Filter ? (Canister or a couple power heads and a good protein skimmer)

[nuggets423]

Just curous, I have this Canister filter that sits outside the tank, I think it's made by Rena. I asked a buddy of mine @ work who has a lot of experience w/salt, and he said that those canister filters are breeding grounds for bacteria and so forth. Then he suggested that sense I already spent $100.00 or so on this Rena to just get rid of it and make a sump for underneath the aquirum for a wet/Dry setup. Well I don't have any room under the aquirum for this because it's not on a stand just a old dresser. So then he told me to get a expensive Protien Skimmer and a couple pomer heads to move around the water. So I'm just curious about these speculations on the Canister filter I have, because it seems as though I'm always having to treat the tank for some kind of bacterial or ick or some kinda disease.

 

[chandler04]

Well ya, that ploy might work, but how big is yer tank? Given the right amount of live rock, a "swell" protein skimmer and ph's, youd be good. Hang ons that are really good are either tough to find or expensive.

 

[grantman]

Are you going for a fish only tank? If you are then I can't see why your canister filter if it is sized correctly wouldn't be adequate for filtering your water. I had a fish only tank for five years with an undergravel filter and a hang on emperor bio wheel thing and it worked fine. Now if you want pristine water conditions then go with the protein skimmer and some live rock. You can get fairly inexpensive skimmers that are adequate. Good luck.

 

[lion_crazz]

Personally, I am not a fan of the canister filters. Everyone who I know who uses them just comes back with problems. If I were you, I would get a hang on protein skimmer, a few powerheads in the tank, 46-50 lbs. of live rock, and a hang-on, biological filter (like an emperor).
I would recommend the protein skimmer and live rock no matter what. They are going to keep your tank levels steady and low. As to the canister filter, I really don't think they should be used in salt. That's just my opinion though. I am sure they are a ton of people who have used them and had success with them. I don't doubt that. However, biological filters with the bio-wheels really are the best type of filter (besides for wet/drys of course). So whynot spend the extra money and get a bio-filter and powerheads for some nice circulation and filtration.