Filter question

[casper6482]

I have a 95 gallon tank that has a Pentair filter system on it. It has a AF93 Chemical filter (which I was going to but charcoal in) and a AF94 Mech filter ( which I though about putting Phosban in) and 2 UV Serilizers. There are 2 holes in the bottom of the tank which feed it and the return is thru a prefilter box in the tank. There is also a refuguim under the tank. It is said that the canister filters breed nitrates. Is this true? If I set it up the way discribed will this be ok for a reef with SPS corals? any advise would be greatly appriciated!!!

Please feel free to bash on the setup if you so think so. I would rather have negitive respone then no respone at all like some other sites I have been on.

I will have about 500 gallons going thru the Lifegard system and around 1100 going there the refugium/sump ( is split so only about 500G. goes thru the refugium and the rest is diverted thru the sump)...I also have a Tunze skimmer in the sump.

Please advise!!!

[luke33]

Yes its true about the canister filters. You can run carbon and chemical filtration through it. It floss will just harbor nitrates. Some people add rock rubble into there canister's. I personally don't see a use for them. If i want to run carbon in my tank, i'll throw a emperer 400 on it for a few days. But if you have sps, i'd avoid the canister all together imo. Its up to you though.

[casper6482]

Thanks for you response!! I feel stuck with it because of the pre-drilled holes in the bottom. Plus I have the UV lights. I guess I could just go straight to the UV lights and bybass the filters? What do you think about that or maybe go with a nitrate remover media instead of the Phosban. Any opinion on that?

Thank you again!!!

[luke33]

I've heard the nitrate remover works pretty well. I have ran canister filters before on FOWLR tanks, and I liked the fact that it polished the water well. My nitrates were always around 30ppm. If you do run your canister, just make sure you have minimal floss in there and make sure you clean it every other week. The problem i had with tehm is you have to clean out the floss or replace it weekly or biweekly and thats a pain with a canister. If i were you i'd just run the uv's and ditch the canister all together. If yo want to run carbon or phosban, or filter media, you can always throw it in your sump and that way you can get to it easily. Just my thoughts.

[casper6482]

Thanks againfor all your advise!!! I think I will bypass them.

[luke33]

Good deal, you'll be happier in the long run!