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View Full Version : canister filter or in tank filter???


casingbill
01/03/2007, 11:34 AM
I have recently converted my mechanical filtration area to a refugium but am thinking of adding a canister filter also. I would really like to be able to polish the water and have no way to add a filter sock with my setup. I was thinking about a fluval 205 or maybe a fluval in tank filter. Any one have any opinions? This will also give me the option to run some carbon once in a while. Thx.

Bill

BillyJoeJimBob
01/03/2007, 11:42 AM
I like to run a HOB filter for the exact reasons you mentioned. My tank is not that large tho - 20L.

I haven't had any experience with Fluval but they look pretty nice.

BurntOutReefer
01/03/2007, 11:42 AM
outside is more flexible IMO...allows for easier access to change filter media...

casingbill
01/03/2007, 11:43 AM
the fluval 205 is on sale for 90 at petsmart....seems like a good price

drummereef
01/03/2007, 12:42 PM
Honestly I'd stay away from the canister type filters. They are more trouble than they are worth, imo. When you say you want to 'polish' the water what exactly do you mean? Do you run any carbon at the moment?

casingbill
01/03/2007, 12:51 PM
No...I have no filtration except my fuge. The water still has some particles that are floating around that the skimmer doesn't get. Because of my setup, I can't even have a filter sock, so no carbon either.

oceandrops
01/03/2007, 12:58 PM
I'm running Eheim 2026 ProII for that reason. I removed all media, replaced them with small Live Rock with carbon pad on top

casingbill
01/03/2007, 02:27 PM
mark_krack.....slow down on those posts!!....:)

rooroo
01/03/2007, 02:36 PM
What you want is a micron filter. Not sure that fluvals have those available, but you can get a Magnum 250 HOT or Magnum 350 and get the micron filter with it. It'll polish your water and cause no extra nitrates as long as you replace the micron cartridge every 2 weeks or more. Buy an extra micron cartridge and you can bleach/clean one while running the other, then just swap out (after thorough rinsing of the bleached one of course). I used one like this for quite a while and have noticed since I removed it, my water is yellow when I do water changes. Carbon can also take care of this but I always liked the ease of the Magnums.

I actually used to use Lifeguards inline Mechanical filter until it sprung a leak. Takes up a lot of space though.

steri
01/03/2007, 02:37 PM
I actually run a Rena 305 as one of my filters and highly recommend it. The ease of that filter is just great. There is nothing I have used canister wise to campare it to. I also run a Magnum 350, solely for the purpose of using the micron cartidge. The Magnum seems to be keeping my water looking crystal clear.

Cleaning the thing is a pain in comparison to the Rena because teh Magnum spills over some, but, IMO, there is nothing better out there then the micron cartridge for keeping tank water looking crystal clear.

I also use a HOB refugium that I made out of an old HOB filter with rubble rock, LS, and some macroalgae. It's not perfect, but it works, looks good, and helps to add more flow in teh tank.

Now I'm going on and on about me. My bad. I guess for you, if clear is what you seek, I like the Magnum 350, but only use it for the Micron Cartridge water polisher. To use it for anything else makes the hassle more then it's worth, IMO.

rooroo
01/03/2007, 02:38 PM
This is the HOT 250. (http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441782228&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030111&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1167856651257&itemNo=13&Nao=12&In=Fish&N=2030111&Ne=2) Excellent price at $47.99 and will give you a bit more circulation too.

This is the 350. (http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441782202&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030111&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1167856651242&itemNo=12&Nao=12&In=Fish&N=2030111&Ne=2)This has to sit under your tank or remotely, but has a bigger pump.

casingbill
01/03/2007, 02:40 PM
well, i guess the goals are to make the water clearer, which the fluval does have an optional polishing filter, and to run carbon once in a while. I cant use any hang on filters becuase of my tank style, but I will look into the magnums. Thx

rooroo
01/03/2007, 02:45 PM
Hmm, I can't find anything like the polishing filter for the fluval. Sponges are not polishers. A micron filter looks like a folded fanned fabric in a cylinder. (http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441808429&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030552&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1167857101404&itemNo=19&Nao=12&In=Fish&N=2030552&Ne=2) Thats what you want. If you can find that for the fluval, then go for a fluval as I've always heard they are great canister filters.

rooroo
01/03/2007, 02:48 PM
Actually, just looked up some more filter media for the fluval, and you can get poly pads, which are similar to micron filters. So it would probably work great for you. It would be nice to run carbon and a poly filter at the same time.

casingbill
01/03/2007, 02:51 PM
here is a fluval filter.......polishing filter (http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441812924&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030555&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1167857384058&itemNo=1&Ntt=polishing&In=Fish&previousText=polishing&N=2023693)


this is only going to run once a week also, if that matters

steri
01/03/2007, 02:51 PM
You can always run two filters. One with carbon. The other with a micron cartridge. Then it's the best of both worlds ;-)

Well, as far as canisters go.

steri
01/03/2007, 02:56 PM
I looked at the pad. It brought back memories.

I have to be honest, I looked into Fluval's when I got the Magnum and the Rena. I really don't think the Fluval pad is going to do all it says it can. I could be wrong, I just wasn't convinced by it when I was looking at it in the store, and when the Petsmart guy was explaining to me how it would work.

To me the Fluval pad just looked like another filter pad. It just didn't appear to me to be as efficient looking of a tool as the Micron cartridge is. Once again though, it's just my opinion.

rooroo
01/03/2007, 02:59 PM
It looks like the same kind of pad as a poly-filter or filter sock, which many reefers like to polish their water with from time to time. Only disadvantage is you throw these away when they get brown/full of crap, where the micron you can bleach and reuse.

A fluval will work fine for your application. :)

casingbill
01/03/2007, 06:25 PM
gonna keep researching for a little while. thx guys.