Filtration

[StPatrick89]

HOB or Canister filter? Which one do you prefer/ do you think is better? Why?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

for what purpose? Most people don't use filters for filtration on reef tanks. Most people (I think) still use the old berlin method, which is live rock and strong water flow.

I use a HOB that has rock rubble inside, and sometimes to run carbon or GFO, but thats its only purpose.

 

[StPatrick89]

Oh.... yea.... guess there’s not too many fowlr people. Well you just taught me something. No filtration for reefs... interesting

 

[Azedenkae]

HOB or Canister filter? Which one do you prefer/ do you think is better? Why?

Between the two? HOB. I would never use a canister ever.

But yeah, if you use live rock, that will actually be your filtration. In fact people do just have a circulator or two with live rock and tada.

 

[StPatrick89]

Between the two? HOB. I would never use a canister ever.

But yeah, if you use live rock, that will actually be your filtration. In fact people do just have a circulator or two with live rock and tada.

Interesting, so how do you remove waste or excess food? And I’m assuming any surface area in the tank acts as a place for beneficial bacteria to reside?

 

[Azedenkae]

Interesting, so how do you remove waste or excess food? And I’m assuming any surface area in the tank acts as a place for beneficial bacteria to reside?

Waste/excess food? Clean up crew. Also I have a pseudo-algae scrubber for anything that gets into the filtration system. And yes, any surface can be where beneficial bacteria reside, though live rock would be the dominant place for a lot of people.

 

[StPatrick89]

Between the two? HOB. I would never use a canister ever.

But yeah, if you use live rock, that will actually be your filtration. In fact people do just have a circulator or two with live rock and tada.

Why such strong conviction against using a canister?

 

[Azedenkae]

Why such strong conviction against using a canister?

I find that there is always a better option before I even need to consider reaching for a canister filter. Do I want a bigger filter? Might as well go for a sump. Do I want something small? HOB then, far easier. I want to fit a heater in the filter easily. Sump or, sometimes, HOBs. I want to add a skimmer. Sump. Same with reactors, etc. I want to diy an algae turf scrubber. Fuge with a light? Sump or HOB. At least some maintenance on the fly? Sump or HOB.

The enclosed nature of a canister filter is a significant turn-off for me. If I ever need to change anything, I need to turn it off, then make modifications. And each times things can change. With a sump or HOB, I can actually fine tune things more easily.

Not to mention other issues people may not think of, like getting replacement parts. Some parts are quite specific to the brand/model, and once discontinued, well there goes. I used to work at a LFS and some lad had a Fluval that was discontinued, and we just could not get the right o-ring. An o-ring, out of all things. We kept trying to order a replacement from Fluval and it never showed up, or the wrong part did. Somehow nothing else could work to fit in the same place either, and so the Fluval would never be able to not leak. We ended up selling him another caniste at a heavily discounted price because we felt sorry for him. We did not even sell the original Fluval to him, but yeah just felt bad because it was so frustrating. To be fair this was Australia and maybe that's why it is so hard to get a Fluval replacement part, but anyways yeah.

Oh and of course all the priming and mess that a canister can make too. The effort to try to make sure it does not flood each time you open it up. Sump or HOB? Far easier.

So yeah. It's not just a preference of a sump or HOB (or even an internal filter, heck I am happy to just use a circulator and somehow diy something in the tank), it is that I actively avoid canister filters. Sure some people have success and swear by canister filters. Good for them. I don't get it though.

I mean some people say 'oh but there's no space'. I am sorry but what? If you have space for a canister you have space for a sump of at least the same size.

Whew.

/rant

XD

 

[Water Dog]

Canister filters are a pain to clean. If you’re going to run a reef tank using a canister, be prepared to have to give it a thorough cleaning on a weekly basis. If you don’t, detritus will build rapidly within the media and sponges and nitrates will build quickly. Do a search on R2R using the terms “canister filter” and “nitrate factory”.

For that reason, you will see very few running canister filters in the reefing hobby. If using a filter is a must, an HOB filter like an Aquaclear is preferred, as maintenance and cleaning is much easier.

While sumped systems are preferred, if that is not an option, if you have enough live rock, add a quality HOB skimmer and you should be good to go.

 

[StPatrick89]

I find that there is always a better option before I even need to consider reaching for a canister filter. Do I want a bigger filter? Might as well go for a sump. Do I want something small? HOB then, far easier. I want to fit a heater in the filter easily. Sump or, sometimes, HOBs. I want to add a skimmer. Sump. Same with reactors, etc. I want to diy an algae turf scrubber. Fuge with a light? Sump or HOB. At least some maintenance on the fly? Sump or HOB.

The enclosed nature of a canister filter is a significant turn-off for me. If I ever need to change anything, I need to turn it off, then make modifications. And each times things can change. With a sump or HOB, I can actually fine tune things more easily.

Not to mention other issues people may not think of, like getting replacement parts. Some parts are quite specific to the brand/model, and once discontinued, well there goes. I used to work at a LFS and some lad had a Fluval that was discontinued, and we just could not get the right o-ring. An o-ring, out of all things. We kept trying to order a replacement from Fluval and it never showed up, or the wrong part did. Somehow nothing else could work to fit in the same place either, and so the Fluval would never be able to not leak. We ended up selling him another caniste at a heavily discounted price because we felt sorry for him. We did not even sell the original Fluval to him, but yeah just felt bad because it was so frustrating. To be fair this was Australia and maybe that's why it is so hard to get a Fluval replacement part, but anyways yeah.

Oh and of course all the priming and mess that a canister can make too. The effort to try to make sure it does not flood each time you open it up. Sump or HOB? Far easier.

So yeah. It's not just a preference of a sump or HOB (or even an internal filter, heck I am happy to just use a circulator and somehow diy something in the tank), it is that I actively avoid canister filters. Sure some people have success and swear by canister filters. Good for them. I don't get it though.

I mean some people say 'oh but there's no space'. I am sorry but what? If you have space for a canister you have space for a sump of at least the same size.

Whew.

/rant

XD

I have an AquaClear 110 right now. I was thinking about adding a AQuaClear 55 on to it as well. Any thoughts? I have a 75G, I’m thinking it will clean my tank more as I plan to add more fish. Not small ones either. I also don’t have any corals. I’m Fowlr

 

[anthonygf]

Oase BioMaster 600​

This is a great filter to use for FOWLR, has a pre-filter that is easily removable for cleaning, it has 2 compartments for bio-media and 2 for extra sponge that you can replace with bio-media. Just pop out pre-filter every week or so to clean, they have many different micron sizes. The main filter you might get away with one full cleaning every 4 months. I used this filter for a few weeks until i got my sump, it is now being used on my 75 gallon fresh. I love it, they also have one with a built in UV sterilizer.​

Oase BioMaster 600​

Now I use an internal polishing filter once every 2 weeks when I blow off the rocks and sand, will clear the water in my 75 in about an hour or so. Then when water is clear remove filter, clean and save for next cleaning.