New Picture need some opinions & Nitrate High

I currently run GAC in one; I have an extra in case I need to add GFO.

 

Your HOB just has carbon in one and the other is empty? Could you put rock rubble in there to add extra biological filtration?

 

....More nitrates? That amount of rubble wont effectively add to the biological filtration, it will just add a place for detritus to build up and break down.

 

OK, offer me an alternative then.

What DO I put in the two HOB filters I am running if not actual filters or rock?

I want to keep them for surface agitation and water flow but would like to see some benefit out of them as well.

 

Personally, I count surface agitation and flow as beneficial. I'd leave mine on just for those features, alone. However, I also use mine as a place to add top-off water or replacement water during a water change as I can trickle it in and it gets mixed with tank water before going into the DT. A place to hang media bags for chemical filtration should you ever need it is also a plus, even if you're not using it at the moment.

 

Seems counter intuitive in my monkey brain to have no mechanical filters in my tank. I think I'm just scared of that step though I understand why it's a good one to take.

So, if I take the filters out and then pick up a skimmer that should help decrease my nitrate levels?

 

It will help decrease Nitrate production. What's already there still needs to be removed.

 

yes, skimmer and regular detritrus removal - I never know if I spell that word correctly. You can run carbon and I run phosguard in mine....it's doesn't need to tumble like the other types of GFO. These things can help with water clarity and contribute to keeping things clean but you still need to export what is there.....

 

+1 i would get a Reef Octopus BH-100f skimmer. Thats what i used on my 46 and 55 since they surface skim and the pump is outside the tank in the skimmer body. Mine worked great for years and I sold them to other 3reefers.