canister filter on fowlr

crhis · 10/11/2006, 11:56 AM

looking for opinions and pros and cons

fufi5 · 10/11/2006, 12:20 PM

Pro- Use it empty (no media, for water movement)
Can use it with carbon, ammonia, nitrate & phosphate removing media (see con).

Con- Canister filters become nitrate & phosphate factory, some can be a pita to clean (constant cleaning).

Shagsbeard · 10/11/2006, 12:22 PM

Pro: Great place to run carbon to decrease ammonia and polish the water... keeps tank looking great.

Pro: Increases available flow rate, and increases volume of water in your system, promoting some stability.

Con: Will elavate your nitrate levels since it provides an over abundance of aerobic space... any filter will do this.

Con: Expense. Nuf said.

Con: Stuff hanging off the side of your tank (can be run in sump though... I guess)

Con: Redundant with live rock. If you have 1-1.5 lbs/gallon of live rock in your tank, you already have as much "filter" as you need.

Avi · 10/11/2006, 12:59 PM

I'd agree with all that's been said and say that it's best to rely on an ample amount of live rock and a good protein skimmer in the same way that you would with a reef. On the other hand, if for some reason, you'd want to use the canister, you could, if you won't for now, at least, have a skimmer, use it with medium. It's apparently true that the use of the canister with filter medium like floss may result in some elevated nitrates, but it won't do that to the point that the nitrates would pose any danger to your fish. That, of course, assumes that when you say "fish only," you mean just that, and you won't have any inverts in the tank.
The problem that argues most strongly, I think, to take the advice that you'd been given above, is that the nitrates that you have, though not a threat to the fish, will promote and even foster a growth of unsightly micro-algaes. It would be a constant battle to control it with very frequent water changes with RO water to prevent that. So, while you could use the canister, it would be much better to got the FOWLR route and use a good quality protein skimmer along with that to fill the "filtration" requirements of your fish only tank.

crhis · 10/11/2006, 01:28 PM

it is a 300 gallon tank w/little to no filtration aside from the ls,lr and a skimmer that is too small.
i am keeping 4 large eels a couple of triggers and a marble shark in this system.
they are all messy eaters and was just looking for a little more filtration.

Avi · 10/11/2006, 02:20 PM

http://saltaquarium.about.com/gi/pag...t1=Submit+Vote

grouper25 · 10/11/2006, 02:45 PM

I have a friend with a 260, live rock, huge sump, corner overflows, MRC 3 Skimmer and 40 watt uv. In the middle he uses the new Fluval X5 Cannister filter which does 900 gallons/ hr. He uses it solely for polishig and water flow. He only keeps in it a small filter pad and tons of carbon.
It removes tons of fine particulate and his water is the cleanest I have ever seen. Its just remakably clear.His nitrates (he claims) are zero.

Grouper 25

10/11/2006, 11:56 AM	#1
crhis Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: east coast central florida Posts: 145	canister filter on fowlr looking for opinions and pros and cons

10/11/2006, 12:20 PM	#2
fufi5 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 60	Pro- Use it empty (no media, for water movement) Can use it with carbon, ammonia, nitrate & phosphate removing media (see con). Con- Canister filters become nitrate & phosphate factory, some can be a pita to clean (constant cleaning). __________________ It's not a fish tank, it's an ecosystem. I'm Rick James Btch!! Current Tank Info: 20gal (w/softies)

10/11/2006, 12:59 PM	#4
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	I'd agree with all that's been said and say that it's best to rely on an ample amount of live rock and a good protein skimmer in the same way that you would with a reef. On the other hand, if for some reason, you'd want to use the canister, you could, if you won't for now, at least, have a skimmer, use it with medium. It's apparently true that the use of the canister with filter medium like floss may result in some elevated nitrates, but it won't do that to the point that the nitrates would pose any danger to your fish. That, of course, assumes that when you say "fish only," you mean just that, and you won't have any inverts in the tank. The problem that argues most strongly, I think, to take the advice that you'd been given above, is that the nitrates that you have, though not a threat to the fish, will promote and even foster a growth of unsightly micro-algaes. It would be a constant battle to control it with very frequent water changes with RO water to prevent that. So, while you could use the canister, it would be much better to got the FOWLR route and use a good quality protein skimmer along with that to fill the "filtration" requirements of your fish only tank. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

10/11/2006, 02:20 PM	#6
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	http://saltaquarium.about.com/gi/pag...t1=Submit+Vote __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

10/11/2006, 02:45 PM	#7
grouper25 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: nj Posts: 523	I have a friend with a 260, live rock, huge sump, corner overflows, MRC 3 Skimmer and 40 watt uv. In the middle he uses the new Fluval X5 Cannister filter which does 900 gallons/ hr. He uses it solely for polishig and water flow. He only keeps in it a small filter pad and tons of carbon. It removes tons of fine particulate and his water is the cleanest I have ever seen. Its just remakably clear.His nitrates (he claims) are zero. Grouper 25 __________________ Grouper25 Current Tank Info: 220 FOWLR, 75 Reef, 55 Exotix Zoas

10/11/2006, 12:22 PM	#3
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	Pro: Great place to run carbon to decrease ammonia and polish the water... keeps tank looking great. Pro: Increases available flow rate, and increases volume of water in your system, promoting some stability. Con: Will elavate your nitrate levels since it provides an over abundance of aerobic space... any filter will do this. Con: Expense. Nuf said. Con: Stuff hanging off the side of your tank (can be run in sump though... I guess) Con: Redundant with live rock. If you have 1-1.5 lbs/gallon of live rock in your tank, you already have as much "filter" as you need.

10/11/2006, 01:28 PM	#5
crhis Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: east coast central florida Posts: 145	it is a 300 gallon tank w/little to no filtration aside from the ls,lr and a skimmer that is too small. i am keeping 4 large eels a couple of triggers and a marble shark in this system. they are all messy eaters and was just looking for a little more filtration.