Should I remove my Canister filter?????

I have just set up my 25g as a reef tank, currently being cycled. I have a Rena XP4 on the tank and horrible POS seaclone skimmer. I have been reading a few posts about ppl not recommending canister filtration because of the nitrate problems.

So I ask you should i remove my canister filter and upgrade my skimmer?
will this POS skimmer be ok for now?

I don't have the room for a sump or fuge. but am planning on getting a HOB fuge within the year.

Please any input is appreciated.

 

I would upgrade the skimmer and keep the canister. The canister can be used for chemical filtration and is quite effective. If you use carbon or filter floss you just want to change the every two weeks to prevent the nitrate factory effect. Clean the canister every month.

 

whats in the cannsiter at present? media wise

how much rock and flow do you have ?

providing you clean them using waste tank water at water changes you can avoid Nitrate issues
your Nitrate test kit - will give you all the confirmation you need in that respect

but if it where mine, and I had enough live rock and flow, I would utilise the cannister for chemical filtration means - GFO, Carbon, etc etc and leave the bio filtration to the rock and sand in the tank

Seaclone skimmer on a 25 - again, I would not go to additional expense at present as despite its reputation as IMHO it will be adequate for that tank

the hang on fuge will be a positive addition IMO

Steve

 

Thanks Guys! k+

 

I ran an Eheim 2213 on my 50G cube for about 8 months and I never had a problem with nitrates and it kept the tank clean. As long as you perform timely maintanence on it you will not have a problem. Most of the people complaining about nitrate issues when using canister or wet/dry filters do very little to no maintanence on them.

I changed the polishing pads (I ran a total of 3 and they got dirty fast) every other week. I would rinse the coarse pad out when I changed the polishing pads. I replaced the coarse pad every other month. It was easy to clean to brand new condition. I removed the biomedia fromt he canister before I even hooked it up. I put carbon, purigen, and any other potention media between the polishing pads and coarse pad. I replaced the carbon each month and purigen every 3 months.

 

I've got a question to go along with this. I recently tore down my freshwater aquarium because it was simply too boring to me now that i have a developing reef. So i've got a fluval 205 that is not in use. I am currently running an empiror 400 HOB on my refugium/sump and am considering switching it with the canister. My tank is in my bedroom and the noise from the HOB gets kind of annoying at times combined with the noise of the overflow and such so this will quiet it down a bunch. If i switch i would be running carbon and phosban in it but should i keep the sponge bio filters in the canister or will that cause me problems?

 

Bump

 

Wont cause you any problems providing you rinse/ clean them sponges regular
but IMHO you dont need them in there

leave the biological filtration to the rock, sand and macros etc
using them to run carbon and phosphate removers is a good idea IMO

just remember to give it a good rinse out on a monthly basis to remove any crud that settles in there and on the mesh pouches that you have the media in

Steve

 

i had a canister filter and cleaner every month or so and it gave me nothing but problems i had a massive hair algae outbreak. then i got a aqua c remora skimmer and got rid of filter and my tank is spotless. the only thing i would put in the filter is to put some carbon in it buts thats it no bio balls, or ceramic cylindars