Cannister filter or no?

[jecarl2]

I currently have a 90 gal. w/120 lbs of live rock (TBS), skimmer and a cascade canister filter. Should I not use the canister filter at all and just rely on the live rock for filtration. My water parameters are fine except the nitrates are around .15ppm.

The tank has been set up for about 8 weeks.

[Phinfan]

I would be interested in knowing this also. the guy at the lfs is trying to sell me a canister for the new tank Im building. but my guess would be the canister is the cause of the nitrate level. but being new to this thats just a guess.

[dannable]

I think Canister filters are ok if you maintain them at least weekly. My tank has been up for about 9 weeks and my nitrates are less than 5ppm.

[GlobaLPimP]

I would stay away from the canister filter (nitrate factory). Nitrates should be at ZERO;) If you do choose to go with a canister filter - I'd clean it at least twice a week to keep your nitrates in check. Every tank is different though...good luck:)

[ledford1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8492614#post8492614 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dannable
I think Canister filters are ok if you maintain them at least weekly. My tank has been up for about 9 weeks and my nitrates are less than 5ppm.
Yep, maintenance is important with cannisters. If you're up for it, they are fine.

You could remove the media and put in LR, effectively making it a sump or fuge. Just because they give you floss filters and bio-rings doesn't mean you have to use them.

[jecarl2]

So basically it wouldn't hurt to remove it all together, i don't like the long black tube that runs across the back of my tank anyway.

[frenchie]

i have cascade 1500 and 1200 i use with nothing but seachem matrix for my 125 gallon tank for bio filter.

[Sk8r]

I run a 52g reef with a 10g sump and no filter at all, just a skimmer in the sump. Stuff tends to settle and get digested, or the corals eat it.

[frenchie]

i only hooked up cascade 1200 canister cause it was sitting around from freshwater setup and tried to sell for 80 bucks but no takers so figured what the heck made a bio filter out of it