What canister filter to use?

[turkleton]

I have to agree with Myka. I am currently running 2 tanks with canister filters and it is nothing but a pain in my ass. I work on a number of aquariums with sumps and it makes a world of difference, both for the aesthetics of the display tank and also for the functionality, ease of use and efficiency of all your equipment. Having a sump gives you far greater access to your equipment, increases the total water volume of your system and allows the use of an in sump skimmer, which are hands down better than any HOB skimmer I have ever come across. If there is ANY way for you to set up a sump on your aquarium I would absolutely do it.

[pscott99]

I started with a Rena for 6 months. Everything Myka says is true. It is a regular cleaning job PIA. The sooner you can go to a sump the better all around. More water volume means more stable parameters which is key in reefing.

[Nano]

you could probably find a used sump and skimmer online here cheaper or close to the same as the canister alone IMO I would go that route, you can hide so much in them that your display will be much cleaner looking with out all the wires.

[Coralgurl]

I currently run a fluval 405 on my 55 gl tank. I clean the canister out every 2 weeks and change the media monthly. As of recently, I do not have any issues with algae in my display but have had issues keeping SPS - LPS and softies have done well. I'm in the process of setting up a larger tank with a sump and can say that I love not having the heaters and skimmer in the tank. I've moved my skimmer out of the 55 into the 180 sump and the 55 tank looks so much better. I also like the extra water volume to work with and not having to always work in the display tank. If you can go with a sump, definitely do it, but a canister can work, you just have to be diligent with cleaning and maintaining.

[The Guy]

Originally Posted by Coralgurl

I currently run a fluval 405 on my 55 gl tank. I clean the canister out every 2 weeks and change the media monthly. As of recently, I do not have any issues with algae in my display but have had issues keeping SPS - LPS and softies have done well. I'm in the process of setting up a larger tank with a sump and can say that I love not having the heaters and skimmer in the tank. I've moved my skimmer out of the 55 into the 180 sump and the 55 tank looks so much better. I also like the extra water volume to work with and not having to always work in the display tank. If you can go with a sump, definitely do it, but a canister can work, you just have to be diligent with cleaning and maintaining.

Firstly, thanks everyone who gave the advice, I guess this will be sort of FOWLER but hopefully a little more dressed up as I really don't like just LR and fish I'll have some softies and easy to keep stuff in the tank to keep it simple until I learn more, Cleaning the filter twice a month is my plan to keep the nitrate under control hopefully. Is this just wishfull thinking or am I on the right track

[MarkoD]

I use to run a fluval g6 on a 55 gallon and I washed the filter every 2 days.

[paddyob]

I used a hot magnum in my 20 for 4 years. My tank was great. No issues what so ever related to it's use. It was a pain to maintain a HOB canister so I removed it.

I ran carbon and foam only. Which was changed monthly.

I am now adding a Rena xp1 to replace my not-so-reliable-during-blackouts aqua clear.

If you clean it monthly, you will be fine.

Avoid fluval entirely. A nightmare to service. And it needs priming manually. Junk.

Rena is self priming and easy to maintain.

[jtbadco]

I run a Fluval 405 on my 33 gal reef. It is stuffed with biomax only. I clean it out every month or so. I have never had any issues with Nitrates or algae. Running for over a year now.

I am not debating that a sump may be a better option if it possible to set one up. I personally don't like the noise and hassle.

I am upgrading now to a 65 gal reef and I will not be using a canister, just 2 Koralia powerheads, 2 Aquaclear 70 HOB refugiums and a Tunze 9006 skimmer

[Myka]

Originally Posted by clown lover

Cleaning the filter twice a month is my plan to keep the nitrate under control hopefully. Is this just wishfull thinking or am I on the right track

That's wishful thinking imo. You would need to clean it out 1-2 times per week. With a sump you can change out the media or the sock quickly and easily. Removing the canister to clean it is time consuming and a pain in the neck.