Filtration help for 50 gallon (skimmer vs AC 70 HOB)

I'm very new to this and I've spent a few weeks reading online and reading portions of aquarium books. My question is regarding filtration for a 50 gallon tank with the intent of having clowns (2), lots of LPS, with maybe some SPS.

I was looking at an aquaclear 70. Is that adequate filtration or do I need a skimmer?

If I got a protein skimmer instead, would I still need the AC 70?

If I convert the AC 70 into a refugium, does it still function as a filter?

Thanks in advance!

 

your going to want a skimmer. I wouldnt get a Hob filter. if you have enough live rock then a good skimmer and live rock and a good clean up crew should be fine. otherwise you will be cleaning or changeing your filter cartridges alot because they will just collect uneaten food and junk. how much live rock do you have now?

 

edit: +1 to tatooedsoul87's comment. Seems I was a little slow.

Hi sushibug, welcome to 3reef. I would suggest you take a skimmer (I am assuming you are looking at HOB as you did not mention a sump) over the Aquaclear 70; especially if you are planning to grow SPS down the line. But if you convert it into a refugium, it will still function as a filter in the sense that it will reduce nitrates by way of chaeto (or whatever macros you have in there.

You do not need a "filter" in the freshwater sense if you add 1 - 2 lbs of LR per gallon of water in your tank. The LR will be your filter. You just need to add powerheads for circulation.

But if you are planning to go without a sump, I would suggest you get both if you can and turn the Aquaclear into a refugium.

 

Hi Sushibug, Welcome to 3Reef. Glad to see that you are doing homework and research before jumping in !

Since you are going full on reef, fish LPS and SPS – yes, you will want a good quality skimmer on your set up. Additionally you will want a good quality RO/DI set up.

The need of filtration is debatable – live rock is your filtration and water movement over and around the rock “filters” yet we utilize sumps for various reason, more water (dilutes future problems) additional live rock, and a good space for skimmers and other’s – such as running carbon and other filter media’s which in my opinion is a must.

The addition of a refugium is a fantastic idea – but I would suggest you get your tank set up for about 6 months so that it can sustain the refugium.

 

Thanks for the replies. I don't have any LR yet. I will be shopping around for that today.

Edit: Is it overkill to have the AC70 and a Protein Skimmer running at the same time? I like the idea of converting it to a refugium but that won't happen for a few months.

 

it wouldnt be an overkill but I wouldnt run it with the foam or ammonia remover inserts. Id use the carbon but maybe get a higher quality carbon

 

I have 55g with AC 70 and AquaC Remora Hang-on Skimmer.
AC 70 has your typical filter + carbon sock + bio media.
I run a sock filled with SeaGel (carbon + phosban) in the skimmer surface/return box.

Can't imagine having one of those but not the other if you're going sumpless, especially on a new tank that does not have a lot of established LR.

Without skimmer i used to get bad slicks on the water surface if I fed my fish anything but flakes. Skimmer helps a ton with that.

 

My LFS keeps telling me to not get a protein skimmer because it's not necessary. I ask him about just a protein skimmer and not the AC70 filter and he says I have it backwards (if your only going to have only one, get the filter). I'm very confused right now because everything else I've bought from him has great reviews and the prices are unbeatable by all the other LFS that I've visited. Using that logic, I *should* trust his advice.

 

Def do filter first. Then later get a skimmer.


Sent from my iPhone 4 using Tapatalk

 

well since you dont have any LR yet , then yes i would get the filter first , then get your LR bought into the tank ,then get your protein skimmer