filter for 20 gallon tank

What is the best filter to get for a 20 gallon tank. It presently has a hob penguin 150 bio wheel. I am not sure that is adequate. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Well it really depends on what you are looking for in a "filter".

There's Biological filtration, Chemical filtration, and Mechanical filtration.

Biological would be live rock and the bacteria colonies that thrive in the rock and other porous material. The bacteria converts fish waste into safer Nitrates, which are removed through other forms of filtration or through water changes. We have 50 pounds of LR for a 46 gallon tank.

Chemical filtration involves running carbon or "phosban" or both to help purify the water and remove phosphates (phosban's job). Other "chemical" additives can be used, we only run carbon for "chemical" stuff.

Mechanical filtration is physically removing detritis, debris, and waste from the water before it gets a chance to break down into nitrates and other goodies. Sponges, filter socks, and protein skimmers are all mechanical filtration devices. We run a sponge in our overflow box, and a Reef Octopus protein skimmer.

In my opinion, the best filtration for any reef aquarium would be: live rock (a 1:1 or higher ratio of pounds per gallon is best. the more the merrier), a protein skimmer, and possibly a refugium or some form of macro algae in your tank to help remove nitrates.

If you do not have one already, I would highly recommend purchasing a protein skimmer. Running a tank without one is similar to driving a car without power steering. You can drive a car without power steering, but having it makes life SOOOO much easier. I would look at getting a skimmer.

my 0.02.

 

Thanks. I have live rock about 20lbs. Friend gave me a skimmer it was junk. lfs told me I really didn't need a protein skimmer in such a small tank. But now that I think about it I wonder if not having a protein skimmer is why I am having trouble keeping nitrates down. Can you recomend a skimmer?

 

Do you have a sump or would you need to have a hang on skimmer?

And our nitrates went from around 2-5 on the scale to totally zero when we got a skimmer. They were good to begin with, but the fact that they dropped to zero with a skimmer might help you with your nitrates.

If you are looking for a hang on skimmer, I've heard very very very good things about the Aqua C skimmers. There are alot of members here that use them.

If you have a sump, well, we love our Octopus brand skimmer. We bought a used Berlin skimmer before, and it pooped out on us. The octopus is just amazing compared to the old skimmer.

 

I need to get a hang on skimmer. Thanks for the help. I don't have great lfs in my area can you suggest a good online place to purchase a skimmer?

 

for me I like to use brita water filter coz nothing is impossible.


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Ukf8001axx

 

You will see a Rio Nano-Skimmer out there for sale for those tanks upto 20g. Do not get. It is good for 10g tanks barely. I have one. On my 10g. The AquaC Remora is a good skimmer as well as the Octopus BH-100F. I would get either one of those. The great thing is.....you will have room to grow and upgrade if you want. Those skimmers are very good.

Also as Jwin pointed out a 1:1 is a good number to hit but for a FO tank. In a reef tank, 1.75 lbs/gal is the recommended. Live rock is the best biological filtration you will find hands down.

The only good I see for mechanical filtration is running carbon IMO. I am not a fan of the biowheels and such.....LR does the job.