Canister filter

[luffy]

Hello, me and my girlfriend want to start a 75 gallon tank and the question is if we only run a canister filter for the filtration what should i put in it? I heard matrix, 1-2 padding, live rock, nothing , i wanted to know what should be best. (Yes i know a skimmer and refugium would be nicer/better but we have one in our garage that can work)

 

[Sam7]

what are you go for? A reef with corals and fish....just fish?

 

[luffy]

what are you go for? A reef with corals and fish....just fish?

We have a porcupine puffer and a sixline wrasse that will be brought to the 75g. I do want some more gsp and maybe some zoas, depends but i definitely do want fish and corals/anemone’s!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Sure it will work but keep in mind that mechanical filtration doesn't do much in terms of filtration and maintaining water quality (puffers are messy eaters that degrade water quality). Water changes are get more complicated and costly with larger tanks, so until you have a chance to upgrade the filtration, I would suggest a low bioload.

 

[Bear22]

Depends on the brand of filter and their media/filtration they provide. On my Oase I run two trays of their bio media (the tumbling plastic media), one 30 ppi sponge, and on the pre-filter I run the 10 ppi sponges. (increases flow)

I would recommend the largest filter your wallet and back can handle. Canister filters company advertised flow rates are almost always listed sans any media.

 

[Freenow54]

Hello, me and my girlfriend want to start a 75 gallon tank and the question is if we only run a canister filter for the filtration what should i put in it? I heard matrix, 1-2 padding, live rock, nothing , i wanted to know what should be best. (Yes i know a skimmer and refugium would be nicer/better but we have one in our garage that can work)

A Fluval is very versatile. There are three separate internal baskets , and a separate sleeve for sponge filters and they sell a variety of bagged or bulk media. For a 75 I suggest a 307 . You can always use a HOB Skimmer I would totally different thing. A member FUNGI gave me idea just to have rock in it , great place to raise pods if you have fish that like them . Do not use white media a Chemist Randy Holmes Farley found that it adds aluminium to your Tank Water

 

[Dom]

I've always understood canister filters to be nitrate factories. Success with canister filters requires diligent husbandry.

 

[Bear22]

I've always understood canister filters to be nitrate factories. Success with canister filters requires diligent husbandry.

Not with today's better understanding of the NEED for PO4 and nitrogen. In my system (Oase canister) I struggle to keep these levels up and where I would like them to be.

This tribal lore with canister filters needs to go bye bye.

 

[Dom]

Not with today's better understanding of the NEED for PO4 and NO3. In my system (Oase canister) I struggle to keep these levels up and where I would like them to be.

This tribal lore with canister filters needs to go bye bye.

My first system in the hobby used a canister filter.

I never had a real problem, just that I needed to keep after it. I did this by having two; as one worked the tank, the other was on my workbench getting serviced.

But it was a lot of work.

 

[Bear22]

My first system in the hobby used a canister filter.

I never had a real problem, just that I needed to keep after it. I did this by having two; as one worked the tank, the other was on my workbench getting serviced.

But it was a lot of work.

I don't find it really any more work versus the upkeep of a sump and all the associated equipment -and I've done both. I find canisters to be much simpler. Especially with the built in heater of the Oase plus the very easy to use pre-filter. And I like doing things with KISS in mind.

I would say the workload is very much tied to the design features of the filter itself.

Really, the only thing I miss with a sump system is the surface skimming. I could do a lily pipe with skimmer, but I don't like the obtrusive footprint of these pipes.

