DIY hob fuge

[d0 thy d3w]

is it in anyway possible to convert an onld hob filter into a sumwhat worthwhile fuge? i was thinkin id throw in sum rubble and sum chaeto with a small light mounted to the filter..and presto id have a fuge...i have no room atm to make a full size fuge....but i figure if this is even remotely worth while..all i need to get is sum chaeto..any thoughts on this?

 

[d0 thy d3w]

seriousely no replies yet??? not even criticism?? and people tellin me i am retarted?

 

[rabid frog]

I think it could be done. Sometimes it helps to have a picture.
I think I know what you are trying though. I dont see any reason why it would not work. It is not going to hurt anything thats for sure. I think the flow will be slow enough some hob's you can even adjust the flow.
Good luck with your project and keep us informed.
Joey

 

[reeffreakgeek]

I read on another site where someone modified an aquaclear filter.They put chaeto in it .I believe that the chaeto was receiving light from the tank,no additional light fixture.I don't think it would hurt to try.

 

[rabid frog]

I was thinking about that too. But some people like the have their macro algaes on a diff. light schedule than the display. But if there is too much bleed over from the main tanks lights, it would be like a 24 hr. light cycle. So I dunno.

 

[caz2022]

I made a 'fuge out of an old Aquaclear 110 HOB. It worked great. You only have to make a few modifications (free). As for lighting I just used an old clip on desk light (they're like under $10 anywhere). Definitly worth the ten minutes it takes to make it.

Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[trainfever]

Yes it can be done and yes it does work. I have a 20 gallon sump/refugium below my tank with plenty of pods but not many pods reaching my display tank. So I had an extra hob filter not being used and decided to make a hob fue out of it. I just took some rubble rock and macro from my fuge and put them in there. I also through a couple small hermit crabs in there. Even a few snails made their way there on their own. One thing I would sugest is to remove any filter pads if possible. Mine has a filter sponge in it but i left it in there and now it is home to plenty of pods. I dont worry about lights because the back of my canopy is open and my tank lights do a great job of illuminating the hob fuge. I now have plenty of pods in there and my tank. It also adds to the water circulation.

 

[d0 thy d3w]

sweet!!! and btw mine is an aquaclear..i cant think of the model off the top of my head but its rated for a 50 gallon tank or sumwhere around there....i spent like a half hour yesterday making a custom light fixture to keep light on it...but here is where i have my doubts on my light for it...how many watts do u need on a small fuge like that? would like 15-20watts be good?? ill post a pic or two when its doen as long as yall dont make fun of my lame tank lol...but first i gotta get sum chaeto...and im currently in the process of turning sum crappy base rock into lr rubble for it...

 

[d0 thy d3w]

Originally Posted by trainfever
Yes it can be done and yes it does work. I have a 20 gallon sump/refugium below my tank with plenty of pods but not many pods reaching my display tank. So I had an extra hob filter not being used and decided to make a hob fue out of it. I just took some rubble rock and macro from my fuge and put them in there. I also through a couple small hermit crabs in there. Even a few snails made their way there on their own. One thing I would sugest is to remove any filter pads if possible. Mine has a filter sponge in it but i left it in there and now it is home to plenty of pods. I dont worry about lights because the back of my canopy is open and my tank lights do a great job of illuminating the hob fuge. I now have plenty of pods in there and my tank. It also adds to the water circulation.
i was thinking id keep the a sponge at the top to keep the chaoet or water algae stuff i choose for floating back into the tank...i think thats what u did too?? correct me if i misunderstood this...and also..what is a good algae to use?? is chaeto good? or is there sum better kind? ive never made a fuge before..thanx for the help so far! and any fursther help will be greatly appreciated as well!

 

[d0 thy d3w]

with the exception of my algae..my project is completed..now i just gotta check up on it every now and then and make sure i didnt make a fire..so if all goes well..aftere i get the algae in..ill post a pic or two

 

[peckhead]

do u guys put sand in yours? i tried it today and the sand went into the pump and the algea went into the tank!....tips?

 

[d0 thy d3w]

no sand in a hob fuge!!!only in a full sized fuge taht has su type of barrier to keep sand from blowing in!! lol

 

[caz2022]

Originally Posted by d0 thy d3w
no sand in a hob fuge!!!only in a full sized fuge taht has su type of barrier to keep sand from blowing in!! lol
I had about a 3" sand bed in the HOB that I made out of my 110. All you have to do is make a small modification and the sand won't get moved at all. There's also another modification you can make that keeps you Macro from falling back into the tank. Both mods are done using parts that came with the filter to begin with.

 

[d0 thy d3w]

Originally Posted by caz2022
I had about a 3" sand bed in the HOB that I made out of my 110. All you have to do is make a small modification and the sand won't get moved at all. There's also another modification you can make that keeps you Macro from falling back into the tank. Both mods are done using parts that came with the filter to begin with.
sounds interesting..i guess i jumped to a conlusion or sumthin..cuz how i have mine set up i know for a fact the sand would be instantly blown into a dust storm

 

[emonemo]

Hey ive got a similar project going on.
Its in the thread DIY HOB SUMP.
im running what is described in that thread but im also using my hang on penguin filter.
I turned that into a mini fuge but decided i wanted to add water capacity as well so i built from kit a 2.7 gallon hob fuge/sump.
the penguin biowheel was madified by taking the wheel out and placing rubble rock into the first inlet compartement. the second larger overflow compartement was used for chemi pure bags, but those are now in the hob sump i made.
point being, these filters can be modified pretty well.

 

[mes1]

yeah i made a HOB fuge with my aqua clear filter as well. it worked great. i dont use it anymore. it was on my old 10g nano back in the day but i still have it. ill post some pics when i can.