Remove the Power Filter?

[bebegoat]

Hi.
I have a 29 gallon setup that has a Penguin power filter (no bio wheel, two carbon cartridges) and a Remora Skimmer. Lately the Penguin has been acting up (lots of noise, loss of suction on occasion) and I was thinking of removing it. I would estimate (its been a while since I set it up) that I have 40# of live rock, and my sand bed is probably 4" deep or so.

The local shop recommended either swapping the impeller or just getting a new power filter rather than removing it all together, but I like the idea of taking it out.
Is this okay to do? Any better ideas?

Thanks for any and all of your suggestions/advice.

 

[robbrouse]

Most people on here will say take it out.

 

[little_fish]

Take it out, that is freshwater technology that translates very poorly to saltwater. They can lead to nitrate issues if they arent cleaned religiously

 

[marcah]

what else do you have for movement in the tank?
and I agree take it out..

 

[bebegoat]

what else do you have for movement in the tank?
and I agree take it out..

I have two koralias (one in the bottom left blowing towards the back center, the other on back top corner blowing towards the front center).

- Thanks to all for their replies. I appreciate it.

 

[marcah]

make sure it is turning over at a rate of no lower then 20 times per hour and depending on what you may want to do for corals 40 times per hour.. And you have a good ripple at the surface to help with gas exchange..:D

 

[bebegoat]

make sure it is turning over at a rate of no lower then 20 times per hour and depending on what you may want to do for corals 40 times per hour.. And you have a good ripple at the surface to help with gas exchange..:D

Thanks marcah.
I will have to double check when I get home, but I think that they are 1st gen Koralia 4s.
Should that be okay?
Thanks.

 

[marcah]

if I remember correctly the 4's are around 1250 gph. two of them is an awful lot of flow.. should be around 1100 or so total in a 29... you are at about a rate of 90 times or better per hour..

 

[bebegoat]

hmm. I'll double check (don't trust my memory, especially on Monday). Assuming they are 4's would you recommend turning one off, or downgrading to two smaller ones?
I would love to keep everyone who is in the tank happy, and keep as many options open as possible with regards to future inhabitants (corals).

 

[marcah]

yeah I hate Mondays also. Well tuesdays arent that much better. We wont get into weds, thurs, or fridays either.. :D
If it was me I think I would change them out for a couple smaller ones like the koralia 550's
Water Pumps & Wavemakers: Hydor Koralia Evolution

 

[little_fish]

+1 marcah

 

[bebegoat]

well, Mondays being what they are - the koralias that I have in there now are a far cry from the 4's I thought...they are 1's. The 550's are 30 bucks at MarineDepot. I think I will move up to get those. Thanks for all of your help Marcah.

 

[snyderju]

I still use my old HOB Filter. It is an aqua clear 50. It has room for a foam filter, activated carbon, and bio bag. Plus if I ever want to put phosphate reducer in there or other types of filters I have the option. This is a little different than the penguin filters though. Plus I clean mine out almost every water change and my nitrates are good. I like to be able to use the activated carbon because it keeps the water crystal clear and smelling pretty good too lol. I run that with 2 Koralia 425 powerheads and a maxijet 400 in power head mode and have an aquatic life 115 protein skimmer. All together it may be overkill but yields good water test results.