canister filter as reactor?

[Boom215]

setting up my sump and trying to plan out the plumbing. realized i have a canister filter i won't be using, and i have a HOB i planned on using for a QT tank. can i just use the canister as needed for charcoal or whatever else?

[JohnnyHildo]

i can't see a reason why you couldn't. i have a eheim pro 3 filter that has dividable trays that would work perfect if i needed to provided the implement you fill it with is large enough not to get washed out and sent into the sump. prime example being gfo.

[Boom215]

great, thanks for the reply. just seemed unnecessary to buy more equipment if i could just repurpose what i have.

[billdogg]

I used a canister as a place for a little extra biological filtration and a whole lot of carbon for 22 years on my 60g cube. Go for it. Just keep it clean.

[Vinny Kreyling]

Just do NOT use it for GFO unless you want to put it in the garbage after it turns to a brick.

[Fishbulb2]

It should work fine for carbon and some other media. Just be careful with mechanical filtration. The idea with filter socks and such is to replace them often, and a canister would be a pain to open and clean every week.

FB

[Boom215]

It should work fine for carbon and some other media. Just be careful with mechanical filtration. The idea with filter socks and such is to replace them often, and a canister would be a pain to open and clean every week.

FB

im planning on just having this run on my sump, so it will be easy to access since it'll be in my basement. thanks everyone.

as far as the goo goes, i guess ill just have to suck it up and buy a reactor for that? or do people run that only on occasion so i could get away with a home made one?

[Breadman03]

Just do NOT use it for GFO unless you want to put it in the garbage after it turns to a brick.



That sounds like personal experience :)

[Vinny Kreyling]

Nope, but I knew the fellow that it happened to.

[ca1ore]

Seems to me there no fundamental difference between a canister filter and a 'reactor'. OK, I suppose the former may have a pump/motor on top, but otherwise no operational differences really. Reactor will act as a mechanical filter just like a canister will.

[billdogg]

Seems to me there no fundamental difference between a canister filter and a 'reactor'. OK, I suppose the former may have a pump/motor on top, but otherwise no operational differences really. Reactor will act as a mechanical filter just like a canister will.

DING DING DING!!!

We have a winner. There is NO difference other than a canister can be a bit more difficult to maintain. I find them to be especially well suited for carbon since NO tumbling is desired.