Has anyone used this?

[Stepheng101]

I am using a canister right now that I will be cleaning weekly, and I have heard that they are "nitrate factorys". So I am scared algae will be a pain. I found this equipment that is called an aglae scrubber, AA Aquarium Green Killing Machine Internal UV Sterilizer, that collect nitrates? can I use this? Would it be effective? Thanks for any answers!

 

[RichtheReefer21]

I have an Aqueon 400 Canister.. 3-compartment. I have a tang, and 7 other fish, around 30 inverts and my nitrates never went over 30ppm with Bi-weekly 15% WC's, they usually stayed under 10ppm.

I rinsed the Sponge on the top layer out once a month and replaced the carbon every 2 months. Every 3 months a would take the media out and give it a loose "shake" in a bucket of dirty tank water from a WC. When I did this "shake", it was just to remove large-sized build up. When I did this I would also replace 1/2 the media with fresh Matrix.

Ran a HOTB skimmer and did nothing else. Granted, the Aqueon 400 is rated for 150Gallons, and I had it running on a 55g tank. But that's what you are supposed to do... Always over-size your filtration.

I eventually grew some chaeto in a DIY HOTB fuge I made myself, but I did it for the Pods I was growing more than the nutrient export.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Which Canister are you running?
What is the Water volume in your tank?
Are you using a HOTB protein skimmer?
How many fish do you have currently?

 

[Stepheng101]

Which Canister are you running?
What is the Water volume in your tank?
Are you using a HOTB protein skimmer?
How many fish do you have currently?

Fulval 306, 40b, no fish but I am putting 3 pellets in every 5 days. Had a pair of clowns that had ick so I tried to cure them with a qt set up, but they did not make it. So im leaving my tank empty for 3 months. No HOB skimmer

 

[laverda]

I am using a canister right now that I will be cleaning weekly, and I have heard that they are "nitrate factorys". So I am scared algae will be a pain. I found this equipment that is called an aglae scrubber, AA Aquarium Green Killing Machine Internal UV Sterilizer, that collect nitrates? can I use this? Would it be effective? Thanks for any answers!

If you clean you canister filter often (weekly) and don’t have a heavy load you may be able to beep nitrates under control long term. They do an excellent job of removing stuff from the water column, just like filter socks or matting. But until you clean it, all the crap it collects is still in your system breaking down into nitrate and phosphate. The problem is most people do not clean them every month, more like every 6 months.
A UV sterilizer can help control algae and ich, but not totally prevent eitherone. It can also kill beneficial bacteria and small pods. Most people do not use them on reef tanks.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Akgae scrubbers work well. There are 2-3 for sale in dry goods forum. They all do the same job.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

If you clean you canister filter often (weekly) and don’t have a heavy load you may be able to beep nitrates under control long term. They do an excellent job of removing stuff from the water column, just like filter socks or matting. But until you clean it, all the crap it collects is still in your system breaking down into nitrate and phosphate. The problem is most people do not clean them every month, more like every 6 months.
A UV sterilizer can help control algae and ich, but not totally prevent eitherone. It can also kill beneficial bacteria and small pods. Most people do not use them on reef tanks.

I cover the intake with a fine sponge sock... and clean that once a week. This keeps the internal media/chambers free of the big chunks, which lowers my cleaning maintenance to once a month "sponge cleaning" in the actual canister. Then every 3 months i do a "shake down" of the media baskets in a 5-gal bucket of Dirty WC water before I dump it.

Takes me 2 minutes to clean the sponge on the intake, 5 minutes start to finish to do the sponge in the canister, and 15 minutes to "shake down" the media baskets.

So that's a total of ~2.5hrs on maintenance every 3 months to maintain a clean efficient canister.

That being said, for a first time reefer, it is the best option while u handle the learning curve of the hobby/addiction.
And with that being said, once the learning curve is over, you can go for a full-fledged sump system... The beauty of the canister is that you have an emergency 30-second set up a situation of a sump catastrophe or such.

Just my experience and 2C

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Fulval 306, 40b, no fish but I am putting 3 pellets in every 5 days. Had a pair of clowns that had ick so I tried to cure them with a qt set up, but they did not make it. So im leaving my tank empty for 3 months. No HOB skimmer

If you run a canister, I strongly advise you to get a HOTB skimmer. I have a 10 year-old remora skimmer that I got for 40 bucks and the thing is a beast. I have to empty it once a week. and the waste chamber is at least 16oZ

 

[Stepheng101]

If you run a canister, I strongly advise you to get a HOTB skimmer. I have a 10 year-old remora skimmer that I got for 40 bucks and the thing is a beast. I have to empty it once a week. and the waste chamber is at least 16oZ

Ok, ill be looking into some HOB skimmers, should I shoot for a 75 gal skimmer?

 

[RichtheReefer21]

That should do it. Always go bigger