Tip for canister filter users.

[Bristlewormranch]

If you use a canister filter like I do then you undoubtedly have had problems getting the canister to seal after changing filter media.This has happened to me many times and can be quit frustrating. Even cleaning the seal will not help. I figured out a tip that will get the canister sealed backup and filtering again. I remove the rubber O ring from the canister. I usea not water pot to bring water to a boil. Then I place the O ring into the hot water. Let stand for 5 minutes and place the O ring back on the canister. This takes care of my leaky seal every time.

 

[frankieboy]

canister filter

Thanks for tip and what do you think using filter for saltwater aquarium

 

[Tonyscoots84]

Thanks for tip and what do you think using filter for saltwater aquarium

not a canister filter for sure... sump with a skimmer is the way to go

 

[CoralMeister]

Thanks for tip and what do you think using filter for saltwater aquarium

Skimmer for a SW tank. Best option.

Canisters are good for freshwater, nothing else. Plus it's such a mess with the filter media and uhhh disgusting with everything just getting stuck and clogged. When I had a canister years ago, whenever I would clean that thing like every week and a half it was like mud spilling out.

 

[jaa1456]

Never ever had a problem sealing a canister filter, only used them on fresh water and fowlr tanks though. By the way they were all Ehiem filters.

 

[Bristlewormranch]

I have a 16 gallon high tank. I use a refugium with skimmer.While my water parameters are always good and I us RO water I have a steadyproblem with Phosphate so I use the canister filter to remove phosphates. Ihave checked the RO water and it is not the source. I only have three fish inthe tank; a pincushion urchin, cleaning crew snails, blue hermits and severaltiny starfish. Some mushrooms, three other soft, a zoanthid that I did notpurchase it seems that it came in as a hitch hiker with the mushrooms and it istaking over the rock that they are attached to. In fact I had to rescue twomushrooms today that lost ground. I do a 3 gallon water change every week orso. I used to think my problem with phosphate was over feeding. But when I toldthe guy I purchased the fish from that I was only feeding every other day andfed only what they would eat he told me to feed every day. I did notice thatthe hermits don?t freak out anymore when they smell food in the tank. I dothink I was starving them. Until I find out another way to control thephosphate problem I will use the canister.

I did have a 29 gallon tank but last march 2012 we lostpower for 7 days after a bad snow storm and we had below freezing temps. By thetime I got my hands on a generator the live sand died and the tank crashed. The16 gallon is the result of that loss. Other than the live rock the cleaningcrew and the pincushion I lost everything else.

Any way more info that you asked for but that is why I use acanister. I am open to suggestions if there is another way to controlphosphates.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

:scratchch:

 

[jaa1456]

I have seen canister filters used for phosphates, it is actually growing in popularity. The canister filters move more water through them, compared to a reactor. Also you didn't mention the reason you were using one till now. There could be several factors for your phosphates. Have you checked the container you mix your salt in? Your rocks could be leaching it, even the canister filter plastic.

 

[Juggernot55]

never ever had a problem sealing a canister filter, only used them on fresh water and fowlr tanks though. By the way they were all ehiem filters.

+1

 

[Bristlewormranch]

I have seen canister filters used for phosphates, it is actually growing in popularity. The canister filters move more water through them, compared to a reactor. Also you didn't mention the reason you were using one till now. There could be several factors for your phosphates. Have you checked the container you mix your salt in? Your rocks could be leaching it, even the canister filter plastic.

I use a 5 gallon drinking water bottle. It never occured to me that that could be the problem. I will check it out and see. The live rock is the same rock I had in the 29. I could pull it from the the tank and place it in a holding tank and see if there are any changes. I am looking into purchasing a new skimmer not sure the one I have is very efficient. Still trying to find the right ballance of lighting for the tank too. I am using the lighting form the 29 fits perfect on my 16 high.




P.S. My thougts are with all you folks out there that have lost your power. I know you may not see this message. Seven days with no power was like being in a black hole for us. We didn't even know if the rest of the country knew how wide spread the outage was from the storm we had in March.