- Location
- staten Island
If i am just starting a fish only with live rock tank and not having corals would a canister filter be good for me? I don't think i have room inside my stand for a sump otherwise i would do that.
Canister filters
- Thread starter mhowe105
- Start date
Welcome to MR 
Yes, you can use a canister filter for a FOWLR.
Do keep on top of keeping it clean and an important note about canister filters...if you ever lose power and it is off for 45 minutes or more you MUST entirely dump the contents of the filter BEFORE you turn it back on!!
The issue is that all of the bacteria in a closed container (like a canister filter) will die off rapidly with no oxygen (flow) and you can wipe out a tank by allowing all of that dead bacteria into your tank.
Just curious..how small a space do you have under your stand? Even a small sump might fit in there where you can hide your equipment.
Yes, you can use a canister filter for a FOWLR.
Do keep on top of keeping it clean and an important note about canister filters...if you ever lose power and it is off for 45 minutes or more you MUST entirely dump the contents of the filter BEFORE you turn it back on!!
The issue is that all of the bacteria in a closed container (like a canister filter) will die off rapidly with no oxygen (flow) and you can wipe out a tank by allowing all of that dead bacteria into your tank.
Just curious..how small a space do you have under your stand? Even a small sump might fit in there where you can hide your equipment.
- Location
- Bronx/Westchester
Definitely wanna stay on top of the weekly cleanings if you want a canister...you can get some serious nitrate issues with those things.
- Location
- brooklyn
what would you clean weekly? the ceramic rings? i use live rock in there instead of bio balls or rings
- Location
- Bronx/Westchester
Just any compartment that has dirty debris on it. When I had my Fluval way back, I just ran GFO, carbon and replaced it every 3 months and in between I would just rinse them off. I also cleaned the sponges weekly and replaced them every month......
Until I realized that the canister is doing more harm than good so I just went with the Skimz E series. Best choice I've made for my tank, but then again I'm running reef.
Until I realized that the canister is doing more harm than good so I just went with the Skimz E series. Best choice I've made for my tank, but then again I'm running reef.
Hi~~ Welcome to the MR family! I think you'll like it here.
Yes, you can use canister filters, or hang on back filters (HOB), with caution.
Regardless of what you use in a canister filter(ceramic cylinders or lr & sponges, and for what either corals or fish you need to clean them out every other week alternate to your water schedule.
If you don't you will just have a nitrate factory leaching nitrates back into your tank. Yes fish can deal with nitrates but there is a limit to the levels, for instance fish can handle 40ppms if raised in it, but would much prefer 0 ppm. Corals if I recall correctly is 20 ppm, but again do way better at 0 ppms.
What size tank do you have anyway?
Yes, you can use canister filters, or hang on back filters (HOB), with caution.
Regardless of what you use in a canister filter(ceramic cylinders or lr & sponges, and for what either corals or fish you need to clean them out every other week alternate to your water schedule.
If you don't you will just have a nitrate factory leaching nitrates back into your tank. Yes fish can deal with nitrates but there is a limit to the levels, for instance fish can handle 40ppms if raised in it, but would much prefer 0 ppm.
Corals if I recall correctly is 20 ppm, but again do way better at 0 ppms.What size tank do you have anyway?
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