which is better

phils514 · 02-10-2007, 04:35 PM

for a 20 gallon tank, which is better, using 2 hang on filters? or using a hang on refugium?

Chitown1 · 02-10-2007, 06:09 PM

The refuigium will be more beneficial IMO, it will give you a place to add some macro algae, sand or mud and additional LR as well all of which will do a much netter job of bio filtration as well as give pods a safe place to breed. I would use the filters from time to time for a few hours with carbon to polish the water, but other than that I dont run any mechanical on any of my 12 tanks all the time as they generally push the nitrate levels to high for anything but the fish. Corals, inverts, macro algaes etc. all have a much lower tolerance for nitrates than fish do.

phils514 · 02-10-2007, 06:17 PM

Okay thanks. what if i put the filter on timer for lets say 4 hours a day and hang it on the refugium. will that be ok?

Chitown1 · 02-10-2007, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phils514

Okay thanks. what if i put the filter on timer for lets say 4 hours a day and hang it on the refugium. will that be ok?

I would just take it off and use it only a few hours a week, if you leave it on all the time it may bow the fuge.

phils514 · 02-10-2007, 08:27 PM

bow the fuge?

Chitown1 · 02-10-2007, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phils514

bow the fuge?

The refugium (fuge) is made of plexiglass and not designed to hold hanging weight, by leaving the filter hanging on it all the time it could bow it. It will prob. be fine from time to time but I dont think it would be a good idea to just hang it and leave it.

phils514 · 02-10-2007, 10:20 PM

ok thanks i will only use it once or twice a week and not leave it on.

phils514 · 02-11-2007, 01:55 AM

for the hang-on fuge, how much gallons per hour should i get as a pump? because the one that i bought doesn't come with a pump. is 50 gph enough?

Chitown1 · 02-11-2007, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phils514

for the hang-on fuge, how much gallons per hour should i get as a pump? because the one that i bought doesn't come with a pump. is 50 gph enough?

Slower is better for a fuge, it will give the sand, mud, macro algae and or rock time to provide bio filtration, the rule of thumb I use for mine is 3-5 times tank volume per hour.

feederfish · 02-14-2007, 03:13 PM

If you are going to use hang on filters a couple day a week .You need to clean filter medium because you will have die off which will create amonnia.You could start a mini cycle every week .SO I would suggest to either run filters all the time or clean well everytime you stop water flowing though them for any length of time or put them away.