Canister filters

[saltyfishy]

I was wondering if Canister filters work good with a reef tank? The one im looking at gives out 185 GPH.

 

[reefnut]

I wouldn't run one... except for maybe some chemical filtration like running carbon.
IMO it's better to run LR, LS, Skimmer, Refuge, ect...

 

[andretti]

Yeah, I agree. A canister would be ok in a fish only tank, but a reef...no. Canisters, like wet/drys are notorious for waste building up and turning into harmful levels of nitrates. Fish :happyfish can handle small amount of trates, but not corals and/or inverts. Spend your $$$$ on a good protein skimmer (Aqua C Remora, Bak Pak) If you already have the canister, use it for running carbon, or other chemical media.

 

[saltyfishy]

Thanks

 

[jlem]

Canisters work great for fish only or reef systems. The problem is that to keep them working properly and not just trap gunk that breakes down and creates high nitrates and poor water quality you have to clean them pretty often. If you clean a canister filter often enough then you will do your tank a huge benefit because you will remove most gunk before it even breaks down.