Removing canister filter?

[terrance]

I have a 40 gallon reef set up for about a year now. I have about 50 pounds of live rock, an Aqua remora skimmer, and a hang on refugium. I've been using a Fluval 204 canister filter ever since i started, and i was wondering if i can just remove it all together. If so, how would i do this and not have it affect my system. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[oyam1]

just take it off
make sure you have good flow (powerheads)
i have my FOWLR running with just skimmer,heat, and 3-powerheads.
good luck

 

[terrance]

Wont it cause a cycle because i'm losing a lot of the bacteria in the filter?

 

[oyam1]

LR and LS should do the job

 

[benj2112]

I have a 40 gallon breeder and I dumped my fuval 204 canister filter when I added a sump/fuge to my tank. So, not quite the exact same situation, but I didn't have any problems.

 

[benj2112]

What kind of bio load do you have in your tank? Is it pretty full or pretty light?
I guess one idea that just came to mind if you want to take things slow is just remove the filtering pads and material from the canister filter over a few weeks and then your tank can slowly catch up in bacteria in other parts of the tank besides the canister filter....just a thought for something to try.

 

[oyam1]

good idea, better safe than sorry:happy: