Canister filter

From ReefPedia

Jump to: navigation, search

[edit]

Canister filter

Difficulty: Medium - Hard

Availability: somewhat common

pic coming soon

[edit]

Introduction

Canister filters are available for salt water use, but are shunned by experienced salt water aquarist who prefer live filtration over foam or pads. Most experienced salt water aquarist would also recommend adding in a sump containing live rock and over time, eliminate the canister. Canister filters have often been referred to as protein storage units. Solid waste builds up in them instead of being eliminated, even though a skimmer may be employed.

The lack of consistent and regular cleaning of pads or foam filter elements can lead to ammonia and nitrite buildup within the water column which, can cause illness and produce a potentially lethal, toxic environment to the inhabitants. There should never be any detectable ammonia or nitrites within the water column of a tank that has undergone its initial cycling phase. There will become an imbalance of bacteria in the system to combat the build up and your tanks equilibrium will be affected.

[edit]

Toxin Reduction

A ten percent water change is recommended with RO/DI water that is balanced to the aquariums salinity, pH and temperature, then re-test. An evaluation of the system needs to be done to determine the cause of any toxin increase.

If ammonia levels are high, one can use a reducer such as, Seachem Prime and add one cap full for every 50 gallons of water of your tank size. Wait two hours and check your levels again. If levels are still high, add another cap full wait two hours and check again. If level of ammonia are still detected, do five gallon water change with one half cap of prime in balanced RO/DI water.

[edit]

Regular Maintenance

If solid waste has accumulated on the bio media, take it out and dip it in your change water (what you took from the tank) when a water change is done. This is just to remove the solids. Using the water from your tank will not harm the good bacteria on the bio media. Check the bottom of the canister, to make sure there are no solids built up in the bottom, if so, rinse it out.

Clean all filters and pads on a weekly or more frequent basis.

[edit]