Please Help With Canister Filter Media Questions

nim6us · Jul 11, 2017

A couple months ago I acquired an established reef tank from a friend. Since then I've been slowly learning as much as I can about how everything works, specifics, and best practices. Today I'm looking for some help with canister filter media.

Currently I have a tri-level canister filter for my 50 gallon tank housing fish, coral, and invertebrates; here's a link to the model AllPondSolutions 1000EF. It looks like the previous owner has removed the media you see in the picture and replaced it with the below:

1st Top Level - Is filled with a thick, rough, porous, sponge material
2nd Middle Level - Is filled with old dead coral and loose rock along with a bag for carbon
3rd Bottom Level - Is filled again with old coral and rocks

As I have become more familiar with the tank I'm fine tuning it. My water tests are looking good, fish and corals are healthy, but I'm still battling with beating back a large amount of detritus on the rocks (which I inherited with the tank), and particulates in the water. I added a protein skimmer and power-head which has helped a lot. However when I get close up to the tank I still see a fair amount of little tiny particulates. The water isn't at all hazy, but it's not pristine like I see in most tank videos.

The guy who had the tank before was obviously doing something right, he kept it for several years with the same fish and corals. But I think we had different styles, I've heard his called "the natural" look. He had no skimmer, no wave-maker, let everything grow pretty much wild, he'd change the water and clean the filter but that was about it. When I took care of it I did a major overhaul. Slowly cleaning everything and as mentioned adding the skimmer and power head. This has me wondering if I should change up the media in my canister filter, perhaps this is why I can't get the water as clean as I'm wanting.

Any advice on what I should change, if I should change, the canister setup would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

CodyRVA · Jul 11, 2017

This video is a great guide for setup. Look into this media. Look into getting a reactor for your carbon, it'll be much more efficient. Carbon in a canister isn't nearly as effective and often wastes space.
Lastly, don't let anyone tell you a canister isn't adequate for a reef tank, it absolutely is. I've had fewer issues in the past running a canister than I've ever had running a sump.

nim6us · Jul 11, 2017

@CodyRVA

Thanks for the detailed reply, looks like some good info! And thank you for also addressing the sump question. I hadn't even asked, but I was wondering if I should look at converting to a sump. My cabinet is on the small side and I was worried I was going to get a lot of replies saying canisters were inferior.

CodyRVA · Jul 11, 2017

nim6us said:
@CodyRVA

Thanks for the detailed reply, looks like some good info! And thank you for also addressing the sump question. I hadn't even asked, but I was wondering if I should look at converting to a sump. My cabinet is on the small side and I was worried I was going to get a lot of replies saying canisters were inferior.

Very welcome. You will likely get a lot of grief over using one, but I assure you they're feasible. IMO the only true benefit from running a sump is getting your equipment out of your display tank. However, in doing so, you open the door for many other issues... nothing's perfect. All in all, a well maintained and properly assembled & selected canister will do the job.

nim6us · Jul 11, 2017

@CodyRVA

Actually, I did have question about the carbon reactor option you mentioned. I thought having a canister meant you couldn't have any other inline filtration. Would this reactor be a hang off the tank job?

Girthrockwel · Jul 11, 2017

I use a hang on the back skimmer and canister filter with no issues but I have a pretty light load. My skimmer creates some micro bubbles, could that be what you're seeing in the water?

nim6us · Jul 11, 2017

Girthrockwel said:
I use a hang on the back skimmer and canister filter with no issues but I have a pretty light load. My skimmer creates some micro bubbles, could that be what you're seeing in the water?

Yeah I'm using a HOB too, Tunze 9004, it's a little finicky, but once get it dialed in it's a champ! So yeah the top of the water is awesome looking, but it's everywhere else, but they're not micro bubbles, definitely some kind of particles.

CodyRVA · Jul 11, 2017

nim6us said:
@CodyRVA

Actually, I did have question about the carbon reactor option you mentioned. I thought having a canister meant you couldn't have any other inline filtration. Would this reactor be a hang off the tank job?

You can setup a separate reactor. I used a BRS mini reactor for my 45G, size it accordingly, but basically the pump sits in the tank, pumps water through the reactor and back into the display. You can run pure carbon, or a mix of carbon and GFO to control PO4, assuming you have nutrient issues... otherwise go full carbon.