Cannister Filters - What are they good for?

tcollins · 02/13/2010, 07:16 AM

I have a couple of canister filters I've picked up over the years and knowing they tend to become detrius traps, I'm wondering what are they good for? Is anyone using them in an appliaction that actually adds to the health of the tank? Wondering if it isn't time to make a little room in my supply closet and toss them. Thx

troyman · 02/13/2010, 07:43 AM

they are good to put your filter meadia in such as carbon, phosaban if that whats you use

Sig45 · 02/13/2010, 08:22 AM

Fish only systems or low bioload systems probably.
With increased bioload the prefilter sponges and ceramic beads will quickly clog and trap nutrients increasing nitrates. In a reef, as stated above, good for reactive media( GAC, phos etc)
May also help in the inital cycling of a new tank. Just a thought.

bluetang66 · 02/13/2010, 09:14 AM

I use mine to hold media they are fine if you keep them clean.

mws12075 · 02/13/2010, 09:19 AM

Mine was decent for a FW tank....now its good for leaking....and taking up space in my basement

wookie · 02/13/2010, 10:30 AM

i run carbon in my fluval hooked up to the sump

tcollins · 02/13/2010, 01:31 PM

Aren't the flow rates a little too high for reactive media? Both of my canisters only have one speed. I'm concerened that using Rox 0.8 carbon it would break up too much and with granular GFO the filters would clog well before the GFO would lose it's potency.

Syris1377 · 02/14/2010, 12:08 AM

I run the Rena XP3 on my 20L with filter floss and Chemipure Elite. If you clean it once a week you will be fine. This is my second reef tank that I have done with this without any problems. Just be sure to take out the bio rings and sponges.

nozleman · 02/14/2010, 12:16 AM

A canister filter is great!! For a nitrate reducer!!! It works great and will add to your reef tank!!! Health

j tavares · 02/14/2010, 09:19 AM

I have used Eheim canisters for yrs on Reef tanks huge media capacity and w good husbandry water changes and skimming I have never seen the Nitrate issue Its all in the technique and skill of the aquarist.

Mark426 · 02/14/2010, 09:24 AM

what are they good for............. not much.

Rensmif · 02/14/2010, 09:26 AM

good for QT tank or emergency extra filtration ie. carbon

airwaybill · 02/14/2010, 09:42 AM

I've used mine for carbon and phosphate removers for years. Works great if you keep it clean.

viggen · 02/14/2010, 10:59 AM

depends on the canister.... some better then others

I have a few ocean clear canisters which are great at removing stuff floating in the water that larger then a micron or something like that.

That bad is if you do not clean them often they do more harm then good

Thus... mine have been sitting in a closet for 8+ years now

happyclam · 02/15/2010, 09:28 AM

I use a little Hydor Prime 10 canister on my 125g system as a water polisher. I just set the tank up this weekend so I used the canister to clear out the floating dust, etc. Water went from completely murky to almost crystal clear in ~1-2 days.

That said, I would only run the canister when needed, not constantly.

troyman · 02/18/2010, 05:29 AM

dont leave canister off with water in it and use when needed bacteria dies in there without water flow and oxygen not a good thing also put you meadia in bags so it does not run wild

RegalAngel · 02/18/2010, 01:08 PM

I use four Ocean Clear 325's for mechanic filtration on my 300g FO system:
They work great and I change out the cartridges about every two weeks. I use the Hiatt Bio. System after the OC's.

JeF4y · 02/18/2010, 03:24 PM

use it for mechanical filtration and carbon / phosban. Where people get in trouble on a reef tank is trying to use them for biological filtration.

If you rinse the media and clean the sponges when you do your normal tank changes they seem to do fine. At least that's my experience...

jason2459 · 02/18/2010, 03:28 PM

I just broke out my canaster filter to run some GFO. I put a ball valve on the out and slow down the flow rate with that.

mike Brolin · 11/02/2010, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason2459

I just broke out my canaster filter to run some GFO. I put a ball valve on the out and slow down the flow rate with that.

How did this work. What is the flow over 100 gph?

jason2459 · 11/02/2010, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike Brolin

How did this work. What is the flow over 100 gph?

It worked well. Not sure what your question is? I adjusted the flow by filing up a gallon of water and calculating it out.

barjam · 11/02/2010, 04:45 PM

I use mine to vacuum the tank from time to time.

todd141 · 11/02/2010, 06:59 PM

I dumped mine....too much of a hassle cleaning it out. MUCH easier cleaning out a filter sock that's in my refugium. (I have a HOB SRO LX1000 skimmer, so instead of a sump, I have a refugium because I didn't need a skimmer down there.)

