Sleepingtiger
Well-Known Member
you can always forage for a used FX5 or FX6 for $150. It comes with free broken knobs, dirty filters, used up sponges and a distinct smell of what the original owner cooked for dinner last night.
Canister Filters: Canister filters are a viable, inexpensive way to filter a reef tank. True or False?
- QUESTION OF THE DAY
- Thread starter revhtree
- Start date
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Sleeping Giant
Proud Canadian Reefer
I use an FX4 canister on my 75 gallon, with an Aquamaxx 1.5 HOB they work amazing. Easier than taking out the garbage to clean. And adding or removing water is dripless. I can add any media I want, just like those who use sumps. The canister is not evil, it's just another option or tool to use and be successful in this hobby.
ClownSchool
Well-Known Member
Must be nice. You have to admit, that’s not the case for most reefers, nor is it the average reefer’s style. I like confidence that what I’m buying will have a predictable, useful life.
ClownSchool
Well-Known Member
Don’t forget about the free fish jerky…lol
ReefRondo
Valuable Member
I ran one on my frag tank for 6 months before changing to an overflow box and sump. Didn’t like either and ended up upgrading the entire system to a purpose built frag system with weir and sump. Canister IMO works well on really small tanks but after a certain threshold they are no match for a sump. I ran one on my 60L TMC microhabitat for extra filtration and it worked well. It was the Eheim Eco pro I think.
I don't know if this is true or not. There are at least 3 fish stores within a 30 minute drive of me that sell used equipment (not to mention a ton of things on Craig's List or Facebook). Maybe if you live in the middle of nowhere it might be a problem. Just saying it's worth looking into.
The only used items I have are the sump tank (which should last for years to come), and the skimmer (acrylic also lasts a long time although the pump could possibly fail, but that's like $40 to replace).
If you have money to burn, then by all means go burn it.
ClownSchool
Well-Known Member
I like mine, as well. I use a HOB skimmer and two power heads (one for surface agitation). Mine is on a 55 gallon. It’s only in its third month, it’s a mixed reef of softies, LPS and SPS (monti and acro), but I’m already seeing growth.I use an FX4 canister on my 75 gallon, with an Aquamaxx 1.5 HOB they work amazing. Easier than taking out the garbage to clean. And adding or removing water is dripless. I can add any media I want, just like those who use sumps. The canister is not evil, it's just another option or tool to use and be successful in this hobby.
Tired
2500 Club Member
I have a canister filter on my pico, but not for filtration. It's purely for water flow. I got worried that the vibration of the flow pump would stress the fish, since they can't get away from it. Solution: put the vibration outside the tank. Canister filter with soft hoses does the job just fine, and also adds a bit more water volume, which is nice. It has no media in it except a teaspoon of activated carbon, it provides enough flow to keep things happy, and I don't have to worry about vibrations. I'm using canisters on all my future tanks.
Sleeping Giant
Proud Canadian Reefer
By saying this (below in quotes), but still wanting to use a BRS media reactor.
Also, tons of people who use sumps still use media for water clarity and other reasons.
"I don't really see why somebody would want to run extra media when in my experience so far, the live rock in the DT is more than sufficient. And I would rather run a cheap BRS media reactor for my carbon (and if you really need to, ceramic media)."
DaddyFish
“5 percenter”
I love my Oase Biomaster Thermo canisters. But they're not your average design, quality or price. I have a FX6 that works well, but it is a PITA to service. The removable pre-filter on Oase Biomasters is a total game-changer.
My sumps are MUCH more difficult to maintain than the Biomaster. Unfortunately, by the time you do the reality derating on the Biomasters (just as you must on a sump etc.) they really don't make ONE that's big enough for large tanks. Around 100 gallons is my opinion on where the 850 tops out.
Closed-loop systems can be effective and easy to maintain, but you aren't going to find anyone knowledgeable at your LFS to help you get it right. It's the stigma associated with canisters (and propagated by many on this forum) that is the biggest challenge to successful canister reefing.
My sumps are MUCH more difficult to maintain than the Biomaster. Unfortunately, by the time you do the reality derating on the Biomasters (just as you must on a sump etc.) they really don't make ONE that's big enough for large tanks. Around 100 gallons is my opinion on where the 850 tops out.
