Just removed canister filter...

todd141 · 08/16/2010, 05:17 PM

I just removed my canister filter from my tank, and I hope I did the right thing. I don't have a sump, and probably won't have one for a little while (maybe 6 months.) I used filter floss and chemi-pure in the canister - that was it.

My tank is a 75G, with about 80lbs of live rock. I have a HOB Octopus LX1000s and a small aquafuge with chaeto and live rock. 2 Koralia EVO 1050 and one EVO 1400.

I just got tired of cleaning the dang thing. I don't have any SPS, just a bunch of zoas and a lobo brain coral, and a couple of other softies (and fish.)

I do 10 gallon water changes weekly. Skimmate has been dark brown. I also have a Tunze 3165 nano cleaner, just to keep the surface scum away. I put Chemi-Pure elite in the tunze and it seems to work great.

My nitrates would never fall below 10 -20 so I figured the canister was the culprit. I was cleaning it out about once every week and a half. Everyone is healthy in the tank from what I can see.

Will I be OK running this way for a while? Tank is 2 years old, and has had a canister on it since it was setup.

Thanks for reading this.

jestr · 08/16/2010, 05:26 PM

i would suggest keeping up with water changes and watch your levels. get some micro-bactor by brightwell aquatics or something similar maybe even prime which is good for amonia. just in case type of thing i dont really see a problem happening imo. but better be safe then sorry and have back up plans

todd141 · 08/16/2010, 05:36 PM

I've got some microbacter from brightwell, thanks for the advice.

Palting · 08/16/2010, 08:06 PM

You should be OK. If you were that diligent in cleaning your cannister, it never went biologic, and all your biologic filtration is being done by your rocks and substrate.

It brings up a question, though. If you were that diligent in cleaning and your cannister never went biologic, why are your nitrates so high? Might have to look for other reasons for that high nitrate. Anyway, certainly, keep an eye on your parameters, use the microbacter, and keep us informed. I'd be curious to know if removing the cannister did anything.

TripleT · 08/16/2010, 08:13 PM

I'd check for ammonia and nitrite every day, for the next few days.

TripleT · 08/16/2010, 08:17 PM

You might also consider throwing the canister back on for a couple of weeks, and fill it with Polyfilter pad cut to size.

I bet it will turn brown in no time, and your water will be cleaner than it has been in a while.

todd141 · 08/17/2010, 04:46 PM

I'm not sure why the nitrates were that high. I don't have hardly any cleanup crew - have some snails from reefcleaners.org that will be here tomorrow. I do feed once a day, frozen mysis - which is probably the culprit.

I have put polyfilter in my Tunze 3165 nano cleaner before - will probably grab some more.

08/16/2010, 05:17 PM	#1
todd141 Golf Nut Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Centerville, OH Posts: 385	Just removed canister filter... I just removed my canister filter from my tank, and I hope I did the right thing. I don't have a sump, and probably won't have one for a little while (maybe 6 months.) I used filter floss and chemi-pure in the canister - that was it. My tank is a 75G, with about 80lbs of live rock. I have a HOB Octopus LX1000s and a small aquafuge with chaeto and live rock. 2 Koralia EVO 1050 and one EVO 1400. I just got tired of cleaning the dang thing. I don't have any SPS, just a bunch of zoas and a lobo brain coral, and a couple of other softies (and fish.) I do 10 gallon water changes weekly. Skimmate has been dark brown. I also have a Tunze 3165 nano cleaner, just to keep the surface scum away. I put Chemi-Pure elite in the tunze and it seems to work great. My nitrates would never fall below 10 -20 so I figured the canister was the culprit. I was cleaning it out about once every week and a half. Everyone is healthy in the tank from what I can see. Will I be OK running this way for a while? Tank is 2 years old, and has had a canister on it since it was setup. Thanks for reading this.

08/16/2010, 08:06 PM	#4
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	You should be OK. If you were that diligent in cleaning your cannister, it never went biologic, and all your biologic filtration is being done by your rocks and substrate. It brings up a question, though. If you were that diligent in cleaning and your cannister never went biologic, why are your nitrates so high? Might have to look for other reasons for that high nitrate. Anyway, certainly, keep an eye on your parameters, use the microbacter, and keep us informed. I'd be curious to know if removing the cannister did anything. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

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08/16/2010, 05:26 PM	#2
jestr Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: orlando Posts: 396	i would suggest keeping up with water changes and watch your levels. get some micro-bactor by brightwell aquatics or something similar maybe even prime which is good for amonia. just in case type of thing i dont really see a problem happening imo. but better be safe then sorry and have back up plans

08/16/2010, 05:36 PM	#3
todd141 Golf Nut Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Centerville, OH Posts: 385	I've got some microbacter from brightwell, thanks for the advice.

08/16/2010, 08:13 PM	#5
TripleT Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,092	I'd check for ammonia and nitrite every day, for the next few days.

08/16/2010, 08:17 PM	#6
TripleT Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,092	You might also consider throwing the canister back on for a couple of weeks, and fill it with Polyfilter pad cut to size. I bet it will turn brown in no time, and your water will be cleaner than it has been in a while.

08/17/2010, 04:46 PM	#7
todd141 Golf Nut Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Centerville, OH Posts: 385	I'm not sure why the nitrates were that high. I don't have hardly any cleanup crew - have some snails from reefcleaners.org that will be here tomorrow. I do feed once a day, frozen mysis - which is probably the culprit. I have put polyfilter in my Tunze 3165 nano cleaner before - will probably grab some more.