What can I keep with Canister Filters only?

[swimmingswammi]

I have a 90 gallon show tank that I do not want to drill so I thought I would run a fish only system. This system came with fake rock, fake coral, and fake sand.

I want to add an eel or two, and some soft corals if possible. I would love to add live rock and live sand (and remove the fake sand) and keep a carpet nem and other corals. Is this possible?

I do not want to drill, nor run a sump or skimmer.

Craig
91007

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

You could just about keep anything you want to keep if you keep a consistent frequent water change schedule. I would do high demanding eaters like an eel since you will want to feed as little as possible without a skimmer. Just my opinion though.

What kind of lights do you have?

 

[bct15]

If you are going to go skimmerless you probably shouldn't get an eel or two...they will muck up your water quick. However, you can keep whatever you want as long as you responsibly manage your parameters with frequent water changes and it is suitable for your size tank. If you are going to add live rock you should do that first...

 

[Lateral72]

Skip the eel, way way to messy of an eater. You can probably keep mushrooms, zoanthids and other softies with that type of setup, probably could even keep some of the hardier LPS as long as you do proper water changes.

What you should really do, is gut the canisters and set them up so you can run GFO and Carbon, not the generic half-full inserts that you usually have to buy.

 

[KoleTang]

I want to add an eel or two, and some soft corals if possible. I would love to add live rock and live sand (and remove the fake sand)

Fake sand? Eels are very messy.

and keep a carpet nem and other corals. Is this possible?

Theres no way you can keep a carpet anemone in a tank like that, they are hard to keep. It depends on what type of corals you want to keep and also the lighting you have. Also how clean you can keep the water.

I do not want to drill, nor run a sump or skimmer.

Canister filter are for freshwater, they become a niitrate trap if not scrubbed out weekly. I would never run a tank without a skimmer. An LFS or glass shop will drill for $20. I HIGHLY reccomend getting a sump/skimmer. Your not going to want to do a large water change every week, but you will have to if setting up this way.

There are also many other things involved in this that you may be overlooking: Salt, RO/DI water, Reactor, WATER FLOW, Lighting, etc.

 

[swimmingswammi]

Revised

I have ATI T5s x4, can add a HOB skimmer or fuge, but nothing that can handle a moderately loaded 90 gallon tank. I also have an RO/DI unit, and lots of power heads. I should add that I have two other mixed reef tanks.

my problem is that I am too lazy to load this 90 AGA to take to a store for drilling.

It does seem like I have to give up on my eel idea.

"You can probably keep mushrooms, zoanthids and other softies with that type of setup, probably could even keep some of the hardier LPS as long as you do proper water changes."
​

What you should really do, is gut the canisters and set them up so you can run GFO and Carbon, not the generic half-full inserts that you usually have to buy.​

Wow, the water changes. Without a sump water changes are a challenge too.

 

[Brettinteriors]

What kind of hob skimmer

 

[mcarroll]

I have ATI T5s x4, can add a HOB skimmer or fuge, but nothing that can handle a moderately loaded 90 gallon tank[....].

my problem is that I am too lazy to load this 90 AGA to take to a store for drilling.

[....]

Wow, the water changes. Without a sump water changes are a challenge too.

Tunze has a few in-tank skimmers that would be great options. Also, a Remora Pro would rock that tank as a hang on - use the recommended upgrade pump (or a more efficient equivalent) if you want even more performance than base-line. That said, skimming can be considered optional - depends heavily on stocking and other husbandry of course.

Your cannisters (what kind?) should be great filters, but know that you are making a commitment that few are really willing to make for very long: cleaning the cannisters every week (or more) without exception. If you think you can get by (again, given stock and other husbandry) without the cannisters' sponges/floss/mechanical section you'll probably have a better experience. If you are going to keep the big lights and do not already own the cannisters, I would go a different route - even skimmer and live rock only. Alternatively, reduce the lighting a bit?

Call around before you load your tank in the car if you decide on drilling - my experience is that no LFS's and no glass stores are willing to perform this service. YMMV, of course.

Maybe I'm being daft, but I can't imagine what would make water changes tough on a fish only system even without a sump?

-Matt

 

[swimmingswammi]

Thanks everyone. I like Matt's suggestion for HOB Skimmers. They fit my tank well, and I will not need the canister filters or drill the tank.

 

[SteezySPS]

canisters work well but they are a pain to clean

 

[gar732]

Lol, everything probably looked the best when I was running a simple setup with a hob skimmer and a fluval 404 and I kept every except nems and clams. I did about a 10% water change once a week and removed the media from the fluval and ran carbon and PO4 remover.

 

[Kathleen]

I have a 75 gallon with 2 cannister filters and a refugium on the back. I do water changes every other week and clean the cannister ever 6 months. I have 2 tangs, 2 clowns, cuc, fox coral, zoas, colt coral, mushrooms, 3 maxi mini carpets, a long tentacle anemone. Tank has been set up for 2 years this way. 4 bulb T5 light fixture. No nitrates. It works for me.

 

[andywe]

Canisters are not good for running corals. You can get away with them for a light FOWLR, but as many have mentioned, LOTS of cleaning. Better to do it right than try and make do with equipment that will not work out well in the long run.

 

[Atg]

Run filter with carbon,and Live rock or Marine pure ceramic bio media as the filter media

 

[Otter_rs]

In my opinion, canister filters are worthless! I have seen them used in many different ways and every way causes some sort of problem. I'm not saying you cant have long term success using them, but they create more work then they are worth. I would rather use a hang on the back powerfilter than a canister filter and I hate power filters too.

 

[Otter_rs]

I know they are a pain in the ***, but what about a siphon overflow?