best canister filter

by **Peterkarig3210** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 7:16 pm

I agree that nitrates are toxic to fish and corals, in high levels, but would you rather have ammonia and nitrites?

Water changes, water changes.

If there are enough plants or enough surface areas in your tank for bacteria to live on, and you don't have too many living and pooping things in your tank, you don't need a separate biological filter at all.

The problem is, most people have pretty bare tanks, (less surface areas), and need a filter to grow bacteria in high enough amounts so you don't get real poison, ie ammonia and nitrites.

by **Peterkarig3210** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 11:32 pm

Mro2you2:

From the looks of your system it seems likr you have a great filter with that sump you've got, with mangrove trees and all, and you have a low bio-load (I think), so you don't need another filter on top of that.

by **Peterkarig3210** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 11:33 pm

I squeeze out my sponges when I do water changes..........and yea, you need to clean them often and thouroughly.

by **fihsboy** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 5:55 am

I was just going by the pictures of his tank........hes got a ton of live rock......which should be plenty to handle the bioload. Really most of the organics can be sucked out via protein skimmer and *should be* sucked out before they turn into ammonia.......imo.......I would say one of the keys to sucess with a reef tank is vicous protein skimming and brisk circulation in the main tank. With those two things........you cant go wrong. :)

by **Barnsey9276** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 2:42 pm

Guys,running a conventional tropical cannister filter with Biological filtration for a reef tank is a big no no in my and many others opinion.

However dont waste the filter,i would set it up as follows assuming it has 3 trays for example:

Bottom tray..............Live Rock Rubble
Middle Tray ..............Live Rock Rubble
Top Tray .............. Rowaphos/Phosban or other good Pphosphate remover
Filter Wool(changed weekly)
Carbon (changed weekly)

For those advocating canister filters with conventional Bio media for reef systems you need to understand that whilst most tropical fish can tolerate elevated levels of nitrate corals cannot.
By filling the filter with live rock rubble you are employing the same bacteria that work in a deep sand bed which convert nitrite to nitrate and then harmless nitrogen gas.

Having had my tank for 6 years i have never used any sponges/bio balls/siporax or any other biological media.

In short Cannister filters are chemical filters in reef keeping,please dont let anyone else tell you differently:D

by **Peterkarig3210** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 11:32 pm

Sounds logical.

by **fishaholic27** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 2:48 am

sounds good barnsey i'll set it up with live rock pebbles. i have the fluval 405 it has 4 trays ill put live rock in 3 then carbon in the top tray. maybe i'll set up a sump soon. i will need to know how to set up an overflow then. until then thanks to all with thier info, very appreciated.

by **jdak702** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 3:41 am

I use a canister filter but i do not depend on it for biological filtration. I empty and rinse all media every two weeks. I use it more for water polishing and circulation.

by **Fixer10499** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 5:39 am

Fishboy, one thing I think your missing is the chemical aspect. I have aggressive corals such as a Hammerhead coral with kenya coral trees and Xenia's in a 29 Gallon and need the canister to run charcoal that I change every month or the chem warfare would lay havoc as I'm told. I could run this in a sump but I don't have one, only a HOB Aqua C Romora Protein Skimmer.

However I have read on wetwebmedia that LR in the canister does not necessarily work given the no light conditions. Haven't followed up on this to verify though. I'll research further.

As for the Phosban I may add a level of this, thanks for the tip Barnsey.

by **Fixer10499** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 5:42 am

P.S Barnsey.....your tank is Bananas.

best canister filter

29 posts • Page 2 of 3

best canister filter

29 posts • Page 2 of 3