Any uses for an old canister filter..?

Kona26 · 03/02/2014, 09:47 PM

I have an old fluval 406 canister filter from my fresh water tank...it has 2 sponges and 4 sections for media....just wounder if it would be worth hooking up to my sump. just not sure what I could put in the baskets that would help my tank other then a few carbon bags...

If you have done or have suggestion about this I would like to know thanks.

ReefNate · 03/02/2014, 09:56 PM

I also have two old fluval canisters and am interested if anyone uses them

Kona26 · 03/02/2014, 10:24 PM

I have look into it a little and some people are saying it wound not be a good idea for the fact that it would trap the bacteria and make the nitrates go up. I am not sure....I was thinking about putting it on either my QT or my HT. Maybe you can put something in the media basket to help the fish...I don't know.

rale2001 · 03/02/2014, 11:20 PM

I used a canister for 3 years I kept fresh activated carbon and rinsed out my sponge liners with cycled saltwater and it did fine

Reef Frog · 03/03/2014, 02:32 AM

Some people run GFO in mesh bags in a canister filter. It's not as effective as using it in an up flow reactor however. It's also useful from time to time for removing detritus from the water column when you blow water on your LR or are removing nuisance algae by hand.

Lostinthedark · 03/03/2014, 07:25 AM

I used my 406 for GAC and GFO. I also had a UV light hooked up to the outlet. I stopped using it when I took off the UV. It was kinda difficult to pull it out of the cabinet and clean it once a month. FWIW it worked great while it was running.

Kona26 · 03/03/2014, 09:39 PM

I was going to hook it up on my QT or HT tank...I have a small hob filter for my HT right now for my sick fish.

Do you think it would be better for a QT tank for new fish or a HT for sick fish...I am not sure if they make a media that I could put in to help my fish heal...that will not take my meds out.....on the other hand I am hopping I don't have to use it very often.

03/02/2014, 09:47 PM	#1
Kona26 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Beaverton, Or Posts: 845	Any uses for an old canister filter..? I have an old fluval 406 canister filter from my fresh water tank...it has 2 sponges and 4 sections for media....just wounder if it would be worth hooking up to my sump. just not sure what I could put in the baskets that would help my tank other then a few carbon bags... If you have done or have suggestion about this I would like to know thanks. __________________ 130g long DT. - (april. 2013) - 55g sump w/fuge (60in 80w 6 bulb ATI) - Bubble mag. curve 7 skimmer - 2 jebao 15 pumps - ATO - GFO/carbon - 2 heaters

03/02/2014, 10:24 PM	#3
Kona26 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Beaverton, Or Posts: 845	I have look into it a little and some people are saying it wound not be a good idea for the fact that it would trap the bacteria and make the nitrates go up. I am not sure....I was thinking about putting it on either my QT or my HT. Maybe you can put something in the media basket to help the fish...I don't know. __________________ 130g long DT. - (april. 2013) - 55g sump w/fuge (60in 80w 6 bulb ATI) - Bubble mag. curve 7 skimmer - 2 jebao 15 pumps - ATO - GFO/carbon - 2 heaters

03/02/2014, 11:20 PM	#4
rale2001 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Memphis, Tn Posts: 429	I used a canister for 3 years I kept fresh activated carbon and rinsed out my sponge liners with cycled saltwater and it did fine __________________ 90g Reef Octo BH2000 Tek 8x54 T5s 100 lbs of fiji rock Tangs; Magnif foxface; clowns; bar goby; chromis; Cardinal Frogspawns; zoas; scroll; acans; red and blue people eaters; RBTA and Carpet Nems Current Tank Info: 90g and 36g Bow

03/03/2014, 09:39 PM	#7
Kona26 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Beaverton, Or Posts: 845	I was going to hook it up on my QT or HT tank...I have a small hob filter for my HT right now for my sick fish. Do you think it would be better for a QT tank for new fish or a HT for sick fish...I am not sure if they make a media that I could put in to help my fish heal...that will not take my meds out.....on the other hand I am hopping I don't have to use it very often. __________________ 130g long DT. - (april. 2013) - 55g sump w/fuge (60in 80w 6 bulb ATI) - Bubble mag. curve 7 skimmer - 2 jebao 15 pumps - ATO - GFO/carbon - 2 heaters

03/02/2014, 09:56 PM	#2
ReefNate Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 45	I also have two old fluval canisters and am interested if anyone uses them

03/03/2014, 02:32 AM	#5
Reef Frog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,121	Some people run GFO in mesh bags in a canister filter. It's not as effective as using it in an up flow reactor however. It's also useful from time to time for removing detritus from the water column when you blow water on your LR or are removing nuisance algae by hand.

03/03/2014, 07:25 AM	#6
Lostinthedark Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Freehold, NJ Posts: 342	I used my 406 for GAC and GFO. I also had a UV light hooked up to the outlet. I stopped using it when I took off the UV. It was kinda difficult to pull it out of the cabinet and clean it once a month. FWIW it worked great while it was running.