Canister Filter

[imperial422]

Does anyone run canister filter for there reef or fish only tanks.

If so what type of media do you have in it and what type of tank is it.

Looking to setup a 29 gallon reef low light corals or fish only live rock tank

would it be possable to do

rena xp3

if not what would you suggest going with

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I had one, used only carbon it it but I cleaned it quite frequently to avoid any nitrate problems

 

[imperial422]

there are 3 baskets what about 2 with sponges and one with bioballs

 

[meschaefer]

At most, people will use canister filters to run some carbon in. The problem with using sponges, is that detritus gets caught in them and breaks down as opposed to being removed from the system, which is what a protein skimmer does.

You will find very few people who are successful at keeping reef tanks using a cannister filter.

 

[rfc]

I run a fluval 205 with sponges and carbon 24/7 for the past 20 months. I rinse out the sponges weekly and change the carbon every two weeks. Thus far zero problems with nitrates.

Note, it is only one componet in my filtration setup which also includes, live rock and a skimmer

 

[LeslieS]

Low light corals are very difficult to keep. They will need to be fed, and the more food you introduce into the tank, the more difficult it will be to keep your nutrient levels down.

 

[kenske]

I use one filled with 5" sandbed and packed it with LR rubble. Set up as a cryptic fuge. Its only running for a little while and there are sponges growing in it already. Using it for my frag tank. so far so good. A friend of mine actually setup and maintain a 46 gal. bow for a animal hospital and have a similiar setup for 2 years, presently no nitrate problems at all.

 

[meagheavz]

i use a wet/dry its been great so far, im just of how often should i rinse the media( bioballs,cyclenders,pads)

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

For reef filtration I would say a can is not the best choice. There are better choices out there and in the long run you will go with one of those other choices as opposed to the can and then you will have wasted your money on the can filter.

On a Fish only tank I see no problem with it.

 

[meagheavz]

ok thank you bu how aften should i clean. i dont have coral

 

[imperial422]

so if not a can what would be best to filter tank

 

[Deanos]

Live rock.

 

[OctaviousMonk]

And a skimmer

 

[meschaefer]

so if not a can what would be best to filter tank

Protein Skimmer

 

[reefman]

only use i would use for a canister is for carbon, n even then, i would only put only a little bit at a time. the idea is not to let detritus gather. most people tend to get lazy on clean out a canister filter often. which is y it is better to do without.