What should I have for filtration?

Hey everyone. I have a 20g long tank that I have only recently started. I'm starting to think about what kind of filtration I should have on the tank by the time it's fully cycled. Let me first tell you that I do not have a lot of room or money to work with. I am a college student at OSU and I live with two other people in a small apartment. So what ever I decide to do will have to fit on a desk or on the side of my tank.

What I was planning on doing was just use a HOB filter from one of my old freshwater fishtank. The filter is made for a 10g tank. Once I saved up a bit of money, I was going to upgrade to a better HOB filter that could handle a 20g reef tank. What do you guys think? Is this good or do you have any other ideas? Thanks for all of the help! ;D

P.S. I eventually plan on having two common clown fish and a med CUC.

 

I think an aquaclear 70 with the bio media removed would be sweet. There my favorite HOB.

 

Don't waste what money you have on a HOB Filter. Spend it on extra salt and live rock. So longs as you have a few good pieces of LR in there and you do a weekly water change your tank will stay beautiful. If you stay consistent with that alone you will be fine. My 30 gallon has been sustained perfectly for fish and softies for over 3 years now with nothing but water flow, live rock and live sand. I let it slip sometimes and algae will break out, I just do a large water change and everything comes right back around.

 

I agree on just concentrating on live rock and water changes on that size of a tank. However a small HOB will give you a place to run carbon and other media that would be beneficial. Because you don't need the media that comes with the filter, you should be able to pick up a used one for nest to nothing. Other than that just plenty of live rock and regular water changes should be all you need.

Jake