Updating my reef filter and I have questions

I have a 55 gallon reef tank with sps, lps and softies, and zoas. The tank has 6 various damsels, a mandarin, harlequin basselet, bi-color, ocelaris, firefish, and an endless supply of feather dusters. The tank also has numerous brittle stars. The tank has been up and running for almost 3 years now and I have so far only used HOB filters and skimmer. However with the cost of electricity skyrocketing here I would like to elimenate my HOBs and go for different type of filter. I do not have room for a sump. Any thoughts on canister filters? or are HOBs my best bet. Any help would be appreciated. Tank has about 90 lbs of LR and a 3 inch argonite LS bed. My budget is 100-150 bucks. Also oversized is good so that I can redirect the return current throughout the tank and eliminate my Koralias.Thanks for any help.

 

Wow so many responses!!

 

With that much rock and a skimmer, that should be all you need. I only run liverock and skimmer on may tank, with some ph's for circulation. I'd just take the HOB's offline.

 

if your running low on room i would think a hang on the back refugium would work great in this situation. not quite as good as a large under tank sump but better thana canister filter by far.

Aquafuge Refugiums, Aquarium Refugiums | PetSolutions

 

So everyone is pretty much against a canister filter. Hmm. I like the idea of only running a skimmer. Thanks a ton people!

 

Just keep the HOB on hand, it can be handy if you need to run carbon/chemipure/etc. You can throw it bag on the tank if needed and it gives you a spot to throw some media bags in if you need to.

 

I disagree that a skimmer and live rock is sufficient. This used to be known as the Berlin method but there are a few flaws. As skimmers filter all the unwanted proteins in the tank, not the same gunk a filter takes out. So that crap will still be I. Your tank.

 

What more is there in the tank that you want to get out that can't be removed by the skimmer and water changes? I know that many of the members on here only run skimmer and live rock, and there are quite a few that run liverock only (not just small tanks either). I've been keeping tanks for 6 years and that's all I've used. As a matter of fact, that's all my LFS uses.

I'm not saying running another filter is bad and it can be beneficial, but it is one more thing that needs to be maintained. If it is not properly maintained a canister or even a HOB can quickly become more harmful than good to a tank (i.e. becoming a nitrate factory as has been seen many times).

As the OP is trying to conserve energy and I assume money, as we all are, I say he can try just running the skimmer. It's entirely up to him which route he decides to go.

 

Zack, there is lots of great info on here if you have some time to look around. You can check out the filtration catagory and also be sure to look at the "show off your tanks" section. That will give you a good idea of what is out there. You'll be able to find a filtration system that suits your needs/desires. There are thousands of "right" combinations, all with their benefits and their drawbacks. I'm sure like almost everyone I know in the hobby, no matter which route you decide to go, you will end up changing something lol, we all do, and several times over the course of the tank likely.

Keep us updated on how the tank comes along.

Jake

 

I agree. HOB refugium and skimmer is all you need. It would be cheaper to modify your biggest HOB into a refugium. Chaeto does wonders for your tank