New Filter

Hey everyone,

Well... as some of you know, my only filtration in my tank is the Bak Pak 2 skimmer and the tons of rock and sand I have. However... I would like to add another filter so that my carbon and other little water clarity fix'ns can have a better place to go. Any recommendations?

 

What about the fluval canister filter. I have one on mine.

 

How is the maintenance on that? Do you change the media ever month or so?

 

My tank has been up for 5 weeks now and I am about to change some of the media now. It is very easy to operate and change the media. I like it.

 

Has anyone ever used these? Aquarium Filtration & Water Quality: AQUAEL UniMax Pro Canister Filter & UV Sterilizer It is on sale, and the built in UV looks like a nice feature.

 

never used that one but i did run a canister on a 34gal. its works good but its alot of upkeep. if you dont keep it cleaned and change out the media about every 2 weeks it'll built nitrates. as long as you stay up with it, it works. that 34gal was one of the nicest tanks ive had. . . . i miss it. just keep in mind though. your probably going to want a sump one day, so by the time you spend $200+ on a canister you might want to think about a siphon overflow and a 10 or 20L and diy you a sump. would cost about the same as the canister(or less),give you a place to hid equipment(heater, skimmer, ect.) a way to run carbon, and if planned right a refugium too!!!

 

Fluval is a good quality choice. And I could be full of it here......but it seems to me that I read somewhere on these forums that the addition of a canister filter to an already established system could throw it into another cycle. Like I said, I am really not sure. I need help on this. Guys/Gals????

 

I don't think that would go through another cycle, other than the filter it self! but sumps and wet/dry's are far better to my opinion because you don't need to have other equipment in the main display tank, like heaters, skimmers and such, besides it will give you a greater water volume and diy is really dirt cheap! all you need is the over flow box..

 

Oh...You don't have a sump!!! Yeah, that is the way to go. And ya know, I run a 15 gallon sump with a filter sock and that is it. I have a piece of junk protein skimmer and my water clarity is wonderful. I am a HUGE believer in sumps. Look into that. Here is a website you should look at.......

Melevsreef.com | Acrylic Sumps & Refugiums

 

I would love a sump, but I don't have the time to build a overflow...that would have its own problems. After reading about the filters upkeep...I feel like its not worth the trouble.