[My2heartboys]

OK, at this point I have a penguin and a fluval 304. I have found that the fluval is very much of a pain in the tail to take on and off line for regular maintenence or to take out/replace chemical filtation media. Because of this-I have taken it and put a bunch of these little plastic pot scrubbers in it and am using that for the bio-matter in it. When you can buy 6 of them for a dollar at Dollar General....well you get the picture. Boils down to using the fluval as a biofilter and not much more. What I would really like to find is some sort of similar hang on tank cannister type filter to use that would be easy to take on and off line to take out or replace chemical filtration media. I like using the Pura Complete--but have found that just placing it in media bags in the penguin just really don't do the job as well as putting it into the fluval.

Any thoughts---suggestions?????

Anne

[Poseidon]

Hi Anne,

Do a search on Canister filters here, I am sure you will find more then you need to know about them. Here is a cliff notes version though CAnister filters= NItrate problems. Unless you stay on top of them and clean them weekly you MAY have trouble with excess NO3 in your tank. If you have a good amount of live rock in your tank, I would take the canister OUT, or better yet remove all the media (except maybe carbon) and use it for a flow device rather then a filter.

THe ONLY filters I use on my tank is a protein skimmer, and some filter floss in my overflow that I change every few days.

[My2heartboys]

Originally Posted by Poseidon

Hi Anne,

Do a search on Canister filters here, I am sure you will find more then you need to know about them. Here is a cliff notes version though CAnister filters= NItrate problems. Unless you stay on top of them and clean them weekly you MAY have trouble with excess NO3 in your tank. If you have a good amount of live rock in your tank, I would take the canister OUT, or better yet remove all the media (except maybe carbon) and use it for a flow device rather then a filter.

THe ONLY filters I use on my tank is a protein skimmer, and some filter floss in my overflow that I change every few days.

I am having trouble with NO3 now!!!! When I was able to do the Pura Complete in the fluval---I had minimal trouble.

Thank you for your help.

Anne

[My2heartboys]

Originally Posted by My2heartboys

OK, at this point I have a penguin and a fluval 304. I have found that the fluval is very much of a pain in the tail to take on and off line for regular maintenence or to take out/replace chemical filtation media. Because of this-I have taken it and put a bunch of these little plastic pot scrubbers in it and am using that for the bio-matter in it. When you can buy 6 of them for a dollar at Dollar General....well you get the picture. Boils down to using the fluval as a biofilter and not much more. What I would really like to find is some sort of similar hang on tank cannister type filter to use that would be easy to take on and off line to take out or replace chemical filtration media. I like using the Pura Complete--but have found that just placing it in media bags in the penguin just really don't do the job as well as putting it into the fluval.

Any thoughts---suggestions?????

Anne

Update on this deal.

Well, after having multiple problems with the fluval--we wound up going to petsmart and getting a Mangnum H.O.T. filter. Probably not the best---but with the penguin I *should* be covered.

Anne

[Reefland]

Hi Anne,

I'm just wondering why your bothering with mechanical filters at all? You have liverock and a good skimmer, right?

[My2heartboys]

Originally Posted by Reefland

Hi Anne,

I'm just wondering why your bothering with mechanical filters at all? You have liverock and a good skimmer, right?

Because I don't have nearly enough live rock for my tank yet---and I kind of like the sense of a little security that it does give me. I still do water changes. On top of that, I do not have room for a sump and/or refugium--so all I have is the main tank.

Anne

[Reefland]

How much rock do you have and what about the skimmer? You mention sense of security, I would have a better sense without the mechanical filters, myself.

[Poseidon]

I agree with Scott, no mechanical filter for me. Less to worry about.

[My2heartboys]

Originally Posted by Reefland

Hi Anne,

I'm just wondering why your bothering with mechanical filters at all? You have liverock and a good skimmer, right?

I would be shocked if I have 25lbs of live rock in my 45 gallon tank. Yes, my skimmer is good. I do like the fact that I do have chemical media for filtration to *hopefully* cover any oooppps that I might have. It is not that I am trying to get by with no water changes because I do water changes (weekly it seems like).

Anne

[Reefland]

I would almost be ready to bet a tang that if you are staying on your water changes, what liverock you have is of good quality (not fresh base rock), and your skimmer is performing well that you could remove the other filter.

[Randy]

Are you using tap water or RO/DI for your water changes and water replacement? If not you will need one soon before things begin to die off ~ and they the condition doesn't get under controll. I bought an excellent RO/DI unit 2 years ago and love it to death ~ solved 100% of my problems. If you don't have one and plan to be in the hobby a long time ~ why fight it you need one. If interested I'll post where I bought mine (best prices I've seen) I forget right now.

I would dump the canister filters for now or simply use them for circulation (like Poseidon said). If you have a nitrate problem all the chemicals in the world won't make them go away.

RO/DI water changes/water replacement, good skimmer, and monitor feeding should take care of the problem.

In the meantime, though it may sound strange, you should check out this link:
http://www.hdltd.com/products/p_rightnow.html

I personally have used this stuff before and absolutely no ill affects what so ever and others that I referred it to were very happy with it too. It’s cheap; no ill affects, and seems to work for everyone who has used it. Now I don’t know that what they state in their advertising is actually possible, but it sure did bring down my nitrates. This was before I used RO/DI; I just used country well water ~ bad idea. I didn’t use the carbon tube either.