[aquasalt]

I am setting up a Quarantine tank and would like to hear your recommendations on what filter I should use. It's a 20 gallon tank and I plan on running it continuously.

Thanks

[pogodzib]

Since it is nice to be able to add carbon to a q-tank to remove chemicals after treatments, cheap HOB power filters that you can add and remove the filter floss and carbon work the best.

[aquasalt]

Like a Bravo 120?

[pogodzib]

Sure that one would work. Personally, I like the Marineland power filters (penguin & emperor), but that's just my personal preference.

[aquasalt]

Thanks, Brian! I'll see what they are selling and at what price.

[tomc1980]

No kidding im setting up my QT tank this friday and was kinda curious about what filter to use myself.

[aquasalt]

We spend so much time talking about sumps, skimmers, and natural filtrations systems that the thought of a HOB filter sounds incredibly primitive!

[pogodzib]

HOB filters are very primitive if you want to have no nitrates and perfect water like we do in your reef and/or frag tanks, but in a q-tank, they are the best choice to date. Skimmers don't have a place to add carbon and we can't add LS/LR since they contain calcium and would suck up any chemicals that we need to add for treatment from time to time. HOB filters don't reduce nitrates, but they have a space that you can add and remove carbon to pull out chemicals.

[gimmito]

I use the aqua clear 50. You can add carbon, ammonia removing media, & a sponge filter.

[plecosword]

I was laning on starting a 20g, keep it for a few months till i do the real thing, I was going to use a power filter.,I do also like the power filters from Marineland and Tetra. There are also this new power filters with skimmers on them.

[aquasalt]

If I use water from my DT, can I introduce livestock at the same time as my HOB filter or does it need to build up beneficial bacteria?

[gimmito]

I keep my hang on in the sump running for a few days to be on the safe side.

[pogodzib]

Does it need to be up and running, no, but it does help. Since q-tanks are generally small, doing water changes every other day can keep ammonia and nitrite to a minimum. Also, if you set up your q-tank using water out of your DT or move some type of filter, like a polyfilter or something, from the main tank to your q-tank, that help as well.

[aquasalt]

So I ended up buying a Penguin Power Filter, model 200 for our 29 gallon Quarantine Tank. However, I'm having a lot of problems with it:
1. It's really noisy (leaky faucet sound)
2. It's splashing just enough to where the floor around the tank is getting wet.

I have been fidgeting with it all last night, trying different water levels and messing with the cover pieces, but with little success.

Anybody had a similar problem?

[plecosword]

hmm does it have bio wheels? I have never had any problems with any of mine.

[aquasalt]

Yes it has a biowheel.

[plecosword]

ahh there, I would try taking them of, they are not very useful and they are noisy.hould be the problem I hope.

[pogodzib]

How much of a drop is there between the filter outflow to the tank water elev? It sounds to me like you need to add more water to your tank to reduce the noise and splashing.

[aquasalt]

I filled it up as high as it would go!

[plecosword]

the water level cant be the problem, did you try removing them yet? were is the water splashing from?

[pogodzib]

Does the water seem to flow through the unit alright? Have you tried removing both the biowheel and filter? Adjusting the bio wheel spray bar direction?

[aquasalt]

The water flows perfectly, from what I can see. I tried adjusting the biowheel to see if that was causing the problem, but also no luck. Can I run the filter without the biowheel if it's the biowheel that is causing the problem? I have also double checked the covers (both of them) thinking that that might be the problem. I'll take another look at it when I get home tonight.

I'm really concerned, because I just spent 1 month-and-a-half refinishing hardwood floors and last night when I went to check on the noise the floors were soaked

The good news is that my DT is disease free and my 3 new bengaii's are doing well in QT despite my problem.

[pogodzib]

Yes, you can run it without the bio wheel.

[aquasalt]

Thanks, Brian. I'll send an update later, when I (hopefully) get this resolved.

[aquasalt]

...and thanks Andre!