Should I add a canister filter?

[SPANKYSREEF]

Hi everyone
My setup is listed below. I have an Ehiem ECCO canister filter not in use. I dont think it will hurt----so should I add it to my tank for more flow and to remove some detrius? If so what should I put in there for media---sponge/live rock. Thanks gain...Anthony

[Phishnoob]

I would say no. These things are not recommended for use in reef tanks. Your rock should be doing the work. I stick a cheescloth bag of floss in the sump then throw it away.

Trapping any detritus anyplace will just create a trap that will release phosphates and feed your algae later on.

[SPANKYSREEF]

Thanks Perry!
This is why I ask before I do!.......

[Ace's Reef]

i would have to agree with perry only because this can be a haven for nitrites if you use a sponge or filter floss. But also on the other hand i use two magnum 350's one with phosguard in it and the other with carbon 24-7 i change them both out every two weeks. they are run with no type of filter floss or anything that could create biological filtration.l The carbon will keep the water from yellowing and prevent the light from getting through because of discoloration of the water.


Thanks

ACE

[rottielover]

Hey Spanky,

I have a canister on my reef (Filstar XP2 300 gph) but I only use it for the pump to run my UV. I removed all the media from it and just let the water flow thru freely. It was basically because I had the XP2 and didn't really want to buy a sep. pump to runt he UV, so I figured why not.

[Phishnoob]

I run my UV through my homemade beer fridge chiller. I do think that some people use the canisters with carbon and floss to polish the tank, and they have terrific value after you use the turkey baster to get the crud out.

The problem is that if you are anything like me you will let the stuff sit in there. Having a bag of floss and a carbon bag in front of me in the sump makes it easy to just throw away. The whole drill of replacing everything in a canister filter would be too easy to put off and expensive.

Probably the good thing to do is to leave out the bio media entirely and then change out the floss and carbon after each use if you want to sparkle up the water for a couple of days.

[ylmaya]

I bet you could use the cannister as a fluidizer for Rowaphos or Carbon - but draw the intake from the cannister from your sump somewhere close to the return so you aren't sucking any detritus in there to rot - otherwise you'll just create a nitrate sink.

[Jimbo]

I put LR in my canister (dark refugium), interesting to see what grows in the dark, it feeds the refugium and UV also.

[Junkzoo]

A canister filter in a reef tank? only if you use it for chemical media use ,,,,
no pads/mechanical filtration,,like was said here b4,,,,
let the LR do it,,,