Thinking about ditching the HOB Filter

What should I run

  • Take the Tidal 75 off and get a fuge

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  • Keep the Tidal 75 and not worry about a fuge

    Votes: 1 100.0%

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    1

nick654377

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We have a 65g mixed reef tank and currently running a Tidal 75 with polishing pad, Bio Pad, Seachem Matrix, Phosgaurd, and Chemipure blue. We are also running a Reef Octo Classic 100 HOB protein skimmer.

Am I out of my mind for wanting to take the Tidal 75 off and get a hob fuge? Just run the Fuge and skimmer? Would my parameters be crazy?

My phosphates I am keeping around 0.12-0.15 but was hoping to get them down closer to .08. Nitrates remain around 20. Just trying to set up the best set up without a sump and limited space on the back of the tank. If I could run a fuge with the filter and skimmer I would but I have about 8 inches from my protein skimmer to the side of the tank.

This is the point I really wish I would of talked my wife into a corner flow 120 when we originally bought the 65 for freshwater.
 

Cell

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Try it and monitor nutrient levels to see the effect. Worse case scenario you see rising nutrients and you can bring it back online.
 
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nick654377

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Try it and monitor nutrient levels to see the effect. Worse case scenario you see rising nutrients and you can bring it back online.
The only thing holding me back from just buying a $300 fuge is we are talking about upgrading within the year to a 120. I would hate to buy all the hang on stuff to sell for a fraction of the cost. We are new to salt. The tank is almost 3 months old and I have been working my butt off to keep nutrient levels consistent..... Very..... Very consistent over the last 3 months. I know a sump with a fuge will make things that much easier but its not what we have right now.

These parameters have been like this for the past 2 months with no swings

Temp 78
PH 8
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20
alk 9.8-10.1
calcium 440-470
mag 1320-1370
phosphate was an issue at 2.8 when we first set up and since I have dropped it do 0.12-0.15. Saw one spike 2 days ago at .20.

Diatoms are taking over the tank and just driving me nuts.
 

Cell

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Edit wrong thread
 
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nick654377

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I forgot I swapped out the 75 for the 100 late last night. So I'm running a 150W and a 100W, I'm at 78.7 right now with current 59 deg ambient temp. I will probably have to downsize again in the Summer.
huh?
 

Cell

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Oops wrong thread.
 

LeftyReefer

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Maybe look at getting a bigger/better skimmer. I think your skimmer is undersized as it is.

That skimmer has a flow rate of only like 92 GPH. on a 65G tank???

I have a 45G tank and use a skimmer with a flow rate of 251 GPH and my nutrients are very very low.
(my nitrates were 0.4 ppm and phosphates 0.04 ppm last test)

Might not need a fuge, just a skimmer upgrade to get your nutrients lower.

Upgrade the skimmer and you might not need a fuge or the tidal filter unless you wanted to keep it to run things like matrix, carbon, chemipure, etc...
 

Tamberav

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I probably would not bother with a HOB fuge. Doubt it has enough space to justify 300 dollars vs 65g tank.

At that point you could just buy a HOB overflow and get a real fuge and sump.
 
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nick654377

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I probably would not bother with a HOB fuge. Doubt it has enough space to justify 300 dollars vs 65g tank.

At that point you could just buy a HOB overflow and get a real fuge and sump.
In this case I will just wait it out and keep nutrients where they are and put the money towards a 120 sumped.
 

Tamberav

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In this case I will just wait it out and keep nutrients where they are and put the money towards a 120 sumped.

You can always grow macro inside the display as long as you don’t have a crazy algae eater like a foxface
 

Porpoise Hork

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You really need some sort of mechanical filtration that you wouldn't necessarily have with only a HOB fuge/skimmer. Another thing to consider is the significant reduction of water flow/tank turnover and possible surface agitation that the tidal provides compared to only a HOB fuge. You'd be amazed at how much of a difference it might make to the water chemistry like PH and Alk levels if you remove/shut down the Tidal.

You could go the canister route. This would cover the mechanical filtration needs as well as tank turnover and surface agitation. Just be sure to get a good one that is easy to service and that you do clean it regularly to prevent unusual nutrient spikes. I ran a cannister for years on a 60 cube and performed bi-weekly cleanings on it and it never caused a single issue.
 

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