IMPOSSIBLE: MIXED REEF RUNNING ON CANISTERS

[EchoPear]

Did you diy this? Sounds interesting and I’m sure protects you from over skimming floods

skimmer dumps skimmate into 3 gallon container that has auto-shut off at the fill line .......

 

[FUNGI]

Did you diy this? Sounds interesting and I’m sure protects you from over skimming floods

no. Most all new skimmers have skimmate outlets on the cups. I ran 1/2" vinyly from that to a $5 Target container with lid. Attached AutoAqua Smart Skimmer switch to the container side at desired level......you could do teh same with a float switch but I'm lazy.........

 

[jft]

I have successfully run all kind of aquariums including reefs with EHEIM 2217 Canisters for years, DONT THINK YOU CANNOT !!!

 

[Evil1]

All it comes down to is husbandry. Whether sump or canister. In my opinion both ways have pros and cons. The end result is what matters. As far as I’m concerned one is not better than the other.

 

[mboley]

I was once told that it would not be possible for me to have a mixed reef running on canisters...its a set-up for failure. You can only keep softies.......
Well, here is a little slice from my 125G.
Equipment:
3 FX6's filled with LR - Once a year clean tub out/motor clean
1 Icecap K3-250 Skimmer
1 Razor 300w Light
1 LR500 (Octo Clone) chaeto reactor
Dosing: 15ml AFR daily
Dosing: 15ml DIY NoPox (Thanks @Randy Holmes-Farley) every other day
Water Change: This Decemeber will be 2 years no water change. Tanks been up 4 years.

Thoughts?

Did the person who told you it wasn't possible know you where going to be running a skimmer too? Your tank would likely be fine if you removed the cannisters. I have a 75 gallon SPS tank with just an oversized HOB skimmer and no mechanical filtration.

 

[kingranch2003]

@FUNGI I love your tank and your method. It is always great to me when I see someone break the mold and be successful. I was thinking of running a canister on my 50 gallon frag tank build that's in the works.

My plan is to fill it with live rock rubble and maybe GAC and GFO in filter bags as needed.

Sorry if you have addressed this already, but what do you do for mechanical filtration? I have always been reluctant to put it INSIDE the canister on a reeftank. How do you pull this part off, brother. Thanks in advance, and thanks for sharing this!

 

[kingranch2003]

65 gallon mixed reef 6 years running on 2 Oase Biomasters 600’s, Aquamax 1.5 skimmer, 2 RS 90’s RS doser dosing 50ml AFR daily and Nopox 4ml daily RS ATO, BRS Co2 scrubber.

Love how you have designed this tank. Very inspiring

 

[Evil1]

Love how you have designed this tank. Very inspiring

Thanks ! Really appreciate that!

 

[Bear22]

@FUNGI I love your tank and your method. It is always great to me when I see someone break the mold and be successful. I was thinking of running a canister on my 50 gallon frag tank build that's in the works.

My plan is to fill it with live rock rubble and maybe GAC and GFO in filter bags as needed.

Sorry if you have addressed this already, but what do you do for mechanical filtration? I have always been reluctant to put it INSIDE the canister on a reeftank. How do you pull this part off, brother. Thanks in advance, and thanks for sharing this!

There's a guy on YT who has a pretty nice SPS tank on that goes into detail with canister filtration. The biggest downfall that I experience with canisters has nothing to do with the filters themselves, but rather the lack of associated peripherals and techniques. When it comes to supporting equipment, almost everything revolves around sumps. Here's a snippet from the Youtube-reefer:

 

[kingranch2003]

There's a guy on YT who has a pretty nice SPS tank on that goes into detail with canister filtration. The biggest downfall that I experience with canisters has nothing to do with the filters themselves, but rather the lack of associated peripherals and techniques. When it comes to supporting equipment, almost everything revolves around sumps. Here's a snippet from the Youtube-reefer:

Thank you for this!

Very informative video with a lot of good information.

 

[Bear22]

Y

Thank you for this!

Very informative video with a lot of good information.

You bet!

 

[FUNGI]

@FUNGI I love your tank and your method. It is always great to me when I see someone break the mold and be successful. I was thinking of running a canister on my 50 gallon frag tank build that's in the works.

My plan is to fill it with live rock rubble and maybe GAC and GFO in filter bags as needed.

