Question.

If I wanted to put a filter, hob or canister on my 55gal reef tank, which one would you pick.

 

Most people don't suggest this because it is for fresh water. It actually becomes a nitrate factory.

 

I use the marinland for freshwater. Alot of people like the aqua clears. I don't think you would have additional nitrate issue if cleaned regularly. Personally, (never used one on SW) I think I'm done with canisters more trouble then what they are worth IME. Others will disagree. Also, with a HOB you might have issues with saltcreep, I would go with a sump 1000% easier after setup.

 

they do not become nitrate factories. im sorry, please do explain the logic behind a canister filter or a hob filter being a nitrate factory.

 

btw, between the two styles, honestly it depend what you're planning on using it for and how your current system is set-up. aqua clears make great hob fuges for nano systems, but kinda small for large systems so they become pointless.

Canisters are awesome imo. Great for running lg amounts of chemical filter resins of whatever type you prefer. You can also use'm to run inline with say your chiller and/or uv system. Makes it possible on systems if thats the only type of filtration you have so you don't have to drop a pump into your display. They'll also help in that same respect even if u have a sump, especially if u're tight on space down bellow. Its a lot more efficient to run your chemical resin through a pressurized system rather than just dropping the resin into your sump.

 

If not maintained they can become a trap for detritus/uneaten food therefore a "Nitrate factory" but in all honesty our tanks are Nitrate factories and the same logic applies.If you don't maintain them you will see a rise in nutrients.I have used both types of filters on SW and even though they don't hold as much media I still prefer HOB's to canister filters.IME they are much easier to clean, its easier to see exactly how dirty it is and its easier to see if it is actually moving water.

 

OK.... poop is caught in the filter. Bacteria inhabit and begin to break down waste to nitrates. Therefore, it becomes a nitrate factory.

All mechanical filters have the possibility to go biological if not cleaned regularly... which most people do not do eventually. They collect a food source, and bacteria inhabit and break down.

Skimmers at least remove the waste before it is broke down. Deposits it in the collection cup, and it is removed before it is broke down to component nitrates.

What live rock and deep sand beds do in contrast, is to break down waste into nitrates. nitrate factory... however, the bacteria need to do that consume oxygen. as the food is broke down deeper and deeper into the rock and sand, more oxygen is removed which gives rise to nitrate eating bacteria. Low oxygen levels, high nitrate levels, perfect conditions for nitrate eating bacteria. Nitates are then reduced to nitrogen and it is gassed off.

Nitrate producing bacteria need high oxygen areas which happens to be in high flow areas, or wet/dry filters... in that condition, it breaks the cycle of waste reduction to N2 gas. Mechanical filters are fine and won't be broke down if cleaned regularly, but that becomes a chore.

Canister fliters are nothing but mechanical filters with the ability to run media filters. Media reactors run $30. Socks are cheaper. But a skimmer with lots of live rock is the best of both worlds. Remove waste before it is broke down without going biological, and allow the live rock/sand to process the rest to base components.... or at least more so than wet/drys, canisters, or HOB wheel filters. with LR, you do not need biologicsal filters.

 

So what I'm getting out of you guys is that flyers are good, but not necessarily needed. I have about 70 lbs LR for my 55gal

 

I assume you mean filter. Filters are just things that remove what you want removed. They are classified by the means they do it. A skimmer is a mechanical filter. there are some that like to say it is a chemical filter. Semantics. It removes particulate and dissolved solids. A hang on back is a mechanical and biological filter. A canister is a mechanical and chemical filter which can become a biological filter.

You have neough live rock. You do not need a biological filter like FW does. Running activated carbon is good, but you can do it in a media reactor too. Canister filters use their proprietary pads which will be more expensive.

Get a HOB skimmer and call it good. You can get an overflow box and a sump and have a skimmer and media reactor. A HOB skimmer though is your best, easiest solution. Get a media sock and throw it in the tank, works just as good...over time.