Closed-loop systems can be effective and easy to maintain, but you aren't going to find anyone knowledgeable at your LFS to help you get it right. It's the stigma associated with canisters (and propagated by many on this forum) that is the biggest challenge to successful canister reefing.
JediCruz
Active Member
I ran an Aquaclear 110 on my 90 gallon display when I first started it. Only ran it for a few months before finally getting all the parts for a sump. But if the canister filter were large enough to handle the bio load then I think it’s possible. I think I’ve even seen people mod it to also include a cheatomorpha reactor inside of it.
M Stein
Active Member
I must have worded it wrongly. Let me clarify.
Carbon is different from nitrifying media. Very different.
Nobody would buy a canister just to run carbon, that would be an overkill. Canister filters are primarily designed to contain nitrifying bacteria and provide some limited mechanical filtration (the canisters sponges are way less effective that filter socks. Although if you're only using the canister to polish the water occasionally you could put filter sock material in it). Any carbon that is placed in the canister would be depleted within a couple of weeks.
Now, the primary purpose of the canister is to contain nitrifying bacteria, and in my experience live rock in the DT is usually sufficient. Therefor I don't believe that the canister filter is at all cost effective (or convenient).
The advantage of using a BRS reactor (or any brand really) is that it's much easier to change out the carbon or media. You can probably even run several reactors on a single pump, and keep carbon in one, ceramic media in another and so on.
As for 'tons of people who use media for water clarity and other reasons'. Is the media you're referring to carbon, if so it makes sense to me. But if you're referring to nitrifying media, I would love to know how that helps with water clarity and what those other reasons are.
hawk82
Well-Known Member
Agree, I use a Fluval 206 on my 40 breeder, I use the surface skimmer attachment with it to keep my water from getting that build up on top. In the canister I just have the 4 main sponges it comes with, and in the other trays I just keep a tray with carbon. I have room in it to add gfo, chemipurr, or whatever I may need. I also like the extra water movement it gives.
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BlackGoldReefs
Active Member
I run a whale 350 once a quarter to polish the water and add carbon to it as well. It’s almost like a carbon reactor that’s easy to clean and store when not needed.Today let's talk about canister filters and if you would agree or disagree with the following statement:
"Canister filters are a viable, inexpensive way to filter a reef tank."
1. Do you agree or disagree?
2. Do you run a canister filter on your reef now or have you in the past?
Thanks @adittam for the QOTD idea!
Axemanian
New Member
Hey is that a corner tank? I am also running my first reef in a 77g corner tank, 2 canister filters..407 and FX4. about 10 months old and looks similar to yours!Thanks for the mention, @revhtree !
I run my current system, a 46 gallon tank, with only a Fluval 407 canister filter and spray bar on its water outlet for external filtration. I also have 50+ pounds of live rock and a pair of Hydor powerheads for water movement. I'm currently working on a 80 gallon tank upgrade and will be using the same canister filter and spray bar combo without a sump (I will be upgrading to Jebao SLW-20 powerheads for more speed control). This is my first saltwater tank, it's been up and running since March of this year, and I'm very happy with how it's coming along so far, especially since I've built it on a pretty dang tight budget (see page 2 of my build thread for an itemized list with numbers).
I chose the Fluval 407 specifically because of a few reasons.
1. It got by far the best reviews for easy cleaning. It takes me about 20 minutes to completely break it down, clean all of the mechanical media, put it back together and get it primed (which is a piece of cake with this model) and running again.
2. It's cheap. I got it on sale for $158 including tax brand new from Petco using one of their 25% off curbside pickup online coupons. The spray bar was an extra $25. When you compare this with the cost of sump, plumbing, overflow, and return pump, it's not even close.
3. It has a spray bar available. This was a huge part of my plan. Because I don't run a skimmer, I wanted the spray bar for additional surface agitation and oxygenation.
I clean it every other week at the same time I do my 15% water change, and the success I've had with it is why I'm bringing it over to my 80 gallon tank.
Added FTS from this morning
nicksreefs
Community Member
Defo agree but with a caveat, I’m running 3 nano tanks all at different ages now and at different sizes and all on canisters. I find they do the job ace but you do need to go heavy on the rock and keep on top of water changes!
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