hang on refugium

[netjamer]

I've been looking at this HOB refugium on e-bay-- 14inches or 18 inches long- comes with the jalli light, and rio pump/head-- goes for 100 bucks or so- anyone know if this is worth the money...- I'm thinking of it for my 30 cube reef..

I'm leaning toward an HOB fuge so as to avoid plumbing and leak potential.. I also have limited space under the tank- and ovber it as well.

whats the word on these units- any particular one better that the other-?

 

[Anonymous]

I had a HOB a while back. I did like it but no longer use it because I upgraded tanks. Just get rid of the rio and use a maxi-jet. I've heard complaints about the Jalli lights but I cannot say if it is true because I have no experience with them.

Don't be mistaken, HOBs can flood as well. If the return gets clogged or a snail climbs in you could have a nice flood.

 

[netjamer]

thanks for the info-- I wouldn't mind a DIY-- but the cost of a prebuilt box is kinda low- so unless I can get free materials (not so far) I think I'll just buy one-- on the flooding issue---it should not be able to drain the tank- so at worst I figure only a few gallons-definetly less risk than a full blown sump.

 

[Anonymous]

True. Just remember to discard the rio. Mine burned out and luckily did not open up into the tank killing everything, like some here will report.

 

[sokol1312]

I made my refugium out of aquaclear 500 , just trim propelers and put a bafel in to stop sand from getting blown,and a little clip on pc light from hardware store

 

[netjamer]

hmmm.. just came back from Home Depot, after pricing components for building a HOB thingie-- I've decided to buy one-- and probably enhance it.. why spend $60 and got to all the trouble to save just a few bucks...-

The problem as I see it is in the design of most HOB units-- most use pipes for the return-- I'd rather have a spillover- like most HOB filters use--this way just one pump-- located inside the fuge- sucks water out of the main tank-- moves thru baffels- and the fuge part-- and the top just spills back into the main--- is there a flaw in my thinking- or would this be a "fool" proof HOB system-- no syphon issues as all-- Water level issues also disappear-- There is a unit of this design on E-bay-- real cheap too-- but it has a bare light socket 2 inches over moving water-- not too smart IMO.... any thoughts?