Yep, that's right. Canister filter :P

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

Hey guys. I'm going to start running a canister filter in the sump for the benefits of running carbon (in a more efficient manner) and to polish the water. I have no experience with canister filters so I'm looking for a little guidance. I need something compact, easy to clean and remove/ disassemble. Any takers? I've been looking into the Marineland Magnum and HOT Magnum filters so far and will be checking out the Eheim filters next. TIA.

[CMOS]

Hey guys. I'm going to start running a canister filter in the sump for the benefits of running carbon (in a more efficient manner) and to polish the water. I have no experience with canister filters so I'm looking for a little guidance. I need something compact, easy to clean and remove/ disassemble. Any takers? I've been looking into the Marineland Magnum and HOT Magnum filters so far and will be checking out the Eheim filters next. TIA.

Although a little pricey, I have used Eheims for MANY years with great results. Widely used, and plenty of accessory parts if necessary.

For my education, what specifically do you want to change/improve with the carbon?


CMOS

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

Thanks for the reply CMOS. Right now, I only run carbon in a passive manner (put in a folder sock and tossed next to or under my return pump). I'd like to run carbon actively either through a reactor or a canister filter (so that water passes through it, rather than around it). I feel that I would get better use from the carbon that way.

[Original Fin]

Have you considered a media reactor instead? That's what I used to run carbon and GFO...less costly than a canister, and probably a smaller footprint too.

I have a BRS standard one stage reactor running with a MJ1200. Very simple to set up, easy to clean.
If you want to run more than one media at a time, they have a dual cartridge unit as well, although you can run GFO and carbon together...GFO first, sponge spacer, then carbon. The drawback is that this only works for tanks 120 and smaller, and of course you will have to change them both out at the same time. For instance, carbon may need to be replenished more often than GFO, so you're kind of wasting the GFO if you change it out with the carbon. You can try to scoop out and save the GFO to use again, bit it's just a bit of a PITA.


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[FoMoCo Master Tech]

Thanks Fin. I did consider a reactor instead of the filter and I might have to revisit that approach. I do want to have some sort of mechanical filtration though. It seems like I have much more detritus floating around in the water column.

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

So, I ended up going with a HOT magnum filter. Although it's rated smaller than my systems volume, I picked it beacuse it has a relatively small footprint and I could hang it on my sump. The media basket is big enough for the amount of carbon I use and the filter sleeves are cheap to replace / easy to clean. It runs pretty quiet as well. That's about all the pros on it though. The cons are: it's a PITA to make sure the seals are installed right. Every time I take the top off, the main seal falls out of the groove. Not terrible but annoying. If the seal isnt installed petfect and the top isnt positioned just right, it doesn't seal completely and air stays in the filter, making lots of micro bubbles that get through the bubble traps and end up in the tank. The exhaust tube ( some thin straw looking piece) has plugged up with small pices of chaeto and has caused low flow twice in three weeks. The sponge keeps the fuge free of debris but I dont notice any debris reduction in the DT yet. I have a feeling it wont reduce the debris at all. Not a big deal but it would have been nice. If i were to do it all over, i wouldn't have bought this filter. I'll continue using it though as an active carbon filter.

[ShooterRick]

For what is is worth from a rookie, I was considering canister filters before running into the used 72 gal setup. I liked the Rena xp series as they seem to do all a Ehiem would do at a lot less money. Granted they are not built as strongly but I believe they are quality enoeph to get the job done.

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

Thanks Rick. I looked into full sized canisters but they were just too big to get in and out of the stand easily. That's pretty much why I went with the HOT magnum. Live and learn, I guess

[Reefing Madness]

For what is is worth from a rookie, I was considering canister filters before running into the used 72 gal setup. I liked the Rena xp series as they seem to do all a Ehiem would do at a lot less money. Granted they are not built as strongly but I believe they are quality enoeph to get the job done.

Here is what I used for a period of time, just to throw carbon into the system.
EXTERNAL 4 STAGE Aquarium Fish Canister Filter Pump NEW | eBay
Thing works really well also.