Hang on the back filters enough? (110 Gallon)

So after an hour of looking on how to post a new thread... i guess i finally figured it out...LoL

So my question is I just purchased a 110 gallon tank plus a bunch of extras (stand, coralife compact lighting, heater, and the hang on the back filters) from craigslist for about $100, and i was wondering if i absolutely HAVE to have a sump or refugium or if i could get away with the hang on the back filters and maybe get a protein skimmer...

btw i should be getting my two powerheads in the mail this week... also.. i have been working on/staining/reinforcing the stand so the tank is not cycling yet...

The setup i have now is just a 10 gallon tank with two hoods (one 10k and one actinic) a hang on the back filter, and a heater.

Any info would be appreciated and I did do a search but there was no specific info according to hang on the back filters only for a bigger tank like mine... thanks guys!!

Tyler

by the way... obviously my first post but this forum is an awesome tool that any salt water aquarist could benefit from... thanks for the welcome

 

a sump is not 100% necessary, as long as you have a HOB protein skimmer and some sort of bio filtration. basically a sump is just a place to hide the skimmer/filter equipment as well as provide larger water volume which make the system a little more stable.

 

on a 110g I would recommend a sump, refugium or wet/dry. thats a great deal you got to. you can get a overflow box with hose for $50-60 bucks. and a 10 or 20 gallon tank (what ever will fit under stand) for $30 bucks, and a 500-700gph return pump with hose for $50 bucks.. then you can just put bioballs or Live rock or Live sand or macro algae or mangroves down there. and get a decent in-sump skimmer for $150-200 bucks.

thats what I would do. but thats me.

 

+1 to Night-Rida





For those of you joining us that are new to the hobby - the best piece of advice you'll get around here as a saltwater newbie is 3Reef's slogan
"Go slow, let it grow."
And for those experianced hobbyists joining us - it's still good advice
good luck and post pics soon

 

Right back at ya! K+x2

 

Whether a HOB filter will work depends on what you plan to keep. If you want to do a fish only aquarium, then it can work, but you will need a lot of rock in there to act as a biological filtration. I also highly suggest a protein skimmer and I feel a protein skimmer is necessary with a reef tank, unless you do large, regular water changes. For that sized tank, I would go with a sump, I don't even know if they make HOB filters rated for that large of a tank, and add the fact that it is salt water makes the idea less then appealing.

I should say, you should have a lot of rock in there anyway, regardless of whether it is a reef tank or fish only. I also think you should have a protein skimmer regardless of whether it is a reef tank or fish only. I would save yourself the hassle and just do a sump with a refugium built into it. I run a 20gal sump on my 55 and have the drain area with my skimmer, refugium, then return with my heater, ATO and pump. You will be glad you added a sump not only for better filtration and added water volume, but also for aesthetics.

 

So I know there are threads on how to make a sump or a refugium but am I able to make either of these with my 10 gallon tank I have now? Or is that too small? The two hang on the back filters are different sizes one bigger then the other and was used previously on this tank before stated by the previous owner. If that's the case I was wondering if I could get away with those and a protein skimmer being enough to have fish, corals, etc

 

What type of corals do you want? You could potentially get away with it if you want soft and lps corals, but sps corals require better water quality in general and I would highly suggest a refugium when keeping sps.

IMO, the 10 gallon is too small. The point of a sump is to have more water volume and a place to have your equipment (heater, skimmer, reactors etc.) On that sized tank, I would use a 30+gal tank.

 

instead of a 20-30 gallon tank, price out a rubbermaid bin or similar product. it wont look that great, but who's going to see it besides you because it will be inside stand. just make sure you have area to fit it or you'll have to put it outside next to stand.. if your handy you could just buy arylic sheets and some ayrlic bonding agent/glue and use a table saw to make your own. so basically you got 3-4 options to think about as well as what's in the budget... 20-30 gallon glass tanks arent that much.. probly find one used on ebay/craigslist/newspaper within 1 weeks time..

 

I have a 10 gallon sump on my 46 bow, it is divided in half and has an intake coming in from a HOB overflow box. I hae a piece of glass acrylic glass with hole in it where the hose from the overflow box goes into. The 10 gallon is divided in half with a glass piece siliconed in place with a 1 inch gap at the bottom. The water goes thru a pre filter than 2 1/2 pounds of bio balls and than than out the bottom where it is heated by 2 100 watt submersible heaters and than returned to the DT by a pump. easy design, bought it at my LFS for 20 dollars. I had to buy the bio balls, heaters, and pump seperate of course.