Overhead filter suitable ?

[PEPSI]

Hi, intend to setup a 2ft tank with fish n decorated rock and coral sand only, no corals nor liverock. Will a overhead filter be suitable for that? Those overhead filter long rect shape tat is very common during luo han time. My aim is to go simple n budget. Thankz

[BFG]

Nope. You could get a budget skimmer from Weipro. Weipro 2011 should be adequate. But you need a pump with flow of around 2400lt to efficiently achieve the desired skimmate.

On the other hand, it is better to use live rock as they are the filtering element. But the filtering element is not as what you expect as compared to a real filter. They helps a bit to consume some of the unwanted by-product. The more you have the better but most of the work is done by the skimmer.

For a 2ft tank, you can't add alot of livestock as the fish waste would pollute the water. Marine fish are different than freshwater fish. You can't have the same number of freshwater fish in a 2ft tank compared with marine fish. Probably 3-4 fish as their bio load would easily increase the nitrate level in the tank. And please choose the fishes carefully. Some looks cute when in their juvenile but would grow large. Get to know their diet requirement too.

[vincenttan1976]

I am using a ohf too. those that the whole powerhead put inside the water type. my flow rate is 2800l/h...so far , half a year liao, still ok...together with a skimmer of cos.....

[kelstorm]

make sure that the shaft of the pump is not stainless steel. It will rust... while i do not advocate having OHF, but it is also another form of filtration and provide the wet/dry filtration effect.