02/13/2010, 07:16 AM	#1
tcollins Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lansdale, PA Posts: 250	Cannister Filters - What are they good for? I have a couple of canister filters I've picked up over the years and knowing they tend to become detrius traps, I'm wondering what are they good for? Is anyone using them in an appliaction that actually adds to the health of the tank? Wondering if it isn't time to make a little room in my supply closet and toss them. Thx

02/14/2010, 09:42 AM	#13
airwaybill meat popsicle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Silver Springs Shores, Fl Posts: 528	I've used mine for carbon and phosphate removers for years. Works great if you keep it clean. __________________ Seek first to understand before being understood. Current Tank Info: 180g Allglass dual megaflow, 125gal sump/refugium, Octopus Extreme series xs200 skimmer, mag12 return, 2 Vortech MP40wES, 3 400watt metal halide 20000k, 2x65w pc on fuge, 3x54w t5. Lots and Lots of happy corals!!!

02/18/2010, 03:24 PM	#18
JeF4y El Conquistidor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,057	use it for mechanical filtration and carbon / phosban. Where people get in trouble on a reef tank is trying to use them for biological filtration. If you rinse the media and clean the sponges when you do your normal tank changes they seem to do fine. At least that's my experience... __________________ I've made a small fortune in Reefing! I just started out with a large fortune and the rest came easily. Want a Cleaner Wrasse? Consider a shower! ;-) Current Tank Info: 60 Cube!

02/18/2010, 03:28 PM	#19
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	I just broke out my canaster filter to run some GFO. I put a ball valve on the out and slow down the flow rate with that. __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

11/02/2010, 06:59 PM	#23
todd141 Golf Nut Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Centerville, OH Posts: 385	I dumped mine....too much of a hassle cleaning it out. MUCH easier cleaning out a filter sock that's in my refugium. (I have a HOB SRO LX1000 skimmer, so instead of a sump, I have a refugium because I didn't need a skimmer down there.) __________________ This is my fancy signature..... Current Tank Info: 75 gallon; Lifereef overflow; 18 gallon acrylic sump

02/13/2010, 07:43 AM	#2
troyman Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: troy ny Posts: 1,025	they are good to put your filter meadia in such as carbon, phosaban if that whats you use

02/13/2010, 08:22 AM	#3
Sig45 Registered Member. Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: New York, NY Posts: 131	Fish only systems or low bioload systems probably. With increased bioload the prefilter sponges and ceramic beads will quickly clog and trap nutrients increasing nitrates. In a reef, as stated above, good for reactive media( GAC, phos etc) May also help in the inital cycling of a new tank. Just a thought.

02/13/2010, 09:14 AM	#4
bluetang66 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ga. Posts: 160	I use mine to hold media they are fine if you keep them clean.

02/13/2010, 09:19 AM	#5
mws12075 Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 58	Mine was decent for a FW tank....now its good for leaking....and taking up space in my basement

02/13/2010, 10:30 AM	#6
wookie Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Dundee Posts: 124	i run carbon in my fluval hooked up to the sump

02/13/2010, 01:31 PM	#7
tcollins Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lansdale, PA Posts: 250	Aren't the flow rates a little too high for reactive media? Both of my canisters only have one speed. I'm concerened that using Rox 0.8 carbon it would break up too much and with granular GFO the filters would clog well before the GFO would lose it's potency.

02/14/2010, 12:08 AM	#8
Syris1377 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Simi Valley, Ca Posts: 15	I run the Rena XP3 on my 20L with filter floss and Chemipure Elite. If you clean it once a week you will be fine. This is my second reef tank that I have done with this without any problems. Just be sure to take out the bio rings and sponges.

02/14/2010, 12:16 AM	#9
nozleman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Camarillo, ca Posts: 208	A canister filter is great!! For a nitrate reducer!!! It works great and will add to your reef tank!!! Health

02/14/2010, 09:19 AM	#10
j tavares Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,157	I have used Eheim canisters for yrs on Reef tanks huge media capacity and w good husbandry water changes and skimming I have never seen the Nitrate issue Its all in the technique and skill of the aquarist.

02/14/2010, 09:24 AM	#11
Mark426 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,479	what are they good for............. not much.

02/14/2010, 09:26 AM	#12
Rensmif Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 140	good for QT tank or emergency extra filtration ie. carbon

02/14/2010, 10:59 AM	#14
viggen Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 2,213	depends on the canister.... some better then others I have a few ocean clear canisters which are great at removing stuff floating in the water that larger then a micron or something like that. That bad is if you do not clean them often they do more harm then good Thus... mine have been sitting in a closet for 8+ years now

02/15/2010, 09:28 AM	#15
happyclam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,012	I use a little Hydor Prime 10 canister on my 125g system as a water polisher. I just set the tank up this weekend so I used the canister to clear out the floating dust, etc. Water went from completely murky to almost crystal clear in ~1-2 days. That said, I would only run the canister when needed, not constantly.

02/18/2010, 05:29 AM	#16
troyman Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: troy ny Posts: 1,025	dont leave canister off with water in it and use when needed bacteria dies in there without water flow and oxygen not a good thing also put you meadia in bags so it does not run wild

02/18/2010, 01:08 PM	#17
RegalAngel Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The Redwood Reef Posts: 908	I use four Ocean Clear 325's for mechanic filtration on my 300g FO system: They work great and I change out the cartridges about every two weeks. I use the Hiatt Bio. System after the OC's.

11/02/2010, 04:45 PM	#22
barjam Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,695	I use mine to vacuum the tank from time to time.