HOB filter as fuge?

[Dyncaus]

i was wondering if i could use a small HOB filter, like an aquaclear mini or so to use as a sort of mini fuge on my 29g tank. i have been having a bit of a problem with nitrates and was wondering if maybe houseing some caluerpa in there would help with the problem. thanks

[kaiser]

You might be overfeeding. Cut the amount You feed in half and monitor the water. I would think an HOB filter would be too small with too high of a flow to do any good as a fuge. Just my 2 cents.

[matt]

You need to change a lot of water in a small tank like this to keep the nitrates down. If you had another tank of equal size for a refugium, or at least 20 gallons, you might be able to grow enough caulerpa to keep nitrates down, but a little bit in a hang on filter won't do much.

[Dyncaus]

ok, thanks, well i don't actually have any fish in my tank right now, they all recently died from what i like to call the "plague". but the nitrates are still hagning up around 20, so i guess i'll just have to keep with the water changes until i can get a HOB overflow. thanks

[prof]

The nano guys have done that very successfully. HOB filters without the filter media make great fuges. Do a search on nano-reef or reefcentral.

[Dyncaus]

thanks

[lax]

yeah if you went the hob fuge route, you could do 18" cpr, build one yourself! recommend, or do any of the aquaclears. to get the flow down on the ac's you can get a smaller size prop or break 3 of the 6 blades off, every other one of course. lots of people do this for their nanos, you being a proud member of one yourself. go to http://www.nano-reef.com/ they have a board specifically for fuges. be sure to put a light up there.