 

[Fish Fan]

To each their own; I personally hate canister filters altogether, and I've had everything from Eheim to Marineland to Fluval to SunSun's

I would suggest only running rock rubble in a canister filter for a marine tank. They can definitely be nitrate factories with typical media that doesn't get changed out often enough. I personally find maintaining them to be a chore, and I've had them leak on me.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[luffy]

To each their own; I personally hate canister filters altogether, and I've had everything from Eheim to Marineland to Fluval to SunSun's

I would suggest only running rock rubble in a canister filter for a marine tank. They can definitely be nitrate factories with typical media that doesn't get changed out often enough. I personally find maintaining them to be a chore, and I've had them leak on me.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

I like your guys idea and yeah i understood the need of nitrates and po4, since our porcupine puffer will produce a lot of waste would a rock only canister be a nitrate producer? Lately with my tank that i have right now i have a gsp and the puffer and a sixline wrasse with hermits and nasserius snails, and my nitrates will not settle, if i used a canister wirh your guys feedback would a rock and filter pads be enough? I understand that a sump with skimmer and refugium would be so much better but for the sake of what my girlfriend wants im just trying to understand how i can go about just using a canister filter.

 

[Fish Fan]

I like your guys idea and yeah i understood the need of nitrates and po4, since our porcupine puffer will produce a lot of waste would a rock only canister be a nitrate producer? Lately with my tank that i have right now i have a gsp and the puffer and a sixline wrasse with hermits and nasserius snails, and my nitrates will not settle, if i used a canister wirh your guys feedback would a rock and filter pads be enough? I understand that a sump with skimmer and refugium would be so much better but for the sake of what my girlfriend wants im just trying to understand how i can go about just using a canister filter.

There's no reason you can't run a reef tank with canister filter(s)!

I would take the one large rock, wrap it in a towel, and smack it with a hammer - instant rock rubble for your canister filter! Be careful, wear eye proaction, etc., etc., I am responsible for nothing

 

[LPS Bum]

When I first set up my 240 gal FOWLR 17 years ago I did do with a canister filter (Rena Filstar) and a HOB skimmer. I’m still running that set up today (and I have a 10 inch Porc Puffer).

Mine has a bunch of sponges for mechanical filtration, a bag of Chemipure and a bunch of Seachem Matrix. I clean it every 3 weeks and the pads are filthy, but during that time all that gunk is just rotting in there.

Bottom line, you can definitely run a marine aquarium with a canister filter, but they’re not ideal. I’d strongly consider a HOB skimmer to augment it.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I would suggest that a canister filter combined with a hob skimmer would be a great combo.

 

[FUNGI]

Not with today's better understanding of the NEED for PO4 and nitrogen. In my system (Oase canister) I struggle to keep these levels up and where I would like them to be.

This tribal lore with canister filters needs to go bye bye.

100% agree.......heck, even a sump is a "nitrate" factory given insufficient husbandry.....

 

[FUNGI]

all great advice.......the only thing I can add is that IMO, for a 75G with a messy eater (puffer), I would suggest you look at a FX6.
1) Great Flow rates
2) I think (I could be wrong know as its been awhile) it has the largest media area in its class.....lots of space to put LR rubble or whatever media you decide (albeit, that OASE has a UV and a heater correct?).

 

[Evil1]

Not with today's better understanding of the NEED for PO4 and nitrogen. In my system (Oase canister) I struggle to keep these levels up and where I would like them to be.

This tribal lore with canister filters needs to go bye bye.

Got that right! I run OASE and have similar low nutrient issues!

 

[Evil1]

all great advice.......the only thing I can add is that IMO, for a 75G with a messy eater (puffer), I would suggest you look at a FX6.
1) Great Flow rates
2) I think (I could be wrong know as its been awhile) it has the largest media area in its class.....lots of space to put LR rubble or whatever media you decide (albeit, that OASE has a UV and a heater correct?).

No internal UV but heater yes

 

[luffy]

I would suggest that a canister filter combined with a hob skimmer would be a great combo.

If i would run a skimmer where would i place it? I believe this is what i have at home (it was gifted to us) would i have to put the skimmer in a sump? Never used one and im new to canister filters and sumps for salt water, i think im going to settle for pads (clean them 2 weeks, matrix, and rock rubble)