Changing from dual hobs to dual canisters

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I

Itainteasy

Black Skirt Tetra
MFK Member
Dec 25, 2015
48
10
13
44
New here. Got a 120 gallon 5 footer. It's displayed on both sides in my living room so I have to get rid of the ugly hobs hanging on the one side. I ordered two sun sun 540 gph, forget the model. But that puts me at 1080 gph which puts me at exactly 9x turnover.

So I think I'm in good shape. I already have all the media for the 4 tray systems, soooo I'm just asking if anyone has any advice for me.

Should I place my hob filters in the canister somewhere so I dont lose my beneficial bacteria?

Should I skip the carbon? I have fine foam, coarse foam, ceramic media, carbon and bio balls for media.

If so, what do I use in that tray instead?

TIA
 
Itainteasy said:
New here. Got a 120 gallon 5 footer. It's displayed on both sides in my living room so I have to get rid of the ugly hobs hanging on the one side. I ordered two sun sun 540 gph, forget the model. But that puts me at 1080 gph which puts me at exactly 9x turnover.

So I think I'm in good shape. I already have all the media for the 4 tray systems, soooo I'm just asking if anyone has any advice for me.

Should I place my hob filters in the canister somewhere so I dont lose my beneficial bacteria?

Should I skip the carbon? I have fine foam, coarse foam, ceramic media, carbon and bio balls for media.

If so, what do I use in that tray instead?

TIA
Click to expand...

I'd keep running your hob's alongside the canisters for 3 weeks at least. This will allow the bacteria to colonise the canisters alongside the hob's without your bacteria cycle crashing; it also keeps the bacteria alive in your hob's for when you discover that canisters are awful, and that you'd rather just keep the hobs
 
Yep keep the hob running 4 weeks
 
As others said, I'd keep the HOB's running for a few weeks. I don't ever run carbon unless it's to remove meds. I'd use that space for more bio media. And for me personally, I'd switch out the bio balls for more ceramic media, but that's just me. Also, be aware that the pump ratings are at zero head pressure. After hooking them to the tank it will be less than 1080 gph. But those 2 cans should still be plenty for that tank.
 
I think op wanted to get rid of the bob's

I would just put the media from the hobs in the cans. If more media can fit then add some and no need to run carbon unless your removing meds from the system so dont theow it out save it for when its needed
 
I hope you will be happy with your change. I’ve done just the opposite and changed all my canisters to HOBs years ago because it is a PIA to clean canisters. Changing the media in a HOB takes minutes. Cleaning a canister takes a lot more time and effort and if you rush to put it back carelessly, it can develop leak and drain the tank. Canister are often left uncleaned for months because it is PIA to do it. The practice is bad for water quality because filters don’t actually remove waste until you clean the waste out of the media. If appearance is the issue with HOBs, install a tank top canopy to hide the HOBs which also provides a sound barrier to reduce noise.
 
  • Like
Reactions: convict360
As long as you don't rinse the media (too much) you can just put whatever bio is in your job into the canister. If it's one of those cartridge types this might not be viable, and if that's the case I'd certainly leave one running. If the media did its job in the hob, that is to say removed all ammonia and nitrite, then it will continue to do so in the canisters. I wouldn't rinse the media too much before you put it in to keep the bacteria colony strong for seeding the extra media you will probably have.
 
Thanks guys. Great stuff.

I hear the people that say leave the hobs, but I have my tank displayed sideways between my living room and kitchen. And on my kitchen side it looks horrible with the huge black hobs and wires hanging there
 
  • Like
Reactions: convict360
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom