Canisters - Any positive points?

[dark_stranger]

Hi, I have discussed canisters with a few of you guys over the last week or so, and all of you have provided some very valid points not to use canisters for filtration, etc, but what are the positive points. There must be some as otherwise why would companies produce them & why would (people not on here) buy them.

(only 998 questions to go)

 

[Chemical_Whore]

from what I can tell the only reason to use these , are for running carbon and other substate, use if for a day or so, but nothing full time that I have read so far, sorry chum

 

[P Matt]

They work very well on heavily planted freshwater tanks because they can be used in a fashion that causes very little surface agitation. This is useful in a tank using CO2 supplementation to stimulate plant growth.

They aren't useful in most modern saltwater aquariums as the main form of filtration for a few reasons. They are relatively innefficient in regards to biological filtration. They also tend to accumulate a fair amount of material which breaks down into nitrates, especially when they aren't regularly maintained. They are however useful as a polishing filter ran only during emergencies or times when you need to run some type of chemical filtration (carbon, chemi-pure, ect.).

 

[Anonymous]

I would run one with carbon 24/7 if I had one. Or phosban or any other chemical media. You could also throw some live rock in one.

 

[wayne in norway]

They have lots of uses in freshwater.

They are quite ueful if you have a high load FOWLR setup and don't care about nitrates.

They do work very well for nano's as well. Lots of biofiltration eithout taking up space, use it to power water movement sans ugly powerheads, and nitrates..... well how about a weekly 50% water change?

 

[Anonymous]

I used a small fluval (maybe a 204?) for about a year on my 29 nano. The newer fluval have numerous 'baskets' you can place media in. I simply placed live rock rubble in all the baskets except one I used for carbon or the occasional filter floss / polyfilter to get rid of particulates. Got some amazing sponge growth on the rocks in the filter - sort of a small cryptic zone - however the flow was probably much higher inside than what other cryptic filters have.

 

[dark_stranger]

Hi, just discovered a wet/dry canister. Have you guys had one or heard anything about these?

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_ ... 9606840515

Sorry if i keep repeating myself in various messages, but if i am investing my bonus in a reef tank i wanna make sure i get it right or almost right 1st time.

Cheers,

 

[Anonymous]

Hi, just discovered a wet/dry canister. Have you guys had one or heard anything about these?

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_ ... 9606840515

Sorry if i keep repeating myself in various messages, but if i am investing my bonus in a reef tank i wanna make sure i get it right or almost right 1st time.

Cheers,

For 99% of reef tanks like was stated previously a cannister is good for running carbon or other chemical media occasionally or for quick water polishing. If you run it like you would in freshwater setup you get a nitrate factory.

My experiments are just ... dunno I like trying stuff but would not use a canister on most tanks - live rock and skimmer with water changes are stull the best filtration I know of - possibly add outside refugium too.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi, I have discussed canisters with a few of you guys over the last week or so, and all of you have provided some very valid points not to use canisters for filtration, etc, but what are the positive points. There must be some as otherwise why would companies produce them & why would (people not on here) buy them.

(only 998 questions to go)

For positive points, unlike external sumps and refugiums, canisters will have much less flooding problems. And they do allow for easy cleaning and filter material replacement as compaired to my filter box in my sump.

they also provide circulation.

And most run all the water through the filter media unlike some other filters where water can bypass the media for instance.

Use of a calcium carbonate filter media in the right setup can also buffer calcium and alk drops.

You could look at them as kinda a closed loop with some added filtration.

 

[dark_stranger]

If you run it like you would in freshwater setup you get a nitrate factory.

Why are canisters prone to this build up & how can it be prevented/resolved.

Cheers,

 

[Anonymous]

If you run it like you would in freshwater setup you get a nitrate factory.

Why are canisters prone to this build up & how can it be prevented/resolved.

Cheers,

I think what they mean here is that if you don't clean out the media from time to time the crud will break down to nitrates. Just as happens in the tank due to the bioload. And happens with all filters with good flow from aerobic bacteria. (bio balls, bio wheels, HOB's, UGF's reverse UGFs, fluidized bed filters and so on). Cleaning the filters removes some of the crud and therefore lowers the amount of nitrates produced.

