2 hob filters for 55 gal reef

joshsliftedzj

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Feb 13, 2010
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Virginia beach
Wanting to convert my 55 gallon fresh to marine. I have 2 penguin 360 running in there now. I was wondering if they will work for running it as a reef tank. I really don't want to run a overflow and my tank is tempered so drilling is not a option either. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks
 
I'm not a big fan of the biowheels. I do have a HOB filter on the back of my reef, an aquaclear 70. It has a rough sponge, two bags of ceramic noodles, and an occasional bag of carbon.

I honestly don't know what the biowheels would do for you and they might hurt. I've heard of the wheels basically being a nitrate factory. Reefs are pretty sensitive.

As long as you have enough liverock and other powerheads in the tank, I think you'd be OK with them, but watch your nitrates... closely.

Hmmm... alternately, you can probably remove the biowheels themselves and just fill up the filters with ceramic noodles and call it done.
 
I am thinking about it. Only one of my filters have biowheels. The other was free from a friend and i chucked them. I am thinking of makeing some sort of connector to hook up both intakes. Have some ideas don't know if they will work.
 
2 HOB filters is not enough flow for a reef. Would probably work fine for a FOWLR though
 
I would try a rena xp 3 ,an aqua clear 70 PHd and keep 1 bio wheel and that will give you over 600 gph and current cirulation
 
I would personally skip the HOBs altogether and just run a few powerheads, such as koralias.
 
I would personally skip the HOBs altogether and just run a few powerheads, such as koralias.

I agree as the typical FW filter is not usually the best for reef tanks. With good flow and enough LR that can work if not over stocked and then maybe add a quality HOB skimmer.
 
Thanks for the input guys. I am trying to keep the money spent down on this tank. I have a biocube 14 that I have spent a ton on. That is why i am trying to use stuff that i already have. Trying to be thrifty.
 
I think you would find that even if you were to do a F/O tank with your 55, you would find that even within it as a F/O tank, you would start out good, but as the months ages on, you find yourself in more direr need to change these HOB to a excellent skimmer that would be better.

Your t
rying to be thrifty? Your not being wisely economical for this tank in the long run, you will loose so many fish one after another until you wise up that you need to be rid of these HOB filters that would only do well for you enough within a freshwater tank, but could never long term do well for your as a marine tank, specially as a reef. Best of Luck

Buddy
 
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