Ideas for getting my canister filter ready

[FlameangelLover]

Hello i currently run a HOB filter in a 40 gal breeder which is fine for my two baby clowns and I do weekly 12% water changes but I want to upgrade to a cannister filter. Any advice on getting my cannister seeded with the correct beneficial bacteria for my tank? So that when I switch over it doesn’t ruin my tank? I also plan on using a in line uv filter

 

[FlameangelLover]

Hello i currently run a HOB filter in a 40 gal breeder which is fine for my two baby clowns and I do weekly 12% water changes but I want to upgrade to a cannister filter. Any advice on getting my cannister seeded with the correct beneficial bacteria for my tank? So that when I switch over it doesn’t ruin my tank? I also plan on using a in line uv filter

I was thinking of placing a fresh bag of ceramic rings and maybe bio balls in the back of the tank a month in advance then add it to my cannister

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Just my opinion but going from hob filter (mechanical filtration) to a canister (mechanical filtration) is not an upgrade. In fact, i would choose to have a hob filter over a canister any day.

The rocks are the biofilter of the tank, ceramic rings and bio balls add no benefit to the tank. You can remove your hob filter completely if you want, its the rocks that keep your fish alive. Google 'the berlin method' for an explanation of how it works. My 15 gallon has 2 powerheads in the tank, thats it, no filters at all, just weekly water changes.

Filtration on a saltwater tank is completely different than a freshwater tank, and these hob filters and canisters don't play a very important role on saltwater tanks.

With that said, I would suggest to consider a protein skimmer for added filtration, a protein skimmer plus a mechanical filter will provide good overall filtration.

 

[Freenow54]

Hello i currently run a HOB filter in a 40 gal breeder which is fine for my two baby clowns and I do weekly 12% water changes but I want to upgrade to a cannister filter. Any advice on getting my cannister seeded with the correct beneficial bacteria for my tank? So that when I switch over it doesn’t ruin my tank?

I also plan on using a in line uv filter

Dont know why you want a UV fillter unless you are going to put it on your RO system which I am going to do tommorrow. This is perfect for me as I dont drink the treated water. As to your canister flter I like fluval. There are lots of media made by them. They are readily available, as well as parts. The units except quite a few bags of media. They are truly a one and done thing look them up. Here is a picture of my light off Amazon.

 

[Freenow54]

As a follow up any changes will effect your tank. It takes a while for it to settle down. Your skimmer which I can only assume you have will over react for a while depending on the media you introduce

 

[FlameangelLover]

Just my opinion but going from hob filter (mechanical filtration) to a canister (mechanical filtration) is not an upgrade. In fact, i would choose to have a hob filter over a canister any day.

The rocks are the biofilter of the tank, ceramic rings and bio balls add no benefit to the tank. You can remove your hob filter completely if you want, its the rocks that keep your fish alive. Google 'the berlin method' for an explanation of how it works. My 15 gallon has 2 powerheads in the tank, thats it, no filters at all, just weekly water changes.

Filtration on a saltwater tank is completely different than a freshwater tank, and these hob filters and canisters don't play a very important role on saltwater tanks.

With that said, I would suggest to consider a protein skimmer for added filtration, a protein skimmer plus a mechanical filter will provide good overall filtration.

It’s mainly for less noise and it looks better

 

[FlameangelLover]

As a follow up any changes will effect your tank. It takes a while for it to settle down. Your skimmer which I can only assume you have will over react for a while depending on the media you introduce

I’m actually not running a skimmer! Just hob and constant water changes!

 

[FlameangelLover]

Dont know why you want a UV fillter unless you are going to put it on your RO system which I am going to do tommorrow. This is perfect for me as I dont drink the treated water. As to your canister flter I like fluval. There are lots of media made by them. They are readily available, as well as parts. The units except quite a few bags of media. They are truly a one and done thing look them up. Here is a picture of my light off Amazon.

So is it going to be harmful to my tank to switch you think

Dont know why you want a UV fillter unless you are going to put it on your RO system which I am going to do tommorrow. This is perfect for me as I dont drink the treated water. As to your canister flter I like fluval. There are lots of media made by them. They are readily available, as well as parts. The units except quite a few bags of media. They are truly a one and done thing look them up. Here is a picture of my light off Amazon.

cool I am def getting fluval what do you suggest I do to help get it as ready as possible for my tank? I know it will never be perfect but maybe give my tank as less stress as possible

 

[Freenow54]

I’m actually not running a skimmer! Just hob and constant water changes!

I would not be without a skimmer. That is just me. I use Eshopps, but have heard nothing but good about Octo

 

[FlameangelLover]

I would not be without a skimmer. That is just me. I use Eshopps, but have heard nothing but good about Octo

Oh yes I’m super new and only have two clowns so I will get a skimmer maybe before the summer is over but I’m just taking my time for now but it’s def in the plans for later

 

[Freenow54]

So is it going to be harmful to my tank to switch you think

cool I am def getting fluval what do you suggest I do to help get it as ready as possible for my tank? I know it will never be perfect but maybe give my tank as less stress as possible

Its up to what you believe . Some people don't like carbon as an example. I Use it & ammonia even though my rocks are good. Phosphate ect. It depends on your prejudice. In my day When they used phosphates in laundry detergent you could walk across Lake Erie as it was overrun with algae. Yet some chemists here tell me I am wrong ? You decide they have lots to chose from that's why I like them. I use everything. My one tank ( 40 )is full of coralline algae great!. Yet I cannot duplicate that in my other tank ( 90 ) + 40 sump?

