Can i start a reef tank with just a hob filter?

[Jellyfish Daddy SG]

Why do reef tanks need massive systems and filtration? Can a simple large hob or trickle filter work for basic corals and invertebrates? 

[Zixuan]

Hi there! You most definitely can, but advise would be to have more area in your filtration chamber (sump, HOBs, refugium) so that you could house more of the beneficial bacteria which would break down your ammonia to nitrate, and subsequently from nitrate to nitrogen. 

That being said, I think you could do with a HOB if your term of basic coral would be macroalgae(s), which serve a more general purpose of nutrient export from within the water column. More-often-than-not, you see those sump systems etc, because the purpose is to hide the filtration from within the display, and to add more components into the filtration process such as reactors, bacteria housing media(s) etc. 

[Tabungrahim]

yes i first start with hob filter but only fish and a few snails and anemone added after a few month
That time regular wc every week


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[Ningalooreefs]

I started with hob and was able to keep softies, LPS and ez SPS like leptoseris and montiporas and got away with WC every 2 weeks. Ups to simple reefing

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