Cannister filter or no?

jecarl2 · 11/06/2006, 08:01 PM

I currently have a 90 gal. w/120 lbs of live rock (TBS), skimmer and a cascade canister filter. Should I not use the canister filter at all and just rely on the live rock for filtration. My water parameters are fine except the nitrates are around .15ppm.

The tank has been set up for about 8 weeks.

Phinfan · 11/06/2006, 08:05 PM

I would be interested in knowing this also. the guy at the lfs is trying to sell me a canister for the new tank Im building. but my guess would be the canister is the cause of the nitrate level. but being new to this thats just a guess.

dannable · 11/06/2006, 08:12 PM

I think Canister filters are ok if you maintain them at least weekly. My tank has been up for about 9 weeks and my nitrates are less than 5ppm.

GlobaLPimP · 11/06/2006, 08:39 PM

I would stay away from the canister filter (nitrate factory). Nitrates should be at ZERO

If you do choose to go with a canister filter - I'd clean it at least twice a week to keep your nitrates in check. Every tank is different though...good luck

ledford1 · 11/06/2006, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dannable
I think Canister filters are ok if you maintain them at least weekly. My tank has been up for about 9 weeks and my nitrates are less than 5ppm.

Yep, maintenance is important with cannisters. If you're up for it, they are fine.

You could remove the media and put in LR, effectively making it a sump or fuge. Just because they give you floss filters and bio-rings doesn't mean you have to use them.

jecarl2 · 11/06/2006, 08:54 PM

So basically it wouldn't hurt to remove it all together, i don't like the long black tube that runs across the back of my tank anyway.

frenchie · 11/06/2006, 09:20 PM

i have cascade 1500 and 1200 i use with nothing but seachem matrix for my 125 gallon tank for bio filter.

Sk8r · 11/06/2006, 11:04 PM

I run a 52g reef with a 10g sump and no filter at all, just a skimmer in the sump. Stuff tends to settle and get digested, or the corals eat it.

frenchie · 11/06/2006, 11:07 PM

i only hooked up cascade 1200 canister cause it was sitting around from freshwater setup and tried to sell for 80 bucks but no takers so figured what the heck made a bio filter out of it

11/06/2006, 08:01 PM	#1
jecarl2 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Near Memphis Posts: 121	Cannister filter or no? I currently have a 90 gal. w/120 lbs of live rock (TBS), skimmer and a cascade canister filter. Should I not use the canister filter at all and just rely on the live rock for filtration. My water parameters are fine except the nitrates are around .15ppm. The tank has been set up for about 8 weeks.

11/06/2006, 08:05 PM	#2
Phinfan Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Ozarks of Missouri Posts: 37	I would be interested in knowing this also. the guy at the lfs is trying to sell me a canister for the new tank Im building. but my guess would be the canister is the cause of the nitrate level. but being new to this thats just a guess. __________________ Phinfan "We are the people our parents warned us about" Current Tank Info: 20 gal/h

11/06/2006, 08:39 PM	#4
GlobaLPimP Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Palm Harbor, Florida Posts: 911	I would stay away from the canister filter (nitrate factory). Nitrates should be at ZERO If you do choose to go with a canister filter - I'd clean it at least twice a week to keep your nitrates in check. Every tank is different though...good luck __________________ This hobby is educational; it teaches you how to spend a lot of money in a hurry! Current Tank Info: 75gl, SPS, LPS, IceCap/T5/SLR, 2 modded Tunze 6045's, PCI 350 skimmer w/ Gen-X 2400, 95lbs LR, GEN-X 4100 return

11/06/2006, 09:20 PM	#7
frenchie Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,730	i have cascade 1500 and 1200 i use with nothing but seachem matrix for my 125 gallon tank for bio filter. __________________ Darrick slash member 24 gallon nano cube, LED lights, zoanthids, shrooms Current Tank Info: 93 gallon cube, ecotech LED, swc 160 cone skimmer, lots of softies

11/06/2006, 11:04 PM	#8
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I run a 52g reef with a 10g sump and no filter at all, just a skimmer in the sump. Stuff tends to settle and get digested, or the corals eat it. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

11/06/2006, 08:12 PM	#3
dannable Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Guelph Ontario, Canada Posts: 430	I think Canister filters are ok if you maintain them at least weekly. My tank has been up for about 9 weeks and my nitrates are less than 5ppm.

11/06/2006, 08:54 PM	#6
jecarl2 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Near Memphis Posts: 121	So basically it wouldn't hurt to remove it all together, i don't like the long black tube that runs across the back of my tank anyway.

11/06/2006, 11:07 PM	#9
frenchie Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,730	i only hooked up cascade 1200 canister cause it was sitting around from freshwater setup and tried to sell for 80 bucks but no takers so figured what the heck made a bio filter out of it __________________ Darrick slash member 24 gallon nano cube, LED lights, zoanthids, shrooms Current Tank Info: 93 gallon cube, ecotech LED, swc 160 cone skimmer, lots of softies