Canister filters

Noah Hemingway · Nov 7, 2020

What are your guys honest opinion on using canister filters for reef aquariums? With A hang on back skimmer separate also.

HuduVudu · Nov 7, 2020

Noah Hemingway said:
What are your guys honest opinion on using canister filters for reef aquariums? With A hang on back skimmer separate also.

If you have live rock in the display and an HOB skimmer then a cansiter filters doesn't really play a role and seems like a waste.

newfly · Nov 7, 2020

I’m using canister for my fish only tank. Works well if you keep up the cleaning. My nitrate is <10 . I’m dumping the canister in my next build. Cleaning is such a pain

Sleeping Giant · Nov 7, 2020

I use a Fluval FX4 canister and a AquaMaxx 1.5 hob skimmer, works great.

Bellasmith · Nov 21, 2020

I'm using Marineland canister filter for my tank and works great. Very satisfied with this

Cole.mormon · Nov 29, 2020

Flu Val 07 series

Cole.mormon · Nov 29, 2020

Works great in my aquarium a lot of space ect..

jayoman · Nov 29, 2020

I have a 46 gal bow using a marineland canister filter, an AquaMaxx HOB skimmer, and converted an Aqua Clear 70 into a HOB Refugium. Has worked well for me

blasterman · Nov 29, 2020

Cannisters are very efficient at mechanical filtration and pretty decent at chemical filtration. Because they are external they save space in your sump, etc. Just put the hoses where you need the action.

Where they suck is the limits of mechanical and chemical filtration in the first place. There's also the nonsense of keeping biological media in them akin to bio wheels and wet/drys. Basically a solution in search of a problem.

For periodic water polishing they work great. For continuous use i think they are counter productive. They quickly fill with crud and deitrus due to their efficiency and start moving your biological filter inside them. You counter this with frequent cleaning which I find a pain. A few years ago I epoxied a power head to the lid of an empty peanut butter jar and drilled holes in the opposite side. Stuffed full of floss and hung in my tank or sump it works as good as any cannister and much easier to clean.