I HAVE ONE OF THOSE HANG ON FILTERS THE BEST ONES AT WALMART I TOOK ALL THE MEDIA OUT AND ADDED LIVE SAND AND LIVE ROCK AND A CRAPPY SKIMMER WILL THAT WORK TILL I CAN AFFORD A SALTWATER FILTER.
If you are talking about an outside box filter similar to a Penguin, they actually work okay on a saltwater tank, and it will work fine to use it with the cartridges. They help by circulating water and will remove particles from the water, and have carbon in them that will remove contaminants from the water. I don't think I would recommend putting sand or live rock in that small box. The sand might clog the impellor system, and the sand and rock should be in the tank. A crappy skimmer is better than no skimmer.
Sonny
I would go back and use the filter the way it was ment to be used. I don't think you will gain anything form useing lr in it in a small filter. Those filter will do well on a small tank, I would add live rock to the tank and you should be fine, and yes a crappy skimmer is better then no skimmer. Good Luck
wow, must be a tiny skimmer, but as long as its getting water, it should work. is it pulling anything out?thats the important thing. i would keep the rock in the tank, if you are going for water movement over the rock, i would recommend power heads.
I know that this reply is a little late but I have not been home lately....Chrystal you and I think alike, earlier this year I took out the carbon of my Penguin Bio wheel fiter and replaced it with some of Aquaruim pharmaceuticals' Bio-chem Stars. I placed them in a pyramid shape, to turn it into a total biological filter. It cut off my nitrate by about 10ppm and has not had any harmful side effects! If you can, post an update later on if it has helped any!