Filter for a Saltwater Reef Tank

[Tommeyboy]

I have a 55 gallon mixed reef tank and looking to upgrade my filter. I was thinking about buying a either a fluval FX4 or FX2.

I do not have a drilled tank. What is the best canister filter for it?

 

[Jjmg]

I've never used a cannister filter for a reef but I have 2 tanks, 40 breeder and 60 breeder, both running with aquaclear hang on backs. Reliable and easy to clean with enough room for a filter sponge and any chemical media you may occasionally need. I'd chose the largest size that fits your space.

 

[Subsea]

Welcome to r2r.

Substrate & rock are both components to your biological filtration. I use both canister & HOB filters on reef tanks.

What is going into your mixed reef tank?

Amazon product ASIN B000260FV6

Amazon product ASIN B0002DJ9NY

 

[kyreefville]

Not a canister but I use the tidal 50 hub and appreciate the surface skimmer.

 

[ScottJ]

I have a 55 gallon mixed reef tank and looking to upgrade my filter. I was thinking about buying a either a fluval FX4 or FX2.

I do not have a drilled tank. What is the best canister filter for it?

Agree with an Aquclear filter. Plenty of room, and you can mod them to be really useful. Have a look at this site;
https://oceanboxdesigns.com/pcat/filtration/aquaclear-surface-skimmers/

 

[ScottJ]

I also use a Tidal on a QT. They work quite well also. Really can't go wrong with either.

 

[exnisstech]

Agree with an Aquclear filter. Plenty of room, and you can mod them to be really useful. Have a look at this site;
https://oceanboxdesigns.com/pcat/filtration/aquaclear-surface-skimmers/

Scott shared this with me not too long ago. I run an aquaclear 110 hob on a 40g breeder and when I saw that over flow idea my brain started churning. I had an old eshopps hob overflow and fabbed it up to work as a skimmer / overflow. I'm amazed at how well ot works vs pulling water from below the surface like it's designed to do. I've run canister filters also but prefer the hob because they're easier to maintain.

This is the DIY aquaclear overflow

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

What do you have now? Are you going from a hob to a canister? Would be better to get a protein skimmer instead and use the mechanical filter plus the skimmer.

 

[courtneykeeps]

I've used an Oase Biomaster Thermo external canister on a reef tank before with no problems.

 

[Fish Fan]

Scott shared this with me not too long ago. I run an aquaclear 110 hob on a 40g breeder and when I saw that over flow idea my brain started churning. I had an old eshopps hob overflow and fabbed it up to work as a skimmer / overflow. I'm amazed at how well ot works vs pulling water from below the surface like it's designed to do. I've run canister filters also but prefer the hob because they're easier to maintain.

This is the DIY aquaclear overflow

I'm a big fan of the AquaClear HOB filters. Some time ago I was able to buy a 3D printed surface skimmer from someone on Etsy. I looked now and that Etsy listing is no longer available, but I'm sure there has to be others making these surface skimmers.

Here's a link to the big orange bookstore with something similar:
AquaClear Surface Skimmer

 

[Fish Fan]

I have a 55 gallon mixed reef tank and looking to upgrade my filter. I was thinking about buying a either a fluval FX4 or FX2.

I do not have a drilled tank. What is the best canister filter for it?

As others have menioned, I would suggest a HOB filter like the AquaClears or a HOB protein skimmer before buying a canister filter. Here's a recent discussion on this:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/filtration-for-125-gallon-saltwater-tank.1105511/

 

[Freenow54]

I have a 55 gallon mixed reef tank and looking to upgrade my filter. I was thinking about buying a either a fluval FX4 or FX2.

I do not have a drilled tank. What is the best canister filter for it?

love fluval have all 3 of my tanks on one and one has a sump