Canister filter running on a 40 gallon tank

APEX_AIMZ · 02/25/2018, 01:19 PM

Im running a 40 gallon saltwater tank with a snowflake eel and a dwarf fuzzy lion fish and some clown fish and cleaners. Im afraid that the bio load will be crazy and I should make a sump were I connect the intake hose from the sump then to the canister filter. Then I will have a pump to pump the water to the canister filter. The canister filter will act as a double check to get any left over dish poop and nasty stuff. The sump will have bio balls and live rock with snail to house bacteria.

top shelf · 02/25/2018, 02:02 PM

Imo you are way over complicating it. I would remove the canister filter completely and just stick with a sump. Bioballs are outdated although some still swear by em and run em but lots of good ol' live rock would be a good choice. A 40b sump loaded with as much lr as you can fit and a oversized skimmer may be enough to keep up but it's a toss up, likely you'll still have high p04/no3

Pet Detective · 02/25/2018, 04:00 PM

A canister filter is a good mechanical filter, it will keep the water column nice & clear especially for a fish only and or predator fish, which you may feed live food to.

I'ts always a good plan to run a sump, adds volume and versatility ie. skimmers, heaters, and whatever supplemental additions.

Bio Balls and live rock will work fine together in a wet/dry/sump, I currently run this on my reef as well as a refugium.

As far as your bio-load goes, rock in the display, bio balls and rock in the sump should provide plenty of area for bacterial colony growth.

Phosphates and nitrates will not be a problem for just fish.

I'm not sure how you want the sump intake to attach to the canister? Running them separately or in tandem will be sufficient.

billdogg · 02/25/2018, 05:57 PM

^^^Some of what both of them have said^^^

I'd ditch the bioballs as well - really no need for them when LR can easily take their place. Another issue you might have is that generally canisters need to be gravity fed - not pressure fed as it would be if you use a pump to get the water to it. Pressure tends to make them leak.

I would also suggest a good skimmer, and if you are that concerned about organic matter in the water, use a filter sock.

02/25/2018, 01:19 PM	#1
APEX_AIMZ Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 18	Canister filter running on a 40 gallon tank Im running a 40 gallon saltwater tank with a snowflake eel and a dwarf fuzzy lion fish and some clown fish and cleaners. Im afraid that the bio load will be crazy and I should make a sump were I connect the intake hose from the sump then to the canister filter. Then I will have a pump to pump the water to the canister filter. The canister filter will act as a double check to get any left over dish poop and nasty stuff. The sump will have bio balls and live rock with snail to house bacteria.

02/25/2018, 02:02 PM	#2
top shelf Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,022	Imo you are way over complicating it. I would remove the canister filter completely and just stick with a sump. Bioballs are outdated although some still swear by em and run em but lots of good ol' live rock would be a good choice. A 40b sump loaded with as much lr as you can fit and a oversized skimmer may be enough to keep up but it's a toss up, likely you'll still have high p04/no3 __________________ Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it into a fruit salad. Philosophy is wondering if that means ketchup is a smoothie. Current tank info: 45g SCA Cube

02/25/2018, 05:57 PM	#4
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	^^^Some of what both of them have said^^^ I'd ditch the bioballs as well - really no need for them when LR can easily take their place. Another issue you might have is that generally canisters need to be gravity fed - not pressure fed as it would be if you use a pump to get the water to it. Pressure tends to make them leak. I would also suggest a good skimmer, and if you are that concerned about organic matter in the water, use a filter sock. __________________ 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

02/25/2018, 04:00 PM	#3
Pet Detective Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 328	A canister filter is a good mechanical filter, it will keep the water column nice & clear especially for a fish only and or predator fish, which you may feed live food to. I'ts always a good plan to run a sump, adds volume and versatility ie. skimmers, heaters, and whatever supplemental additions. Bio Balls and live rock will work fine together in a wet/dry/sump, I currently run this on my reef as well as a refugium. As far as your bio-load goes, rock in the display, bio balls and rock in the sump should provide plenty of area for bacterial colony growth. Phosphates and nitrates will not be a problem for just fish. I'm not sure how you want the sump intake to attach to the canister? Running them separately or in tandem will be sufficient.