Cannister filter bs wet dry hob filter
- Thread starter colsoscar120
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Preface of I'm a newbie, so I'm researching all this stuff for myself from the ground up.
From what I understand, cannister filters are way underpowered for a saltwater tank. The general consensus is doing a wet/dry sump is pretty good, or just some kind of filtration via a sump, which means you have to drill your tank. It's way cheaper to make one yourself.
https://www.google.com/search?q=diy...3.2368j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8
The main question really is, what is this for? What's your tank, and your livestock?
From what I understand, cannister filters are way underpowered for a saltwater tank. The general consensus is doing a wet/dry sump is pretty good, or just some kind of filtration via a sump, which means you have to drill your tank. It's way cheaper to make one yourself.
https://www.google.com/search?q=diy...3.2368j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8
The main question really is, what is this for? What's your tank, and your livestock?
Exodus
Community Member
So your question here shows that your lacking a basic understanding of the marine ecosystem, and therefore you should not be using either of these products. So I'll break this down in a couple sections to help you better understand what is going on.
HOB & Canister filters are 2 very different products that arguably share only 1 thing in common they remove detritus from the aquarium. Aside from that they have very different uses so just slapping one on the aquarium and assuming it's doing good things can end up leading to a crash ~ something all of us who were following similar advice is the 80's & 90's inevitably all ended up figuring out. The HOB filter serves only 1 or 2 purposes it either simply exports detritus from the aquarium or includes something like a Bio-Wheel which gives a place for beneficial bacteria to grow.
The Canister Filter not only collects detritus, it allows for adding other supplements for the water to be routed through such as a reactor meaning you can place filter floss to collect detritus, ceramic rings for bacteria, carbon, phosphate, or ammonia pads etc. ect. So in reality the Canister filter has far more benefits but the issue is they are a pain in the butt to clean and just like the HOB filter when they are neglected they create what some people call a "Nitrate Factory" even worse whatever awful symptoms of neglect this filter holds, all of your water will be filtered through it, and lets be realistic how many people tear these things apart, replace the media religiously when needed?
So In the Saltwater world "Beneficial Bacteria" is worth more than gold as it breaks down the Ammonia produced and in the end leaving Nitrates, well the best surface for this bacteria to grow on is your "Live Rock" not a filter! So now you just need a better understanding of what it is exactly your trying to remove or so to speak "filter" from your aquarium leaving you with the following most try to remove:
Detritus: (Usually removed with Filter floss, or Filter sock, or vacuumed out)
Phosphates: (Effectively removed with GFO)
Organics: (Effectively removed with Carbon)
Nitrates: (Typically removed with Water changes or Macro Algae like cheato)
Nutrients: (Removed with Skimmer)
So if you look at this you can get a clear picture why people use a sump as it allows all the water to come down through a filter sock, then get absorbed through the skimmer, making its way through more live rock and Macro Algae and possibly plumbed through a reactor with GFO & Carbon before returning to the main display somewhat like a water treatment facility. The experienced hobbyist using HOB filters typically have them modified to act as a mini refuge, and those using canisters use them to act as a simple detritus collection or a reactor making the maintenance needed minimal.
So should you get 1 or the other? If you have a small tank and have no way of using a sump or skimmer then I would go with a modified HOB filter there are several threads on how to achieve this simple and cheaply. inTank sells parts to make one of the more popular HOB filters more effective in acting like a refuge. Hopefully this clears some things up and gives you a better insight on how to approach filtration on a marine tank.
HOB & Canister filters are 2 very different products that arguably share only 1 thing in common they remove detritus from the aquarium. Aside from that they have very different uses so just slapping one on the aquarium and assuming it's doing good things can end up leading to a crash ~ something all of us who were following similar advice is the 80's & 90's inevitably all ended up figuring out. The HOB filter serves only 1 or 2 purposes it either simply exports detritus from the aquarium or includes something like a Bio-Wheel which gives a place for beneficial bacteria to grow.
The Canister Filter not only collects detritus, it allows for adding other supplements for the water to be routed through such as a reactor meaning you can place filter floss to collect detritus, ceramic rings for bacteria, carbon, phosphate, or ammonia pads etc. ect. So in reality the Canister filter has far more benefits but the issue is they are a pain in the butt to clean and just like the HOB filter when they are neglected they create what some people call a "Nitrate Factory" even worse whatever awful symptoms of neglect this filter holds, all of your water will be filtered through it, and lets be realistic how many people tear these things apart, replace the media religiously when needed?
So In the Saltwater world "Beneficial Bacteria" is worth more than gold as it breaks down the Ammonia produced and in the end leaving Nitrates, well the best surface for this bacteria to grow on is your "Live Rock" not a filter! So now you just need a better understanding of what it is exactly your trying to remove or so to speak "filter" from your aquarium leaving you with the following most try to remove:
Detritus: (Usually removed with Filter floss, or Filter sock, or vacuumed out)
Phosphates: (Effectively removed with GFO)
Organics: (Effectively removed with Carbon)
Nitrates: (Typically removed with Water changes or Macro Algae like cheato)
Nutrients: (Removed with Skimmer)
So if you look at this you can get a clear picture why people use a sump as it allows all the water to come down through a filter sock, then get absorbed through the skimmer, making its way through more live rock and Macro Algae and possibly plumbed through a reactor with GFO & Carbon before returning to the main display somewhat like a water treatment facility. The experienced hobbyist using HOB filters typically have them modified to act as a mini refuge, and those using canisters use them to act as a simple detritus collection or a reactor making the maintenance needed minimal.
So should you get 1 or the other? If you have a small tank and have no way of using a sump or skimmer then I would go with a modified HOB filter there are several threads on how to achieve this simple and cheaply. inTank sells parts to make one of the more popular HOB filters more effective in acting like a refuge. Hopefully this clears some things up and gives you a better insight on how to approach filtration on a marine tank.
Last edited:
colsoscar120
Active Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2015
- Messages
- 242
- Reaction score
- 4
I have a huge tank 450 litres but I don't have to put a sump under the tank. I have 2 powerheafs along with a protein skimmer and live rock I'm going to use I was hoping this would be enough . Yes I'm new to saltwater and only have a basic understanding . I have a fluval fx6 canister filter up to 1500 litres that I had from my freshwater tank. I was gonna put that on my saltwater to act as another filteration if I need it. I don't mind cleaning filter every week that's not a problem for me.
Exodus
Community Member
In that Case go for it! If it were me in that case then I would just load it up with filter floss crank it up! Then every week I would pull it apart and hose everything down cleaning it all out changing or cleaning the filter floss and putting it back on. As for the HOB Filter floss is far cheaper and can be bought in bulk unlike specialized cartridges that cost far more and cant be cleaned. (Theoretically you shouldn't be cleaning the filter floss, but rather replacing it) I personally clean mine once on Monday and replace it the next Monday.
Just keep in mind what I typed before, watch your parameters and you now will have a bit of a better understanding on how to approach any problems that may come up.
Just keep in mind what I typed before, watch your parameters and you now will have a bit of a better understanding on how to approach any problems that may come up.
3dees
Well-Known Member
you don't need any filter. your rock is your filter. canisters or hob's need to be cleaned often or will become nitrate factories. I use a small canister once in a while on my 120 gal. softie/lps tank with only carbon. just something else to maintain that's not needed.
