I am thinking of adding a canister filter for chemical filtratio. Currently, I just put it in th esump near the pump end, but hear it is better to use the canister. Who out there does this? Has it proven more effective for you? I am looking at the HOT Magnum, but it is only rated for a 30g and I have a 180. Since it is not the main means of filtration, does this rating matter? Any insight would be appreciated.
Who Uses Canister Filters??
- Thread starter hurrifan
- Start date
Do you have a sump?
My sump for my 180 has a "chemical chamber" of high flow where I can place bags of carbon or whatever. Although I use no chemical filtration, I have this option. I agree that canisters are a PITA.
I have a Magnum HOT that I use to vacuum the LR every so often.
As to being rated for 30 gals perhaps this is for "bio-filtration" with a bio-wheel.
I think that if you used this canister continually with carbon or whatever you want to use, it would provide enough flow for your 180. I do not know the flow rate of the Magnum HOT.
My sump for my 180 has a "chemical chamber" of high flow where I can place bags of carbon or whatever. Although I use no chemical filtration, I have this option. I agree that canisters are a PITA.
I have a Magnum HOT that I use to vacuum the LR every so often.
As to being rated for 30 gals perhaps this is for "bio-filtration" with a bio-wheel.
I think that if you used this canister continually with carbon or whatever you want to use, it would provide enough flow for your 180. I do not know the flow rate of the Magnum HOT.
I use two magnum 330's as supplemental circulation in my 55. One goes against the main pump return, and the other is plumbed behind the rock. Both are on timers. I like the magnums because they are self priming (no sucking), and pretty easy to clean. I usually run carbon or a polyfilter in one of them, and the other I leave empty. I used to use powerheads for this kind of supplemental circulation, but they take up space and were a PITA to deal with when they needed to be cleaned because rocks had to be moved to get to them.
Now my actual answer to your question is the Magnum will give your carbon (or whatever) better interaction with the water than just having it sitting in your sump. However, you probobly don't need it unless you are having a problem. Are you having a problem, or just looking for a way to spend some money
RR
Now my actual answer to your question is the Magnum will give your carbon (or whatever) better interaction with the water than just having it sitting in your sump. However, you probobly don't need it unless you are having a problem. Are you having a problem, or just looking for a way to spend some money
RR
A cannister filter almost caused me to have a stroke. I thought that I would put a cannister filter stuffed with phosphate sponge on my main tank overnight. I put it in the main 600g tank since I did not want to bother priming it (just placed the cannister on the floor and did a quick suck on the outflow to start the siphon into the cannister)I then taped the outflow hose to a pipe inside my hood. In the morning, my entire tank was emptied onto my $30,000.00 mahogany floor and all of my $35,000 worth of rare corals, clams, fish etc, were dead. Also, half of my water starved Iwaki pumps were dead from pumping air for several hrs. BEWARE OF THE EVIL CANNISTER FILTER!!!!! If you use one, do me a favour and add it to the sump where it can't do too much damage!
Sorry, I forgot to mention what caused the disaster. The outflow hose slid out from my crappy tape job and fell onto the floor, thereby powersiphoning the entire tank. Stupidly enough, the intake had lots of hose and was able to drop to the very bottem of the tank as the tank level dropped.
I must admit I do use a canister but it is only run when the water looks less than clear.. I will run it for a week or so then I shut it down..
If this sounds like a good idea.... Please rethink this because before I can turn the filter on I must dismantle and clean out the unit for fear of pumping stagnant water and god knows what else into the tank... Neat thing is generally I will find Fat Pods in the housing that have been living for a month or so in the dark with no predators
If this sounds like a good idea.... Please rethink this because before I can turn the filter on I must dismantle and clean out the unit for fear of pumping stagnant water and god knows what else into the tank... Neat thing is generally I will find Fat Pods in the housing that have been living for a month or so in the dark with no predators
You want one of these, just plug it into a Power Head in your sump.
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr> The carbolitreactor is a compact chemical filtration chamber for aquarium use. It can be installed in-line with any standard canister filter or use with a separate pump. The carbolitreactor contains one liter of pH neutral carbolit. The carbolitreactor can be used for fresh- and seawater aquaria. One filling lasts, depending on the desired use, between 10 days (removal of medications) or up to 12 months (long term use as biological filter) in a 400 l aquarium ( 100 Gallons).
<hr></blockquote>
AB Aqualine they make the gadget
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr> The carbolitreactor is a compact chemical filtration chamber for aquarium use. It can be installed in-line with any standard canister filter or use with a separate pump. The carbolitreactor contains one liter of pH neutral carbolit. The carbolitreactor can be used for fresh- and seawater aquaria. One filling lasts, depending on the desired use, between 10 days (removal of medications) or up to 12 months (long term use as biological filter) in a 400 l aquarium ( 100 Gallons).
<hr></blockquote>
AB Aqualine they make the gadget
Texman, sorry to hear about your disaster. That's really terrible.
Having said that, I don't understand why you're blaming this on "evil" canister filters. In your case, it could have been any pump external to the tank. Return pump, skimmer pump, etc. Anything that pumps water *out* of your tank is capable of emptying your tank. The fact that your particular pump was inside of a canister filter is not relevant here.
You said yourself that your "crappy" tape job caused the hose to slip in the middle of the night.
I'm not trying to flame, but please put the blame where it's due. I've used an empty canister filter for circulation on my reef for nearly a year and have never had a problem. Granted I don't have a 600 gallon tank, or a $30000 wood floor, but when it comes to my tank, I act like I do. I would never trust my tank or my home to a 1 cent strip of tape.
Having said that, I don't understand why you're blaming this on "evil" canister filters. In your case, it could have been any pump external to the tank. Return pump, skimmer pump, etc. Anything that pumps water *out* of your tank is capable of emptying your tank. The fact that your particular pump was inside of a canister filter is not relevant here.
You said yourself that your "crappy" tape job caused the hose to slip in the middle of the night.
I'm not trying to flame, but please put the blame where it's due. I've used an empty canister filter for circulation on my reef for nearly a year and have never had a problem. Granted I don't have a 600 gallon tank, or a $30000 wood floor, but when it comes to my tank, I act like I do. I would never trust my tank or my home to a 1 cent strip of tape.
Thanks for the all the replies. I am attempting to do this b/c I have a problem (I actually have many). I am battling hair and red cyano, and have been for quite so time. The tank is well established and has very little nitrites, nitrates or phosphates, but it keeps growing. I just set-up my regufium, but it has not kicked in yet. I am hoping to run the cannister whenever I have a new outbreak. However, Mouse's solution seems to be the best.
i like Mouse's gadget, but an even easier/cheaper option is to put your overflow output (the downpipe) right over a nylon stocking full of your chemical-du-jour....
all you really need is water flow through the bag.
the falling overflow water is 'free' flow. no pump, no extra outlet, no cost.
all you really need is water flow through the bag.
the falling overflow water is 'free' flow. no pump, no extra outlet, no cost.
I've been running a Magnum 350 on my 55 gal FOWLR tank for 7 years. It's the best filter I've ever used and I'd recommend it to anyone. It provides a good flow for surface aggitation. I run carbon in it 24/7. The internal filter surface area is huge by design: Water is pulled from the middle of the cylinder so that the filter area = outer cylinder surface. I don't know of any other canister designed like this but perhaps someone else can confirm. All I can say is goodbye to cloudy water and it works fast.
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