fluval users

[ty1on73]

I have a fluval 303 and I was hoping I could get some opinions on what setup is working for you, i.e. bio-chem, carbon, etc.
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55 gal tank
lights-standard (looking for at least 165w if anyone is selling)
2'' of crushed coral on half and 2'' of live sand on the other
50lbs of LR
2 four stripe damsels
2 royal tangs
1 yellow tail damsel
1 mandrinfish
1 redlegged hermit

 

[nacl-man]

I'd just use it as a power head.
I'd run carbon in it to do some water polishing (not all the time)... but the majority of the time stuff will just get caught in it and cause a nitrate explosion
They are nice to have... sometimes putting in those filter pads will help catch stuff that is floating around, and like I said for running carbon everyonce in a while (once a month for a day or two, most carbon I think looses its effectiveness after a few days... i could be wrong though, i think that is a whole other argument).
Maybe some other people would like to chime in, but I think a few on this board have taken all the filter media out of their cannister filters. Quite a few others don't even run filters or skimmers.
HTH.
Cheers!

 

[ricofish]

I agree! I was having trouble with stabilizing my tank, until I tried running my 404 empty(completely), Now I don't even need to clean it as much.

 

[ricofish]

Nitrate Explosion lol !!!!

 

[cincyreefer]

I use a fluval 404 on my 75 gallon and have absolutely no problems. I use prefilter, sponge, and Chemipure. Works really well.

 

[legion]

Just use bio-beads in mine now. Used to run other things. Also use an emporer 280. Nitrates 15 as of 6/6.

 

[kinkfish]

so some people on this board run cannister empty?