Want to add a canister filter ,how should I do it ?

[Eddie7144]

Hello everyone. I have canister filter with a built in uv sterilize. It occured to me that I can use my sump as a biological filter and the canister as a chemical/uv filter, is this feasible? Would love to hear from reefers that run canister filters. I dont mind the extra cleaning so please advise me. Thanks all

 

[Waters]

Hello everyone. I have canister filter with a built in uv sterilize. It occured to me that I can use my sump as a biological filter and the canister as a chemical/uv filter, is this feasible? Would love to hear from reefers that run canister filters. I dont mind the extra cleaning so please advise me. Thanks all

You can, but I am not sure why you would want to? Your live rock is your biological filter....the sump can be used as your mechanical and chemical filtration (as well as holding equipment). The UV built into canister filters is pretty worthless unfortunately so I am not sure it would be worth it. You can use filter socks and bags of carbon and accomplish the same without using the extra equipment that will need maintenance.

 

[Gareth elliott]

You can, but I am not sure why you would want to? Your live rock is your biological filter....the sump can be used as your mechanical and chemical filtration (as well as holding equipment). The UV built into canister filters is pretty worthless unfortunately so I am not sure it would be worth it. You can use filter socks and bags of carbon and accomplish the same without using the extra equipment that will need maintenance.

+1 the 9v uv in these things does virtually nothing at the flow rates inside them. These are a gimmick to increase the price of them. These are a PITA to maintain. And the replacing of filter pads start to wear on you. I have one on my planted, its great till its not. And if your busy when then happens its just a pump waiting to fail.

 

[Mike1995]

+1 the 9v uv in these things does virtually nothing at the flow rates inside them. These are a gimmick to increase the price of them. These are a PITA to maintain. And the replacing of filter pads start to wear on you. I have one on my planted, its great till its not. And if your busy when then happens its just a pump waiting to fail.

I've been using canister filters, mainly ehiem for years on my planted and cichlids tanks. They're extremely easy to maintain. Literally all it takes is popping the lid, quick rinse in tank water, put lid on, plug it in . Now it you have like an fx6, yeah those are stupid

 

[Gareth elliott]

Example of cleaning one. All told between cleaning, replacing filter pads, cleaning my shower, refilling the filter with new water so it primes, this is a 30-45 minute a month that replaced 3 minutes a week to change out hob filter and maintain.

 

[reefwiser]

Mainly use the canister filter in my saltwater tanks as a vacuum cleaner for the bottom and other areas that build up crud.
I use ADA canister filters in my planted tanks.

 

[Waters]

Canister filters do make sense in planted tanks because you are trying to keep the CO2 levels higher...running sumps removes a lot of the CO2 and adds oxygen which makes the sealed canister filters more valuable (although I did run sumps with all of my planted tanks). They really don't make a whole lot of sense in saltwater applications though.