remove the canister filter?

[karavak]

I've been reading some reasons why you shouldn't use a canister filter (build up in it) and I plan to move to a sump/ref in the next month or so but until then I'm wondering should I
a) turn off the canister and remove it from the picture (I have 10x the flow from the two powerheads)
b) take out the filters and put some live rock in the canister and keep it running
c) Keep it running and clean it a lot more often then they recommend?

 

[addicted4life]

If you corals and tank look good then leave it. I would definitely go to a fuge, but I have a buddy that ran a canister for years on his reef tank.
I would keep it clean and look forward to the day you get your fuge going.

 

[natclanwy]

I prefer running a canister on my reef tank, it helps to remove small floating particles in my DT. I recently had to remove mine from service due to a leaky o-ring and I have tons of small particles floating in my DT its mainly fine grains of sand because I am using an extremly fine sand for my substrate.
I rinse the media in my canister every two weeks, and replace the fine floss pad once a month and the coarse pad every other month. With this routine I have never had any buildup of nutrients and my nitrates have been zero.

 

[trouble93]

Originally Posted by karavak
http:///forum/post/2864941
I've been reading some reasons why you shouldn't use a canister filter (build up in it) and I plan to move to a sump/ref in the next month or so but until then I'm wondering should I
a) turn off the canister and remove it from the picture (I have 10x the flow from the two powerheads)
b) take out the filters and put some live rock in the canister and keep it running
c) Keep it running and clean it a lot more often then they recommend?
IMO if you keep your canister clean you will have no problem...I run a sump and a canister(I run carbon and fine filter pads) on my DT. I change the carbon biweekly and the filter pads every week.

 

[culp]

the only time i would run a canister filter is to negate chemical warfare between corals. but you could just some thing to run carbon in a sump.

 

[socal57che]

c.
I would keep it.
Place the canister in an easily accessible place and clean it every 2 weeks (or every other water change) during a water change. Clean the media and sponge filter in water from the water change so you don't kill off bacteria.
Your canister will remove particulates from the water column and trap them. They get removed when you service the canister, thus keeping them from being broken down into nitrates in your tank.
If you are looking for something to spend some money on, I would suggest you buy a good skimmer if you don't already have one.

 

[culp]

Originally Posted by socal57che
http:///forum/post/2865185
c.
I would keep it.
Place the canister in an easily accessible place and clean it every 2 weeks (or every other water change) during a water change. Clean the media and sponge filter in water from the water change so you don't kill off bacteria.
Your canister will remove particulates from the water column and trap them. They get removed when you service the canister, thus keeping them from being broken down into nitrates in your tank.
If you are looking for something to spend some money on, I would suggest you buy a good skimmer if you don't already have one.

a good skimmer is a must have! it makes life so much easier in my opinion.

 

[lkgrenegade22]

I once was wondering the same thing as you. I have people tell me to keep it and others tell me they are the worst thing ever. While there are many things we MUST do to be successful in this hobby I would put running a canister under the list of optional things. I have been running one ever since I setup my tank and have not had the 1st problem yet. I have people tell me they are nitrate traps but think about it, they pull out stuff that is already present in your tank...Just don't neglect cleaning it and you should be fine. I'm not arguing with the fact that a sump/refugium is the way to go, but that is just not always an option. I would go buy/setup one tomorrow if I had the room but I don't. My canister has always kept my water crystal clear...

 

[karavak]

Thanks everybody!
I'll keep it running for now but move up the cleaning to every week or two for a while instead of the once a month I was doing.

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by karavak
http:///forum/post/2865463
Thanks everybody!
I'll keep it running for now but move up the cleaning to every week or two for a while instead of the once a month I was doing.
Once every 2 weeks will be plenty. Every week would be exhausting and hard to keep up unless you just want to do it. Keeping them clean is the key. They are easy to neglect. That's why they get a bad reputation. Now that you will be on a more frequent service schedule, you'll grow to like your canister.

 

[madwabbit23]

Agreed with Socal - keep it clean and itll keep your tank clean in return. I absolutely love my canister, clean mine out and change my pads once every 6weeks or so...but im probably pushing it.
Even after I added the sump I still run canister.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Even canister filters have their place in the saltwater hobby. Just keep it clean and you are ready to go!

 

[socal57che]

Just another tip on replacing the pads...
don't replace all of them at the same time. When it's time to replace them, replace 1/2 during one service and the other half on the next service so they can trade bacteria rather than throwing out your beneficial bacteria in large quantities each time.

 

[rotarymagic]

the best canisters run liverock in them lol... I'm sure you could pack carbon in there too if it didn't get a bunch of build up on it.

 

[mie]

Originally Posted by Rotarymagic
http:///forum/post/2867730
the best canisters run liverock in them lol... I'm sure you could pack carbon in there too if it didn't get a bunch of build up on it.
Would you recomend replacing some of the filter floss or pads with some live rock ruble?
Why is there more benefit to running lr in your canister? How would it add to your filtering capabilities since your tank is already filled with lr?

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by mie
http:///forum/post/2867923
Would you recomend replacing some of the filter floss or pads with some live rock ruble?
I would not recommend removing floss/pads.
Originally Posted by mie
http:///forum/post/2867923
Why is there more benefit to running lr in your canister? How would it add to your filtering capabilities since your tank is already filled with lr?
Some say yes.
IMO, it doesn't make much difference. Leave the pads/floss as they collect garbage so you can physically remove it from your system. There is no room for any serious size rocks so rubble, which allows flow between the chunks, is used. Why not just use the media that came with it? In actuality, it prolly has more surface area than LR rubble anyway.
Just my take on the issue.