales the seachem hobs (definitely my favs) other than that the basic Amazon. I was looking at internals, I seen Sicce makes one, just didn't know if it would be enough. I also seen some internal waterfall "turtle filters" on Amazon that said they marine safe. I have never really used skimmers. I always focus heavily on bio/chemical filtration, of course I have only been playing with corals for like 6 months. The first fowlr tank was in like 98 or so.

 

[mcarroll]

seachem hobs (definitely my favs)

I don't see a problem with going that route if you already like em and one will fit!

If it's going to be a reef tank with live rock, etc, then you're really mostly using this for flow...so anything should work fine.

Check out the Skilter if you haven't heard of it before. Power filter + Protein Skimmer in one. It's a classic piece of gear, one of the oldest pieces of marine gear still being made as far as I know. One of the early popular skimmers....got a bad rap because folks tended to just chuck them on a fish tank and then complain it worked intermittently. Nobody knew about ATO's back then and how important a consistent water level is to skimming.

It's still pretty unique, but most folks go with different setups these days...no HOB's.

I have never really used skimmers.

I've always run them..

Nice because there's no disposable filter parts involved ($$).

Also nice because what they skim is actually removed from the water (into the collection cup).

This is unlike other filters that drive all the water through the cr*p that's already been caught in the filter. This is why you might hear HOB's and cannister filters called nitrate factories....the waste they catch continues to break down in the water until you clean the filter element.

 

[D'sreef]

seachem hobs (definitely my favs)

I don't see a problem with going that route if you already like em and one will fit!

If it's going to be a reef tank with live rock, etc, then you're really mostly using this for flow...so anything should work fine.

Check out the Skilter if you haven't heard of it before. Power filter + Protein Skimmer in one. It's a classic piece of gear, one of the oldest pieces of marine gear still being made as far as I know. One of the early popular skimmers....got a bad rap because folks tended to just chuck them on a fish tank and then complain it worked intermittently. Nobody knew about ATO's back then and how important a consistent water level is to skimming.

It's still pretty unique, but most folks go with different setups these days...no HOB's.

I have never really used skimmers.

I've always run them..

Nice because there's no disposable filter parts involved ($$).

Also nice because what they skim is actually removed from the water (into the collection cup).

This is unlike other filters that drive all the water through the cr*p that's already been caught in the filter. This is why you might hear HOB's and cannister filters called nitrate factories....the waste they catch continues to break down in the water until you clean the filter element.

I had to look it up bc I didn't believe you, they still make those things. I had a Skilter 250 on one of my first marine tanks way back. The prices are way different now.

 

[mcarroll]

They brought them back a few years ago. I intend to try one next time I have a chance to set up a tank that size.