Do i need my filter?

[alexmir]

I have a moderately stocked 60 gallon reef tank with around 75 lbs of LR.
I have an ehein classic canister filter on it, rated at 65 gallons. I am running my skimmer and a new refugium that is going to have chateo and a few mangroves in it.
Question is, do i really need the small canister filter anymore? I dont think it does that much anyway, and i am actually thinking that it may be causing my nitrates to stay around 10-15. the filter is doing no more than my powerhead that has a floss filter on it. Any opinoins?

 

[natclanwy]

Definetly don't need it, but I still run one on my tank for the purpose of running carbon and it helps clear my tank faster after I do some cleaning or have a sandstorm for whatever reason.

 

[spiderwoman]

I'd still keep it for times when you need to run carbon and like natclanwy it helps with the water clarity. I'm tempted to hook up our unused Magnum 350 to the 75 tank.

 

[alexmir]

i could just set the carbon in a Powerhead where the sponge was couldnt I? or in the spot in the refugium where there is alot of flow coming into it. I know that the filter is raising my nitrates. I think i am going to take it off, i dont like it!

 

[nordy]

I keep a magnum 350 running just to keep the water clear on my 55gal, and for occaisonally running carbon. A canister filte will not be a nitrate source if you clean it, and whatever media you are using, regularly. This can also mean scrubbing the inside of the canister as well. I run my magnum 350 all the time and have to change the micron cartridge about twice a week. It's great being able to see the inside of that filter!

 

[spiderwoman]

Also you can use most of the canister filters to hook a gravel vacuum to.

 

[natclanwy]

Definetly have to clean them regularly, I rinse my media and pads weekly and replace the fine pad monthly and the coarse pad bi-monthly and so far I haven't had any increase in nitrates since I added the canister. Still hovering around 10ppm think I need to address my feeding habits and start measuring my food to keep track of how much I am actually feeding and see if I can get them to drop to zero.