Pieman2027
Community Member
I have a canister filter and it came with pads should I use them
Sent Via the R2R Forum APP
Sent Via the R2R Forum APP
Filter pads
- Thread starter Pieman2027
- Start date
- Tagged users None
joeyhatch11
Well-Known Member
What kind of tank are you putting this on? I have a canister filter on my freshwater tank and use filter floss on the top and bottom trays of the canister. The middle tray I use carbon pellets in a media bag and every now and then I'll throw some Seachem Phosguard in there too. You just have to make sure you clean them at least every two weeks or it can before a problem, leading to high nitrates and algae issues.
My opinion I using a canister is it better be in a freshwater aquarium.
Just about every aspect of them have issues unless only used for carbon or other media and the suction end has to be in the cleanest part of the tank, like right after a skimmer would be ideal.
The thing about canisters is they do just as much media filtration as if you were to flop a sack of stuff in the sump itself. But that is just me.
Is this your only means of filtration?
Just about every aspect of them have issues unless only used for carbon or other media and the suction end has to be in the cleanest part of the tank, like right after a skimmer would be ideal.
The thing about canisters is they do just as much media filtration as if you were to flop a sack of stuff in the sump itself. But that is just me.
Is this your only means of filtration?
Sure go ahead. Clean them once a week and you will be fine.
joeyhatch11
Well-Known Member
I think on the reef side of things, if you don't have a sump and all you have is a canister filter, you should be fine with it as long as you clean it. Sumps are nicer because you can hide everything in one and they also offer a much higher GPH flow rate. They tend to keep a reef in better shape. I love mine. Before it, I had a 10G nano with everything in the display and although it was a nice tank, I hated seeing everything in there.
Surface scum will be a pita
joeyhatch11
Well-Known Member
Yeah it was for me too. Every water change I had to do some surface skimming just to remove it all. Then I found one of these at the LFS and it's been perfectly clear ever since.
Tom Aquatics Aquarium Surface Skimmer
It takes a little adjusting to get use to and a little reseting after a water change but other wise works wonders and keeps the surface of my tank super clean.
Tom Aquatics Aquarium Surface Skimmer
It takes a little adjusting to get use to and a little reseting after a water change but other wise works wonders and keeps the surface of my tank super clean.
I've built those before when I started with some freshwater gsp. After mid brackish I added them because the surface was getting nasty.
Then I made a bottomless wall from the largest PVC I could find and painted it black. Te filter inlet say in the pipe and worked really well. Plus the Evap was less a pain because it was a larger chamber than the fluctuation the attachment kinds could handle. I'm lazy lol.
If you ram it into the sand it doesn't suck any water through the bottom but if you forget to fill it sand will flood your filter from the waterfall.
Then I made a bottomless wall from the largest PVC I could find and painted it black. Te filter inlet say in the pipe and worked really well. Plus the Evap was less a pain because it was a larger chamber than the fluctuation the attachment kinds could handle. I'm lazy lol.
If you ram it into the sand it doesn't suck any water through the bottom but if you forget to fill it sand will flood your filter from the waterfall.
OP
OP
Pieman2027
Community Member
Is there a different types of skimming
Sent Via the R2R Forum APP
Sent Via the R2R Forum APP
Surface skimming: sucking water from the surface of the water and taking it to the filter be it a sump, canister, or Hang on.
Protein skimming: a protein skimmer is a tube shaped device usually with a pump that basically uses air bubbles to filter out the bad stuff. Essentially it makes beach foam, which smells like wha!!!!
Milk skimming: when water imitates milk.
Protein skimming: a protein skimmer is a tube shaped device usually with a pump that basically uses air bubbles to filter out the bad stuff. Essentially it makes beach foam, which smells like wha!!!!
Milk skimming: when water imitates milk.
OP
OP
Pieman2027
Community Member
Ooo mm so I have a eheim canister filter do they have a surface skimmer that I can hook up to it?
Sent Via the R2R Forum APP
Sent Via the R2R Forum APP
Yes the one posted in the link above should be perfect. Basically it takes the inlet of your filter and modifies it to set at the surface rather than submerged and usually the float to keep with a small level of Evap but WHAT EVER YOU DO do not forget to top off your tank!!! It will eventually suck in air and ruin your filters "high tech" pump they use
ajwalker261985
Active Member
I'm just starting up an iv been told that a canister filter isn't a must as long as I have the protein skimmer and all a canister would do is use electric I don't need to and a lot of maintenance for not a lot of extra benefit?
Sent Via the R2R Forum APP
Sent Via the R2R Forum APP
If you use a really good skimmer and have 1lb of rock per gallon of water along with a decent sand bed you won't need a canister. Just make sure you have a powerhead pointing at the surface so that it does not collect surface scum
That stuff reduces light efficiency and gas exchange. Very very very importante
A decent amount of sand in your aquarium. I have 3-6 inches (the fish make mounds)
You can risk too much or too little of anything
