HOB refugium vs. HOB filter

[Burrito1]

I've had my 20 gallon reef tank going since oct. 2007 with a HOB filter and 2 powerheads but I have really wanted a refugium lately. Would a HOB refugium do the same job or better than the filter? I would put some sand, rock rubble and chaeto in it. Also, I have a mandarin that eats frozen brine shrimp but this would be good for cultivating pods. I just want to know if this method would work better, and does anyone know which HOB refugium is best?

 

[Ben1]

A HOB filter could be used to run media and a mechanical filter to remove detritus. A fuge is mostly meant to grow macros that use nutrients as they grow helping the tanks water quality. Also they offer a place for pods and such to breed with out being picked off so provide a food sorce to the tank.

So really they would be two different things, in a tank that small a HOB fuge and a HOB filter like a phos reactor to run carbon in would be fine.

 

[Burrito1]

So, are you saying running both would be fine or is there a 2 in 1 system that I could use?

 

[Scoopy]

all a HOB filter really does is circulate the water through some type of mechanical filteration, and usually a form of activated carbon. Unless its some type of biowheel that does a wet/dry action. If you get a HOB fuge, just make sure in the first chamber you run your water through some type of filter floss, and you can put a bag of active carbon in there too. Clean your floss once a week, and change your carbon monthly so it doesnt start leeching bad things back into your water. This is what your HOB filter does. If it has a biowheel, dont worry about it. If you have 1-1.5 lbs of liverock per gallon of water, you have enough bacteria to complete the amonia/nitrate cycle successfully.

Hope this helps
Sam