Can someone explain to me why canister filter works wonders for freshwater but not so much for saltwater?

[ggwp1111]

Recently received an 72 Gallons UNS setup from a friend and it comes with the Oase Biomaster 600 Thermo (pre-filters and thermometer included). Granted I already have a 25G IM AIO saltwater tank and 20G AIO UNS freshwater tank currently running.

So this new tank will be a nice upgrade for either. But I can't decide between making it freshwater or saltwater tank. I heard canister filters are generally not good for saltwater but not quite understand why.

 

[FUNGI]

what led you to think a canister won't work for SW tank?
Two different tanks, both running FX6's canister and skimmer.....excuse the glass algae on second larger tank...that was upon my return from 10 day trip......

 

[lil sumpin]

@FUNGI is your guy

You can make it work with a canister but you’ll need chemical and biological filtration to supplement the canister

 

[GARRIGA]

Filter is a filter. Absolutely no reason one can’t use a canister in salt and they disguise using it by calling it a reactor

 

[ggwp1111]

what led you to think a canister won't work for SW tank?
Two different tanks, both running FX6's canister and skimmer.....excuse the glass algae on second larger tank...that was upon my return from 10 day trip......

I see mostly soft coral. Have you been successfully keeping hard coral in the tank? That's something I want to eventually get into. Also how often do you need to clean the canister filter?

 

[FUNGI]

@FUNGI is your guy

You can make it work with a canister but you’ll need chemical and biological filtration to supplement the canister

I see mostly soft coral. Have you been successfully keeping hard coral in the tank? That's something I want to eventually get into. Also how often do you need to clean the canister filter?

I will upload new picture (if I remember LOL). I do have some "hard coral" in the tank now...(no acro's). No interest in them. I see NO reason why hard corals can't be kept, (excluding acro's)

Cleaning: Disclosure: the canisters are full of LR rubble:
I did my yearly cleaning last weekend. Remove media containers/basket. Hose of the inside of the canister, remove motor and clean impeller. 20 minutes each canister.

 

[FUNGI]

Heres another tank, earlier last year:

Don't know if you can see, green birdsnest, neon green monti, several other monti's and a ponape birdsnest. All growing/grew....no issue's.

 

[air_run]

Check out this guy's SPS dominate reef. He uses a canister filter. Very informative channel. Though, he hasn't been around in a bit.

Mikeymikemike

Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

www.youtube.com

 

[fishywishy]

There’s nothing wrong with canister filters, it’s just that normal sumps tend to filter better and are easier to maintain.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The question is what do you want it to accomplish in a reef tank. Most reef tanks need no biological filtration devices.

 

[MarineandReef Jaron]

I think the reason I do not prefer canister filters is what they do well are 3 things.
1. Mechanical Filtration
2. Chemical Filtration
3. Aerobic BioFiltration

Ultimately I don't find reef tanks demanding in any of these areas. I often run no mechanical filtration (besides a protein skimmer), Live Rock provides plenty of aerobic biofiltration, and I maybe run a little carbon every other month.

What I typically focus on with reef tank filtration is
1. A good protein skimmer
2. Some form of nitrate and phosphate control (Chaeto Fuge, Turff Scrubber, Carbon Doising, etc)

Since the most common demands of a reef filtration system are not met by a canister filter most people opt to spend their money on other gear.

Canister filters are great for large saltwater fish systems that need a lot of biomeida, or for polishing the water in large saltwater tanks. Having done some large fish displays that were 4ft front to back a NuClear canister with the 25 micron filter and a lot of carbon really polished the water well and made the fish look like they were floating. I have also installed a few AquaUltraviolet Ultimas on some big fish systems and they worked fantastic as a large biofilter.

 

[Cali Reef Life]

I think its more the other way around protein skimmers dont work for freshwater thats why they use canister filter. We use sump for stability and hiding the gear.

Also protien skimmers are pretty easy to clean and we have rock for biological filters.

Depending on freshwater they tend to be more fish focus where salt is both. The herd follows the herd. 1000 ways to run a tank successfully and 10,000 ways to ruin it.

 

[Garf]

There's no need for biological filtration but fill a filter canister full of phosphate free sand and watch those phosphate levels gently decrease, lol.

 

[PapaFishRocks]

I run an FX4 on a 90g with softies and a few acans.

No issues at all.

I clean the filter every 3 months or so and it is never really that dirty.

 

[SueAubu]

Recently received an 72 Gallons UNS setup from a friend and it comes with the Oase Biomaster 600 Thermo (pre-filters and thermometer included). Granted I already have a 25G IM AIO saltwater tank and 20G AIO UNS freshwater tank currently running.

So this new tank will be a nice upgrade for either. But I can't decide between making it freshwater or saltwater tank. I heard canister filters are generally not good for saltwater but not quite understand why.

I used a FX6 for my 220 LPS and fish tank until it died. I loved it! I had planned to move it over when I started up my 500gal tank . Now I'm designing and redesigning a sump. Grrrrrrr

 

[KrisReef]

They don't fit in most sumps.

 

[LiverockRocks]

Many a customers use our 5lbs rubble rock in canisters with great success.
If you do order Rubble, mention if it is for a canister or media reactor because we will choose the smallest sized rubble.

 

[FUNGI]

Many a customers use our 5lbs rubble rock in canisters with great success.
If you do order Rubble, mention if it is for a canister or media reactor because we will choose the smallest sized rubble.

Are you guys shipping yet?

 

[LiverockRocks]

Are you guys shipping yet?

We are now shipping orders that were delayed by Helene and Milton.
The website will reopen on 11/24, Black Friday Sale on the 29th. Sale orders will begin shipping January 6th. (There are a few spaces available on 12/10 and 12/17 for UPS orders placed between the 24th and 29th.)

 

[vetteguy53081]

canisters need more frequent cleaning and density of water allows sediment to pack easier in the unit.. Most of all, a cansiter unit is is a mechanical filter and you want to have mechanical , biological and chemical to manage proper water quality. The canister will polish water and trap particles via the cartridge.
Chemical is what traps and breaks down chemical compounds such as feces and uneaten food often accomplished with use of carbon and GFO as examples
Biological is what utilizes the natural process of biological filtration such as use of ceramic nuggets, bio blocks, and microscopic bacteria surfaces as examples. Best it to add or use a hang on refugium such as Reef octopus or AquaMaxx unit and even add a hang on skimmer such as ice cap K1- or K2 100