Filter ?'s

ILLBEEDAT · 01/09/2007, 11:28 PM

EHEIM Professional Wet/Dry Canister Filter

Need pro's and cons on this unit got a friend who is running a successful reef tank for the past three years and want to go with the same unit for my reef please need some opinions.

sir_dudeguy · 01/09/2007, 11:41 PM

well if he's using it as a true wet/dry filter, then he's got bioballs in there. Most will not recommend using bioballs at all in a reef tank because they run the high risk of making tons of nitrates. Live rock is the best (and only, imo) filtration for a reef tank at this point in time. Will they eventually come out with a filter/media that will not create nitrates? You betcha

Just dont know when. And do people get away with bioballs in a reef? Of course they do, but the overall numbers say dont use bioballs (wet/dry filters) in a reef tank.

If your friend does not have the bioballs in there, then imo he's just using it as a sump or fuge (or both).

hth

drummereef · 01/10/2007, 01:11 AM

If you have 1-2lb/gallon of live rock, a sandbed, 20-30x circulation, and a good skimmer then there really isn't a need for the canister filter. Can be more detrimental than good. If you end up using it, I would take out all media and only use carbon if necessary. Imo, hang on filters like Aquaclears are much easier to use and clean.

popimp06 · 01/10/2007, 01:25 AM

i use the wet dry but not the canister type and i took my bio balls and used live rock in stead and its good

sir_dudeguy · 01/10/2007, 07:56 AM

only thing with that though is you still need more LR in the tank. I've seen a few times where people try to just replace the bioballs with rock, and have no other rock and think it will all be good. Bioballs break down more amonia faster than rock does, but rock is still better imo. You just need more rock is all.

01/09/2007, 11:28 PM	#1
ILLBEEDAT Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 84	Filter ?'s EHEIM Professional Wet/Dry Canister Filter Need pro's and cons on this unit got a friend who is running a successful reef tank for the past three years and want to go with the same unit for my reef please need some opinions.

01/09/2007, 11:41 PM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	well if he's using it as a true wet/dry filter, then he's got bioballs in there. Most will not recommend using bioballs at all in a reef tank because they run the high risk of making tons of nitrates. Live rock is the best (and only, imo) filtration for a reef tank at this point in time. Will they eventually come out with a filter/media that will not create nitrates? You betcha Just dont know when. And do people get away with bioballs in a reef? Of course they do, but the overall numbers say dont use bioballs (wet/dry filters) in a reef tank. If your friend does not have the bioballs in there, then imo he's just using it as a sump or fuge (or both). hth __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

01/10/2007, 01:11 AM	#3
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	If you have 1-2lb/gallon of live rock, a sandbed, 20-30x circulation, and a good skimmer then there really isn't a need for the canister filter. Can be more detrimental than good. If you end up using it, I would take out all media and only use carbon if necessary. Imo, hang on filters like Aquaclears are much easier to use and clean. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

01/10/2007, 01:25 AM	#4
popimp06 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: the hood Posts: 386	i use the wet dry but not the canister type and i took my bio balls and used live rock in stead and its good __________________ what it do Current Tank Info: 75 aga. 80lbs fiji live rock 45lbs live sand 3 t5s.

01/10/2007, 07:56 AM	#5
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	only thing with that though is you still need more LR in the tank. I've seen a few times where people try to just replace the bioballs with rock, and have no other rock and think it will all be good. Bioballs break down more amonia faster than rock does, but rock is still better imo. You just need more rock is all. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!