cannister filter?

[Timm]

I have a Rena Xp3 can.filter that I plan on using for more flow on new salt tank. I believe it is rated for 600gph. Should I remove the sponge media and maybe put some rubble in there. I also plan on using this to house charcoal as the basket system inside is convienient to use. Is this a good idea? I figure I this filter laying around thatI might as well use it. I will be using a sump with 600gph pump, and 400 gph powerheads. Is this a good flow for a 125 reef, at least to start with?

[evoracer]

I would put the lr rubble in your sump and use the canister for carbon. I am not sure about the aerobic exchange inside a canister filter and what may happen to organisms on LR inside it. Maybe someone can chime in here.

[cubsfan79]

I use the same filter,and i have racked my brain with forums and questions if you are gonna use it use it like i do,i have about 2 pounds of live rock rubble in it and i use the other available baskets for phos and carbon media,take all mechanical sponges and rings or balls out of it for sure ,just use it for flow and to run media in it and we will be fine.....

[Timm]

Is the Flow sufficient? with all what I have

[cubsfan79]

from what i have read most of the organisms wont live on the rubble without light but the rubble will still have plenty of bacteria living on it that does not require light,if you have a sump just put the rubble in there most definetly and just run media through canister

[Timm]

Live rock in the sump. Is that submergeg or trickled over?

[cubsfan79]

yes you have proper flow,sounds fine to me

[cubsfan79]

submerged

[papagimp]

Originally posted by Timm
I will be using a sump with 600gph pump, and 400 gph powerheads. Is this a good flow for a 125 reef, at least to start with?

Guess it would depend on how many of those 400 gph powerheads you throw in there. Cause just one, I'd say heck no, nowhere near enough, even to start with.

You'll want to start with a MINIMUM of 2500 gph. And the 600gph return pump will have some headloss regardless, so expect 400-500 from that, so still need to find another 2000gph of flow, using those 400gph ph's, you'd need at least 5 of those, and even then it probably won't be enough due to overall size of tank with relatively tiny powerheads.

My 75g softie tank has a Koralia #2 & #3, with half a mag 9.5 return pump, my 75g sps has 2 x #3's and the other half of that mag 9.5, I don't have near enough flow in these tanks either. Several dead spots.

re-read orginal post, I left out the canister filers flow in my comments above, so add another 600gph to the toatls I was givin' ya. I still don't think it'll be enough in the long run.

2 x 400 gph
2 x 600gph
2000gph total flow, 125 tank = 16x turnover.

[Timm]

I misstyped I have 2-400gph Pheads

[Timm]

But powerheads are cheap and easy to add more. So I wll
Thank you

[Timm]

If I understand correctly, sponges in filters are generally a bad idea. But what about for pre-filters on powerheads (prevent livestock loss?)

[evoracer]

I don't use them. Generally if a fish gets sucked into a powerhead it was weak to begin with.

[papagimp]

Originally posted by evoracer
I don't use them. Generally if a fish gets sucked into a powerhead it was weak to begin with.

weak as in a new born or juvinile (like most fish sold in LFS) that just not strong enough to survive in the typical un-natural reef type setups? All the more reason to cover em up to protect the weakened fish until their strong enough to resist that pull.

I had a molley, not a weakling or anything, just a smaller one, get sucked right into one of my powerheads. I wasn't so concerned over loosing a molley, but the nice pureed meatiness spread around the entire tank can cause all sorts of un-needed maintance and stress on both me and my fish/coral livestock.