Using Aquaclear Filter?

[Jesshika]

I've been using a marineland bio wheel filter for a long time but I recently took out the bio wheel. I wanted to switch to the aqua clear because the bio wheel filter is noisy and has a few problems. Today at the LFS, they said I couldn't use an aqua clear and that they are only for freshwater. The employee then tried to sell me a sump and a protein skimmer claiming that is the only filteration that works for saltwater and I absolutely have to have a protein skimmer. I have had no problems using HOB filters with my tanks for all these years, but can anyone recommend a good "quiet" HOB filter? The tank is in my room and my bio wheel filter has been keeping me up at night :wall:

 

[nycsicktank]

why do you have bio wheels in the first place?

 

[Jesshika]

I just recently found out that I don't need the bio wheel. I used to have an eclipse tank and I liked the filters so I just used a HOB bio filter for my 40 tank too.

 

[nycsicktank]

im assuming you didnt know bio wheel is another nitrates factory. what are you trying to accomplish with HOB?

 

[Jesshika]

Nope I didn't know the wheel was bad. I just want mechanical filtration with carbon to help keep it cleaner without having to get a sump or something.

 

[nycsicktank]

AC are very quiet at first but after awhile its very noisy, i have ac 50 and its very noisy cant sleep at night. some people clean it and its quiet again.(not me)

you can ditch the wheel and just use that filter with carbon in there.

 

[Jesshika]

Thats what I've been doing for the past week but my filter makes these mechanical sounds like something is loose inside the motor area but I've tried taking it apart and making sure everything is secure but it doesn't help =/ For the AC filter, do you only use the carbon or the other added stuff too? I saw that there were some other stuff to add in the filter like ammonia remover and this other foam pad thing.

 

[nycsicktank]

did you try soaking it with vinegar? i made sure the impeller shaft is all the way into the motor along impeller.

i had a foam and poly filter, it was on my qt. but soon took out poly filter, it said it removes ammonia(i forgot if it does:uhoh

there are many options for ac: foam, biomax, carbon and amrid. i dont bother with anything expect for foam. biomax and carbon should be change every month or so.

ill never use carbon or poly unless i had a reason to. carbon makes the water clear and poly takes out all the bad stuffs, but why use this when you do w.c? thats just my opinion.

 

[Jesshika]

Thanks for the advice. Would water changes be enough though? All I have besides the HOB is live rock and live sand.

 

[nycsicktank]

technically you dont need all that in your filter espically in sw. my snails and my sponges(not foam) replace the poly since it eats detritus. my water is already clear as possible. as for filtration, i have lr, ls, snails, sponges and cheato. mostly all natural filter expect skimmer(hoping to go skimmerless when i get better at this =)