 

[Freenow54]

Oh yes I’m super new and only have two clowns so I will get a skimmer maybe before the summer is over but I’m just taking my time for now but it’s def in the plans for later

Just Me Put it on the top of your list. Don't be like me and make a lot of dumb mistakes at first. I'm much smarter now LOL after 25 years been doing salt . I have been doing Aquariums for 60 years ,. Salt is a different animal. Lots easier in some ways mind bending in others

 

[Zymotic]

You should be able to run your cannister filter alongside your hang on the back. Just turn down the flow rate and you'll have the biological media seeded in a few weeks. On the Fluval FX's you can do that easily to control flow rate into and out of the filter. Once the cannister filter is seeded you can remove the hob.

Good luck!

 

[FlameangelLover]

You should be able to run your cannister filter alongside your hang on the back. Just turn down the flow rate and you'll have the biological media seeded in a few weeks. On the Fluval FX's you can do that easily to control flow rate into and out of the filter. Once the cannister filter is seeded you can remove the hob.

Good luck!

How long would you say to leave before the switch? 2/3 weeks?

 

[Pico_Reefs]

I am about to put a canister on my 40b tomorrow. I'm going with the Oasis 350 thermo. I'm running a canister for two reasons: 1) to have a place to run chemical and carbon, when needed, a filter pad, and 2) to use as a pump for my algae reactor. I think the maintenance is super easy on canisters. I ran one for about a year before. This model also has a built-in heater port, so I can get that out of the display.


I'm going to run the intake in a 2-inch PVC pipe to act as an overflow to skim the surface. There is a good tutorial on YouTube. Very easy DIY.

 

[Zymotic]

How long would you say to leave before the switch? 2/3 weeks?

I may have misspoken before. If you are adding the cannister filter to a tank that already has live rock and sand, then you would be fine taking the hang on the back off whenever you want. All the live sand, live rock, and even the surface area of your glass will have plenty of bacteria to take care of the nitrogen cycle. Over time it will seed any sponges and biological media you have in your cannister filter as well.

If you want to be super careful about it you could slowly make the adjustment over the course of a few days. Maybe run your cannister filter low for two days and by the third day turn it up halfway. Then by the fourth day remove the hang on the back and turn the cannister filter up all the way where you want it.

Cannister filters are really good at mechanical filtration, but they aren't really needed for biological filtration because all the live rock and sand in your tank already does that.

 

[Pico_Reefs]

I may have misspoken before. If you are adding the cannister filter to a tank that already has live rock and sand, then you would be fine taking the hang on the back off whenever you want. All the live sand, live rock, and even the surface area of your glass will have plenty of bacteria to take care of the nitrogen cycle. Over time it will seed any sponges and biological media you have in your cannister filter as well.

If you want to be super careful about it you could slowly make the adjustment over the course of a few days. Maybe run your cannister filter low for two days and by the third day turn it up halfway. Then by the fourth day remove the hang on the back and turn the cannister filter up all the way where you want it.

Cannister filters are really good at mechanical filtration, but they aren't really needed for biological filtration because all the live rock and sand in your tank already does that.

To add to this, if you have media in your HOB filter, just take it out and put it into the canister filter. I wouldn't worry about the switch, TBH it isn't really a big deal. Like Zymotic stated, the amount of biological filtration accruing in the canister is minuscule compared to that of the tank itself.

I have every intention of removing the HOB filters (currently 3) when the canister arrives today. Between the biomedia and the chemipure I have been running in the tank for some time, that will be enough to seed the canister, again, not that it matters.

If you have done any research on YouTube about canister reef tanks, I am sure you have come across this guy. This tank is the best canister tank I have ever seen.

 

[Freenow54]

You should be able to run your cannister filter alongside your hang on the back. Just turn down the flow rate and you'll have the biological media seeded in a few weeks. On the Fluval FX's you can do that easily to control flow rate into and out of the filter. Once the cannister filter is seeded you can remove the hob.

Good luck!

I do not understand why you would remove the skimmer. I continue to use both. I change the media in the canister once a month. It is time involved and expensive. I do not know if it removes the nutrients as well but cleaning a skimmer cup takes me maybe 10 minutes

 

[FishLvR]

Just don't. Unneeded waste of money. Just keep the HOB. The best would be a nice HOB skimmer and maybe some mechanical filtration. Keep it simple!

 

[Pico_Reefs]

I do not understand why you would remove the skimmer. I continue to use both. I change the media in the canister once a month. It is time involved and expensive. I do not know if it removes the nutrients as well but cleaning a skimmer cup takes me maybe 10 minutes

Why do you change the media? What media are you referring to? It takes me probably less than 5 minutes to clean a canister. I do a water change on my tank every week, and cleaning the canister is the first step. I scoop a small bucket of water, put my filter media in the bucket, hit the bottom with a quick brush, dump the water, reinsert the media, fill with water, and done. You probably don't have to clean it this often, but it's easy and I like to keep my tank clean.

I don't get why people think cans are such high maintenance. There is nothing to it, and it works way better than a HOB. I have 35,50,110 both Tidal and AquaClear hobs, which don't even come close to a canister. I have run HOBs with just media and floss, with the inTank inserts, and an AC110 with a refugium. None of them come close to effectiveness from a mechanical view, and you can run media reactors with canisters, which you can't do with a HOB.