Canister Filters

[Jer-]

Hi

I have read that Canister Filters are not really recommended for Marine Aquariums...

Is this true and why?

I have a Fluval 205 and in it I have the regular Sponge, Ceramic tubey things, A bit of activated carbon, Aquamedic AntiPhos phosphate remover, and Filter Floss for small particles.

Should I not have any one of them stuff?

Thanks

 

[Mr Miagi]

External filters, and internal filters are not recomended in marine tanks because if you have suitable quantities of LR, that will fulfill all your filtration needs. Cannisters can soon trap small particles of detritus and produce nitrates, which your trying to eliminate. Keep your filter and fill it with LR rubble, Carbon or Phosphate remover, like youve done, but ditch the noodles, sponge and filter wool (do this bit at a time, not all in one go).

 

[l337dave]

External filters, and internal filters are not recomended in marine tanks because if you have suitable quantities of LR, that will fulfill all your filtration needs. Cannisters can soon trap small particles of detritus and produce nitrates, which your trying to eliminate. Keep your filter and fill it with LR rubble, Carbon or Phosphate remover, like youve done, but ditch the noodles, sponge and filter wool (do this bit at a time, not all in one go).

do you think that filter wool is as bad as everyone makes out? I use some in my external with the carbon and row-phos, (and the nitrate sponge I've just added yesterday) all of it's is changed at least every month, usually most of it every week or so and I haven't seen nitrates above 10.

Mine is a relatively new tank (2-3 months) do you think filter floss is a good habit to get in?



dave.

 

[Mr Miagi]

You ideally want nitrate at 0, so no, its probably not helping. If its left for a month, thats quite a long time actually. It builds up detritus, and that starts to break dwon and release nitrates. If you have adequate amounts of LR, you shouldnt really need any filter media like wool.

 

[Eelzor]

I agree with Miagi on this one, canisters aren't really the best for SW because of the filter wool and other layers that work as a nitrate trap. Any external filtration you use on SW (Such as a hang-on or external) must be cleaned very regularly to avoid nitrate build-up, and as some of you know cleaning out your Fluval/Eheim canister can be a very messy/tedious/lengthy job. I've got a wet/dry bio-wheel filter and that seems to do the job along with heaps of live rock, however the filter sleeve must be cleaned out often. (Rinsed in separated tank saltwater to avoid killing off the bacteria). It's a lot easier to clean out a hang-on style filter as you just pop the lid off and rinse.

I actually asked a very similar question a while back on this forum regarding canister filter usage in saltwater aquariumback in June 06.

External Ehiem Canister Filters

As for my recommendations I'd forget the external, and either go for a sump/refugium or a hang-on style (while regularly cleaning media) with heaps of live rock. (Depending on fish stock too)

HTH

 

[mark456]

ive got a big external for when i set my reef tank up, shall i fill it will alphagrog for ponds and leave one section for seachems phosguard? , it will become live rock after time wont it? thanks in advance.

 

[Eelzor]

ive got a big external for when i set my reef tank up, shall i fill it will alphagrog for ponds and leave one section for seachems phosguard? , it will become live rock after time wont it? thanks in advance.

Not sure if putting alphagrog alone in the canister would be best as it usually takes a really long time for the rock to colonise completely. It seems to be adequate base rock for colonising though, so I would perhaps add already live rock with it together in the canister to help seed it.

 

[Jer-]

Thanks ppl

But now my question is, What happens to smaller debris then if I have no sponge or Floss?

Thanks.

 

[Eelzor]

I have a small hang-on external on mine to just pick up any little pieces of things that get loose (i.e. scrubbed algae). But usually the 'small debris' is very minimal and it taken care of by the natural system (nitrates>live rock>nitrogen gas). If it's several pieces and/or noticable then you could also just net it out.

 

[SkiFletch]

Yeah, LR clears up a lot of the floating particulate in the water which is then usually eaten by snails or other cleanup crew members

 

[Mr Miagi]

then usually eaten by snails or other cleanup crew members

Hermits, Snails, and Shrimp, Crabs, the list goes on!