What filter should I get?

[EliWhitney314]

I keep getting different opinions. Should I get a HOB or a canister?

 

[EliWhitney314]

or should the live sand and live rock be enough?

 

[KidJ57]

Common suggestion is to do the live rock and sand with a Protein Skimmer and sump. I personally have a cannister with a built in UV filter; however, the more I think about it, and the more sumps I see I wish I would have gone with a sump set-up, it would have made certain things a lot easier, but I could also see it being a lot more money & time to set-up.

Essentially, if you want to do more maintenance, get the cannister, if you want felixibility and stability, get the sump

 

[EliWhitney314]

Oh yeah I am getting a skimmer. I just don't want to do a sump.

 

[Bifferwine]

No HOB, no canister. Just live rock and a skimmer.

 

[EliWhitney314]

why not? Will the skimmer pull out large particles?

 

[Bifferwine]

What large particles are you planning on having? You shouldn't have large particles. HOB and canister filters lead to poor water quality (high nitrates) and are just too much work to maintain. Some people use them for one or two days a month to run carbon in, but most people don't use them at all.

 

[EliWhitney314]

So I could use them for a couple days a month for a pre-caution?

 

[Bifferwine]

Yep, but I wouldn't even do it unless I saw a problem.

 

[dcantucson]

What large particles are you planning on having?.

Large fish turds!?! :shock: :mrgreen: :bounce: