HOB or sump ???

[reef_addict]

I talked with someone in the chatroom lastnight and they said that a hang on back style filter (ac500) was worthless. The only thing that really works is a sump style filter. They said because you have to have 1/2 the volume of the tank for the filter to work a HOB doesn't have the size needed to do this. I read a lot of people use the HOB's. Is the idea correct?

 

[TimSchmidt]

It is ok, you just have to weigh the options. Do you want everything that is involved with a sump (overflows either HOB or drilled, plumbing extra pumps mean more heat, extra maintnance, larger fish tank as a whole, extra water volume). I've noticed that the smaller (10g and under) work just fine with a HOB filter for carbon and maybe a small refuge. You can't really have a desktop reef with a big sump attached to it. So I personally think that the sump is better but more of a hassle. Hope I haven't rambled on too long

 

[sadielynn]

we use HOBs on both the 2.5 and the 7gmb
and have found that while a fuge gives a place to extend volume and growth for macros ect as well addtional water volume we have the "largest" HOB that our tanks will accomadate ....the HOB filter on the 7 gmb gives me an addtional 1/2 gallon water volume and helps replace some of water volume lost due to displacement of water from live rock it is easy to maintain and change out the medias and attend to it as well as service it should something go wrong mechanical wise ......there is no drilling and such but with a fuge you can add HOB to it for filtering too..when you start looking at the taks that we have as small as they are it some times is hard to find the stuff that will fit I am not a big fan of drilling , however I am not saying there is anything wrong with it I am just not comfortable my self doing that :mrgreen: I say that it is personal prefrence as to the way you go with it .... I hide most of my equipment in my HOB hope this helps

 

[reefman23]

It is obvious that the more water that you have, the more stable the tank will be. A HOB filter just cannot give you the same volume as a sump. Plus, most macros, especially cheato, prefer high-flow areas with lots of light (this is if you wanted to incorporate a refugium)... again, HOB filters just cannot provide that. Also, a sump is mainly an area to put your heater, skimmer, chemical/mechanical/biological media... again, HOB does not provide room for most of that.

I would say that the decision is easy... go with a sump. I feel that ONLY if you cannot incorporate a sump should you go the HOB route. Even then, go with the BIGGEST one that will possibly fit the back of your tank and DON'T modify the propellar to reduce the flow.

Just my $0.02

Jesse

 

[Anonymous]

i agree
HOB's are not "worthless" but a sump is much better - can't even really compare the two - they have very different functions and you may need both in your case or neither......

with a tank you have about 4 basic options:

stand alone designs-

1) HOB filter (cannister or better still a HOT skimmer) encorporating some sort of surface skimming is an absolute must!
2) false wall - similar to many of the pre fab designs but can be made any size,shape, or location with plexi and with as many (or few) compartments as you want to meet your specific needs for mech/media.
3) closed loop - very popular today cause it allows for more flow in tank without PH in the tank being visible. you still need to encorporate an overflow and some sort of mech filtering

Sump-
4) by far your best option. can be plumbed HOB or drilled and as jesse said allows for increased water volume = stability, and hiding all you periferals like heaters, protein skimmer, pumps. and also allows you to design chambers for chaeto, media, DSB, or whatever you choose.

i can show you examples of each of these systems up and running successfully and i have personally run all 4 designs - but IMO unless you have a specific application that only allowed for a stand alone design - i would have a sump or refuge of some type....

 

[ripcurrent]

Hey reef_addict... How about this... tell us more about your tank (size, livestock, goals, ect) and I'm sure a handful of us will chime in with what direction we'd take the tank including specifics on the particular equipment we'd use to make it all come together. That way as a group we can really point you in the best direction.

 

[reef_addict]

Your right Ripcurrent,

I've got a 10.6gal glass tank 2 powerheads.
15lbs LR
2 inches mixed LS and off the shelf sand.
a 175W MH.

Salt .023
Ammiona .0
Nitrites .0
nitrates are .15
I use mineral water to topoff and do water changes. I just did my first. 50%. I haven't tested the Nitrates after it.

I want to keep a little of everything. I really like branching corals, zoos and sps. I was hoping for 1 small fish a clam and a shrimp too. But, I understand that it would be hard in a small tank.

I've kept salt tanks for 10yrs but this was 10 yrs ago. it was back in the day when everything just died. So, I gave up for the past 10yrs. But, with a 3 yr son I want to setup a tank for him. I searched the web and found nano tanks. Its funny because I kept a 20l with a ac500 and LR for 3 yrs. Back then no one said it could be done. I believe back then everything was collected with cyanide and just about everything die. Plus with no internet and poor equipment it just wasn't as refined as it is now. So I gave up.

Anyway, I just want to do the best for the tank. Money isn't the real issue. I just want the best so I don't have to deal too much with killing my critters.

sorry about rambling on..I'm good at that.

 

[Anonymous]

Since your tank is already up and running, you will have to consider what to do to get the water out of the aquarium and to the sump - should you make that move. If you add a sump, the easiest and safest thing to do is drill the tank and install an overflow. While I know some folks have drilled tanks by just lowering the water level to drill the hole with a dremel and the right bit, it doesn't come without some risk of breakage. Are you willing to drain the tank to get it drilled? I personally don't like HOB overflows, because they do not always work right. Just something else to consider when making this decision.

Sounds like you are pretty serious about the tank, since you already have MH lighting and talking SPS (plus not worrying too much about the cost). I would say that you would be more satisfied with a sump, where you can put a nice skimmer and increase your water volume for a little more stability.

Good luck either way!

 

[skipm]

I think you would be happier with having a sump in the long run, it gives you a place to hide most of your equipment and if you are planning on going SPS you may end up adding more equipment like a calcium reactor down the road sometime, with a sump you have a place to add one along with the controllers probes and other related equipment. Since your tank is not all that large you could go out and buy a duplicate tank and have it drilled and then move everything out of the current tank into the drilled tank. If you are a DIYer you could then take your current tank and add baffles and make it a combination sump/refugium. You have quite a few options, take your time and try to weigh each of them and decide which route fits you the best. Good luck.