Breaking down the waste products in and of itself is a desirable thing which should not be prevented and actually should be encouraged. Obviously better nitrates than ammonia or sulfide anaerobic products.

With sufficient plant life the resultant nitrates will be consumed and remain at undetectable levels.

So if you establish say a large refugium with chaeto or other macro algaes the nitrates will be undetectable with little to no hair/slime algaes. And if you don't clean the nitrate producers then all you get is stronger plant growth is all.

 

[Anonymous]

Hehe, oh bob, you slay me. Nitrate is far from a limiting nutrient for algal growth in reef tanks. But go ahead and keep encouraging its release in your tank if it makes you feel better.

 

[dark_stranger]

lol, thats what i like, ever consistant advice. Still confused,

 

[Anonymous]

lol, thats what i like, ever consistant advice. Still confused,

I don't blame you for being confused.

I don't use a canister filter but do use a trickle filter which by most people's comments is also a nitrate generator. and i have
0-5ppm nitrates.

Perhaps others can explain the down side of canister filters in a system where nitrates are unmeasureable even though a canister is in operation. this should be obviously possible with thriving plant life in say a refugium.

 

[Anonymous]

lol, thats what i like, ever consistant advice. Still confused,

I don't blame you for being confused.

I don't use a canister filter but do use a trickle filter which by most people's comments is also a nitrate generator. and i have
0-5ppm nitrates.

Perhaps others can explain the down side of canister filters in a system where nitrates are unmeasureable even though a canister is in operation. this should be obviously possible with thriving plant life in say a refugium.

to listen to you, anything is possible with a reufgium and thriving plant life...

Add a refugium and your wildest dreams will come true.

 

[dark_stranger]

Bob, I have been chatting on another forum & a simple solution that was suggested was to wash the media in the canister every 1 or 2 weeks and only use it for mechanical filtration. Small bit of work for a nice clean/clear tank cant be to much to ask. Then lots of live rock/sand for biological & then a skimmer. That should do it, or will i need more? chemical?

Pop, a reufgium would require a sump & therefore make the canister issue not relevant.

The quest continues.

 

[Anonymous]

If you clean the media often canister filters are great mechanical filters. However, most don't want to do that. Otherwise, I run them with nothing, or carbon, but I absolutely keep one around that will take a micron cartridge and DE in case of emergencies. You could run it as a closed loop with the ability to add mechanical filtration if you feel you need it.

PS
You don't need lots of rock/sand, you just need enough! And, I would skip the sand altogether.

 

[Chemical_Whore]

I was told to wash my sponge in my sump ( not a clue of its realy name) to dip it or just let is saok for a week then change those out for each other every week and that helps, could use the same method

 

[Anonymous]

Bob, I have been chatting on another forum & a simple solution that was suggested was to wash the media in the canister every 1 or 2 weeks and only use it for mechanical filtration. Small bit of work for a nice clean/clear tank cant be to much to ask. Then lots of live rock/sand for biological & then a skimmer. That should do it, or will i need more? chemical?

Pop, a reufgium would require a sump & therefore make the canister issue not relevant.

The quest continues.

keep in mind that in between those weekly/biweekly cleanings that whatever organics that have become trapped inside the canister will be quickly elevating your total dissolved organic matter suspension within the water column. a good sized chunk of protein could make for an algae outbreak in short order.
seems easier to eliminate the possibility and run it as circulation.

BTW, if i am "pop" then you misunderstand my post... i am not suggesting a refugium... i am simply amazed at Bob's focus on refugia.

 

[Anonymous]

Some people keep the sponge from a canister filter in their sump to keep the bacterial alive in it. That way, they have a biological filter in case of emergencies.

However, if you are using the canister for filtration you need to clean the detritus out of it to get that stuff out of the tank. Rinsing your mechanical filtration media in your sump is like rinsing your brita filter in your water glass.