Question about filtration

cam78

cam78

Active Member
OK, here it goes. I have a 46 bow and I recently made myself a refuge/sump which I intended to set up and use a lifereef overflow. Got everything all ready, cured the LR (for the fuge) and set up the overflow. I put this overfow in and realized, wow thats ugly!!! The overflow is big and looks even bigger in a 46 gallon tank. SO I hate myself for not drilling my tank mainly because I was new to this and knew nothing about why tanks were drilled.
This is what I have:
Two power heads (20 aquaclear) one redsea skimmer, and a Fluval 305 flter.
Question: What is just as good as a refuge? If I get another fluval filter like a 205 would this be as good as a refuge? Two filters as good as one refuge? I want great water quality but wish to do it without the ugly overflow box. If I could drill the tank I would but it is full of water, LR, LS, and coral.
Suggestions please!
 
hot883

hot883

Active Member
You have several options.
1. drill the tank
2. use hang on the back refugiums found on the

[hr]
site
3. use hang on the tank filters and instead of having floss or wheels, put in live rock rubble.
4. deal with the look of the overflow box.
 
cam78

cam78

Active Member
option 1: drill the tank while its filled? That couldbe a problem right?
option 3: Hang on back filter, can't i just fill a fluval with LR rubble?
 
N

nereef

Guest
the overflow will eventually be covered in coraline like the rest of the back glass. i agree that h.o.t. fuges seem like a good idea.
live rock rubble in a fluval would work, but if you have to purchase another one, you should spend the money on the h.o.t. fuge for not much more money.
won't the tank explode if you drill it, since it probably has tempered glass on the bottom.
 
cam78

cam78

Active Member
hang on fuges confuse me. They are so small how could they really do anything for 46 gallons of water?
 
b-town

b-town

Member
Let me know if you want to sell the Lifereef box?
If you use the under tank sump, you can put heater, skimmer, ect in it and only have the Overflow box in the tank, which if you dont then you have all that stuff in the display tank, which looks even worse!
 
greenwolf52

greenwolf52

Member
Originally Posted by B-Town
Let me know if you want to sell the Lifereef box?
If you use the under tank sump, you can put heater, skimmer, ect in it and only have the Overflow box in the tank, which if you dont then you have all that stuff in the display tank, which looks even worse!

He's right. Overflow boxes arent the most attractive thing in the world, but look a lot better than all of that other stuff. Drilling the tank is definitely the way to go, but obviously it's too late. I know how you feel. Same thing happened to me, but never again. Anything I do from now on will include a drilled tank.
Anyway. Sump/fuge with overflow will be your best bet. Really need that biological filtration.
 
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