Fluval 305 external canister filter in reef tank

darrylbarry · 07/13/2014, 11:03 AM

Hi all,
i am setting up my first reef tank and have a question about an external filter..
i have a 55 gallon tank to which i will be having approx 80lb of live rock and live sand...
the tank i have has got the filter pipes coming from the bottom of the tank and i have a fluval 305 canister filter...
i have read on various places not to use the canister filter with all the medium in it as this is a bad nitrate trap and would have to clean it out daily to stop nitrate build up ..
i gather the live rock will be my filter ??
i am also going to install a uv light on the return of the filter instead of getting a seperate pump..
question is do i use the canister filter with any medium in it or just put some of that cotton wool type filter stuff (i know its not cotton wool lol)
or just run it with nothing in at all ??

thanks

billdogg · 07/13/2014, 12:46 PM

I used a fluval 405 and a dual biowheel filter (with original biowheels) on my 60g cube tank for over 20 years. Of course, that was way before the term "Nitrate Factory" was coined so I have an excuse for what obviously cannot work. (insert sarcasm smiley)

I used the fluval for carbon and also had some live rock rubble in it for biological filtration. I cleaned it when I did water changes, about every 6 - 8 weeks. I kept mostly soft corals, mushrooms, zoanthids, and palythoas, although towards the end it also had a few LPS. I found the sponges at the bottom to be an absolute pod/mini brittle star farm. Nitrates were never a problem for me, but the fish load was fairly light.

If you do want to use floss in it, polyester pillow stuffing from your local big box store is way cheaper than "fish floss" and is exactly the same thing.

I wouldn't bother with the UV, but thats just me.

darrylbarry · 07/13/2014, 03:47 PM

i seen it on amazon for £3:99 for a kilo ... well cheap
so in your canister theres 3 baskets and one thing on the side for the sponges
where did you put each media you used and how much carbon you use ??
and did you use the 4 sponges on the side ??

billdogg · 07/13/2014, 05:02 PM

The sponges fit in the bottom basket. The water flows up through them. Then carbon - a couple cups in an old chemi-pure bag. then LR rubble. Ran it that way forever. Or at least until I upgraded to a 120 with a sump!

darrylbarry · 07/13/2014, 05:24 PM

so you dont put the 4 long sponges in the side ???
you squeeze them in the bottom basket or do you cut them up ??

07/13/2014, 11:03 AM	#1
darrylbarry Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: uk Posts: 7	Fluval 305 external canister filter in reef tank Hi all, i am setting up my first reef tank and have a question about an external filter.. i have a 55 gallon tank to which i will be having approx 80lb of live rock and live sand... the tank i have has got the filter pipes coming from the bottom of the tank and i have a fluval 305 canister filter... i have read on various places not to use the canister filter with all the medium in it as this is a bad nitrate trap and would have to clean it out daily to stop nitrate build up .. i gather the live rock will be my filter ?? i am also going to install a uv light on the return of the filter instead of getting a seperate pump.. question is do i use the canister filter with any medium in it or just put some of that cotton wool type filter stuff (i know its not cotton wool lol) or just run it with nothing in at all ?? thanks

07/13/2014, 12:46 PM	#2
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I used a fluval 405 and a dual biowheel filter (with original biowheels) on my 60g cube tank for over 20 years. Of course, that was way before the term "Nitrate Factory" was coined so I have an excuse for what obviously cannot work. (insert sarcasm smiley) I used the fluval for carbon and also had some live rock rubble in it for biological filtration. I cleaned it when I did water changes, about every 6 - 8 weeks. I kept mostly soft corals, mushrooms, zoanthids, and palythoas, although towards the end it also had a few LPS. I found the sponges at the bottom to be an absolute pod/mini brittle star farm. Nitrates were never a problem for me, but the fish load was fairly light. If you do want to use floss in it, polyester pillow stuffing from your local big box store is way cheaper than "fish floss" and is exactly the same thing. I wouldn't bother with the UV, but thats just me. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

07/13/2014, 05:02 PM	#4
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	The sponges fit in the bottom basket. The water flows up through them. Then carbon - a couple cups in an old chemi-pure bag. then LR rubble. Ran it that way forever. Or at least until I upgraded to a 120 with a sump! __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

07/13/2014, 03:47 PM	#3
darrylbarry Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: uk Posts: 7	i seen it on amazon for £3:99 for a kilo ... well cheap so in your canister theres 3 baskets and one thing on the side for the sponges where did you put each media you used and how much carbon you use ?? and did you use the 4 sponges on the side ??

07/13/2014, 05:24 PM	#5
darrylbarry Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: uk Posts: 7	so you dont put the 4 long sponges in the side ??? you squeeze them in the bottom basket or do you cut them up ??