Canister filters

CrayolaViolence · 12/22/2015, 09:35 AM

Has anyone found these usable instead of a protein skimmer and refugium? Or to compliment a hang off the back protein skimmer? Thanks

chimmike · 12/22/2015, 09:39 AM

no.

PAXpress · 12/22/2015, 09:44 AM

I'm using one with a HOB skimmer. I don't think it could ever replace a skimmer/sump/refugium combo, however if you clean the canister out weekly you won't get the nitrate factory issue you will probably hear about. I'm using a HOB Remora and a Canister and haven't had issues yet. I will however be switching to a sump in the future. If you can go the sump route I would, will save you time and frustration in maintenance.

gone fishin · 12/22/2015, 09:46 AM

I really do not think one could replace the other. They each do different things. I will say I use to run a 29g with a canister filter, very maintenance intensive.

chimmike · 12/22/2015, 09:54 AM

the key to this hobby is doing it right the first time, rather than trying to reinvent the wheel for one reason or another, via looking for ways to justify what you want to do versus what you should do.

shifty51008 · 12/22/2015, 09:56 AM

The canister would work to run carbon and gfo but it does not replace a skimmer or even compliment it

joshbrookkate · 12/22/2015, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chimmike

the key to this hobby is doing it right the first time, rather than trying to reinvent the wheel for one reason or another, via looking for ways to justify what you want to do versus what you should do.

+1
I keep my canister filter filled with floss and ready to run only when I am disturbing rock and/or sand. Then I disconnect it, clean it, fill with floss again ready to use as needed.

Michelle

Sounds Fishy · 12/22/2015, 04:01 PM

I have mine an FX6 Fluval recirculating in my sump filled with Sea Chem. Matrix. . Also some carbon,and no filter material.I have a UV sterilizer running off of it,as well.

bryhan67 · 12/22/2015, 07:12 PM

Good info

Martini5788 · 12/22/2015, 09:20 PM

I did the canister filter thing for awhile, and for me it was a nitrate factory. For a fish only tank, it may not be that bad but
For a reef I wouldn't do it.

e048 · 12/23/2015, 08:46 AM

Canisters are good as reactors for emergencies (carbon,gfo,floss) etc

I use canisters to fight algae problems that sometimes come up

They are nitrate and phosphate factories tho if used too long unless you're cleaning it every two weeks

Sk8r · 12/23/2015, 10:07 AM

Canisters are an old piece of tech, still useful for trapping particulate, but only so useful as your habit of cleaning them, because that particulate builds up into a nitrate problem. Your live rock and sand reduce the same gunk to nitrogen gas, which floats up as bubbles and vanishes, and your skimmer gets out amino acids by turning them into frothy crud and green/black soup which you toss when the cup gets full. A canister is not good for a reef, and while they can be used with a fish-only, because fish can tolerate a nitrate level that would harm corals, the fish-only would probably be better off with a better balance of fish-mass/water/live rock. This is where I swear that reefs are much easier than fish-onlies, because they don't involve filter-cleaning, my least favorite aspect of the hobby. Skimmer-cleaning is nasty enough.

12/22/2015, 09:35 AM	#1
CrayolaViolence Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,867	Canister filters Has anyone found these usable instead of a protein skimmer and refugium? Or to compliment a hang off the back protein skimmer? Thanks

12/22/2015, 09:39 AM	#2
chimmike oxygen abuser Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Parrish, FL Posts: 5,089 Blog Entries: 2	no. __________________ -Mike Tankless wonder Geaux Noles!

12/22/2015, 09:46 AM	#4
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	I really do not think one could replace the other. They each do different things. I will say I use to run a 29g with a canister filter, very maintenance intensive. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

12/22/2015, 09:54 AM	#5
chimmike oxygen abuser Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Parrish, FL Posts: 5,089 Blog Entries: 2	the key to this hobby is doing it right the first time, rather than trying to reinvent the wheel for one reason or another, via looking for ways to justify what you want to do versus what you should do. __________________ -Mike Tankless wonder Geaux Noles!

12/22/2015, 09:56 AM	#6
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	The canister would work to run carbon and gfo but it does not replace a skimmer or even compliment it __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

12/22/2015, 09:44 AM	#3
PAXpress Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 312	I'm using one with a HOB skimmer. I don't think it could ever replace a skimmer/sump/refugium combo, however if you clean the canister out weekly you won't get the nitrate factory issue you will probably hear about. I'm using a HOB Remora and a Canister and haven't had issues yet. I will however be switching to a sump in the future. If you can go the sump route I would, will save you time and frustration in maintenance.

12/22/2015, 04:01 PM	#8
Sounds Fishy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Canada Posts: 532	I have mine an FX6 Fluval recirculating in my sump filled with Sea Chem. Matrix. . Also some carbon,and no filter material.I have a UV sterilizer running off of it,as well. __________________ Blue Spotted Ribbontail Stingray.Zebra Moray Eel.Aqueon 210 gallon,Trigger Ruby Elite 36 gallon sump

12/22/2015, 07:12 PM	#9
bryhan67 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 20	Good info

12/22/2015, 09:20 PM	#10
Martini5788 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Beaufort, SC Posts: 2,303	I did the canister filter thing for awhile, and for me it was a nitrate factory. For a fish only tank, it may not be that bad but For a reef I wouldn't do it.

12/23/2015, 08:46 AM	#11
e048 Registered Member. Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 598	Canisters are good as reactors for emergencies (carbon,gfo,floss) etc I use canisters to fight algae problems that sometimes come up They are nitrate and phosphate factories tho if used too long unless you're cleaning it every two weeks

12/23/2015, 10:07 AM	#12
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Canisters are an old piece of tech, still useful for trapping particulate, but only so useful as your habit of cleaning them, because that particulate builds up into a nitrate problem. Your live rock and sand reduce the same gunk to nitrogen gas, which floats up as bubbles and vanishes, and your skimmer gets out amino acids by turning them into frothy crud and green/black soup which you toss when the cup gets full. A canister is not good for a reef, and while they can be used with a fish-only, because fish can tolerate a nitrate level that would harm corals, the fish-only would probably be better off with a better balance of fish-mass/water/live rock. This is where I swear that reefs are much easier than fish-onlies, because they don't involve filter-cleaning, my least favorite aspect of the hobby. Skimmer-cleaning is nasty enough. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.