filter advice

[rodgeryng]

My 30 gallon tank currently has a HOB refugium and a protein skimmer. I use the protein skimmer return area for chemical filtration media when I feel it is needed.

After three years I am a bit concerned with detritus. I would like to add a mechanical filter to use during water changes when all the particles are "kicked up". I am a bit hesitant to add a permanent cannister filter both for the difficulty in cleaning and the nitrate build up issues and adding one for use just during water changes strikes me as a bit "intensive" to set up.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I could use one of the HOB mechanical filters but I will be adding it before and taking it off after water changes as I dont have any unused space around the tank available.

 

[Max]

If it's just for a cleaning I'd use a hob with floss. Just take it off after it's done it's bit. Why are you having such a big detritus build you sounds like you need a good vaccume.
hth
Max

 

[soccerkidbs]

i would just run a canister have it empty and when you do the wc just add some filter floss or a sponge. i run a canister all the time and it only has a sponge in it.

 

[rodgeryng]

Been doing some searches on cannisters...one person was using a layer of floss and then live rock in the other chambers. Anyone here done that?

 

[vorlx]

I built in a mechanical filtration portion into my sump, originally I wasn't going to add any but the Nori Seaweed I feed my tangs makes quite a mess. My flow kicks up most everything in the tank but all it was doing before was flowing through my sump and right back out.

I do have to clean it quite often though.