Sorry if you have addressed this already, but what do you do for mechanical filtration? I have always been reluctant to put it INSIDE the canister on a reeftank. How do you pull this part off, brother. Thanks in advance, and thanks for sharing this!

Thanks for the kind words.....The canister with the rubble do also act as a mechanical filter....for your scenario, I would not put anything else in the canister. I would run the GAC/GFO in a separate reactor or cheap HOB filter like a Aquaclear....

 

[kingranch2003]

Thanks for the kind words.....The canister with the rubble do also act as a mechanical filter....for your scenario, I would not put anything else in the canister. I would run the GAC/GFO in a separate reactor or cheap HOB filter like a Aquaclear....

Appreciate this, my friend. Very much what I was thinking. Ill definitely let you know how it goes as it progresses.

 

[spaceman14]

Can you run a reef tank with a canister filter? Yes, you can, but it doesn't require more work, as you need to clean it more often. You can also run a reef tank with an undergravel filter or many other methods that have come and gone, only to comeback again. The issue really is not can you, but which one is better.

 

[Mongo1.0]

I was once told that it would not be possible for me to have a mixed reef running on canisters...its a set-up for failure. You can only keep softies.......
Well, here is a little slice from my 125G.
Equipment:
3 FX6's filled with LR - Once a year clean tub out/motor clean
1 Icecap K3-250 Skimmer
1 Razor 300w Light
1 LR500 (Octo Clone) chaeto reactor
Dosing: 15ml AFR daily
Dosing: 15ml DIY NoPox (Thanks @Randy Holmes-Farley) every other day
Water Change: This Decemeber will be 2 years no water change. Tanks been up 4 years.

Thoughts?

Curious, how are you incorporating the skimmer in plumbing terms?

Have a skimmer hob with the surface agitated with bubble rocks and stationary powerheads.

 

[Mongo1.0]

Can you run a reef tank with a canister filter? Yes, you can, but it doesn't require more work, as you need to clean it more often. You can also run a reef tank with an undergravel filter or many other methods that have come and gone, only to comeback again. The issue really is not can you, but which one is better.

Thought about a undergravel filter also. My main concern was dead spaces that crud would collect.

 

[swiss1939]

I was once told that it would not be possible for me to have a mixed reef running on canisters...its a set-up for failure. You can only keep softies.......
Well, here is a little slice from my 125G.
Equipment:
3 FX6's filled with LR - Once a year clean tub out/motor clean
1 Icecap K3-250 Skimmer
1 Razor 300w Light
1 LR500 (Octo Clone) chaeto reactor
Dosing: 15ml AFR daily
Dosing: 15ml DIY NoPox (Thanks @Randy Holmes-Farley) every other day
Water Change: This Decemeber will be 2 years no water change. Tanks been up 4 years.

Thoughts?

This is my goal. Canister filter with minimal water changes! Testing the Vevor 2000l/h canister with UV. So far working great after 4 mos. Best part of canister filter is they make zero noise! Can't stand the constant trickle of a sump.

 

[FUNGI]

Did the person who told you it wasn't possible know you where going to be running a skimmer too? Your tank would likely be fine if you removed the cannisters. I have a 75 gallon SPS tank with just an oversized HOB skimmer and no mechanical filtr

Thought about a undergravel filter also. My main concern was dead spaces that crud would collect.

for the UGF, I would strongly suggest using a powerhead (versus airstone). I did that age's ago....zero to minimal dead spots (I checked underneath LOL)

 

[Mongo1.0]

Did the person who told you it wasn't possible know you where going to be running a skimmer too? Your tank would likely be fine if you removed the cannisters. I have a 75 gallon SPS tank with just an oversized HOB skimmer and no mechanical filtr

Thought about a undergravel filter also. My main concern was dead spaces that crud would collect.

for the UGF, I would strongly suggest using a powerhead (versus airstone). I did that age's ago....zero to minimal dead spots (I checked underneath LOL)

I just use the airstone to agitate the surface. Have powerheads doing that and general circulation. Only issue I have with the canisters I have is taking them apart for cleaning. I will be going to a sump when I finish my 180 gal

 

[Naekuh]

Wouldn't consider it a caniser filter if they are all only loaded with live rock, and more so call them a Live Rock Reactor.

Or a canister dark refugium if you really want to keep the canister designation.