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04-11-2007, 08:27 PM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Plankton
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 2
Karma: 1
 |  Need help deciding on filtration!
Hey all!
I am not "new" to the hobby, but am hoping someone can help me out here. I am hoping to switch over to a different filtration setup in the near future. I am wondering what the best type(s) of filters are? I am interested in the canister filters, but I have heard they are nitrate factories. Also, I have never been a huge fan of under tank sumps, even though I know they work very well. Anything else I could do instead? Please help... BTW, I have a 40 gallon, oceanic stretch hex...
Thank You!
Scott | 
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04-11-2007, 08:44 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Sea Dragon
Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kalispell, MT
Posts: 533
Karma: 47
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Welcome to 3Reef! For your main filtration I would go with live rock/live sand. As for canisters they can become nitrate factories if they do not get cleaned. I have always been a fan of Hagen's Fluval series. _________ Senior Noob Setting my 75 back up soon Main SW Tank:
55gal, 70LBS of Tonga/LFSDIY, 50lbs LS, 1x250watt MH(20k), AquaC Remora Skimmer Live stock: Velvet Damsel, (12)Blue legged crab, lawnmower blenny, (1)cleaner shrimp, Yellow Tang, Featherduster CoralsRandom Zoo's(like 10), more zoo's,red mushrooms and hairy mushrooms, Sinularia | |
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04-11-2007, 08:49 PM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Plankton
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 2
Karma: 1
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I a definitely willing to clean it! I already have live rock and sand and all... have had for two years now. I am just deciding to switch to better filtration... All I have now is a hang on the back filter that I am sick of! How often do the fluvals need cleaning and switching media and all? Thanks! | |
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04-11-2007, 08:52 PM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Sea Dragon
Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kalispell, MT
Posts: 533
Karma: 47
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I rise mine out once a week. If you use carbon I would change it out every 30days. | |
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04-17-2007, 02:53 AM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Feather Duster
Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: oakley,ca Age: 27
Posts: 214
Karma: 41
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i have a fluval and love it.I would recommend not using the foam media for a very long time.I just use mines for the activated carbon and from time to time adding a pouch of phosphate remover.
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tank: 55gal, coralife super skimmer , odyssea 260w 48" compact light, Fluval 304 canister filter, power head, 50 lbs live rock
dragon goby, 20 red legged crabs,9 blue legged crabs,7 nassarious snails,5 zebra snails,2 false percula clowns,1 blue hippo tang | |
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04-17-2007, 07:17 AM
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#6 (permalink)
| | 3reef Moderator |
I've never used a filter other than LR and I've never had any issues. Personally I do not feel a canister filter is needed in a reef tank with LR
J | |
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04-17-2007, 11:01 AM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Gigas Clam
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Carpentersville, IL Age: 52
Posts: 874
Karma: 137
 
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I used to like Fluvals too, BUT I've had 2 404s die on me. They seem to last about 2 years then pack it in. In both cases it was due to something internal in the pump section. I also had one develop a leak and needed to replace the O ring. I think they have addressed some of the reliability issues on their new models. Still for the bucks it seems to be a good canister. It is amazing how rapidly the foam filter section gets dirty. It does require cleaning every other week without fail. The trays were useful for carbon, phosban or bio. I'm not sure of their current model runs, but I'd go with a 404= or larger even on your 40 gallon tank.
In any case a powerful canister has to be better than almost any hang on filter. I know you don't like them, but these days I'd still choose a sump over a canister any day. $.02
Oh, I should probably give you my reason...
It mainly revolves around the skimmer. It is just easier to put a powerful skimmer in a sump than deal with a hang on. IMO, the skimmer is the most important part of the mechanical filtration in your setup. A sump just makes life so much easier in dealing with skimmer options.
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300 Reef; 325LR, 1/2" sand bed in tank, 3" sand bed in 215 gal sump/refugium and Berliner PowerPro SS twin becket skimmer. 210 Reef; with 225 lbs of LR, 300 lb DSB, Large W/D and Jebo 520 skimmer modified to accept a becket. 90 RR FOWLR; tied into the 300's sump with a closed loop for extra circulation. 55 hospital. | |
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04-17-2007, 05:18 PM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Feather Duster
Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: jonesboro, arkansas Age: 29
Posts: 215
Karma: 12
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i second what blade runner said about the fluvals dying. i've known 2 of them to die after about 18 months. however i also agree with jason. if you have enough liverock you shouldnt really need it.
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125 gallon glass. 3 10k 250w metal halides, 1 4ft 110w vho actinic. who knows how much live rock. yellow tang, domino, cinnamon clown, percula clown, flame angel,peppermint shrimp, camel shrimp, skunk shrimp, a few turbo snails, lots of hermit crabs, leather coral, branching frogspawn, mushrooms, too much xenia, and several different zoo's and button polyps | |
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04-17-2007, 09:45 PM
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#9 (permalink)
| | Fire Worm
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 163
Karma: 126
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i like eheim. i clean mine out on the 1st of the month yea its a little work but its comes in handy. _________  and yes those are my zoa's in that pic.
60gal salt water tank. live rock yea i got that.(not sure how much) live sand im guessing about 70lbs natulas proteenskimer uv filter sumptank w/ bio bio balls eheim canster filter 2 heaters 1/10 chiller firefish 2 scissortail dartfish a yellow and a blue tang watchtower goby coral beuty red wrasse tomato clown bicolor blenny and some coral | |
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04-18-2007, 08:11 AM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Meriden, Connecticut Age: 44
Posts: 3,963
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Welcome to 3reef first of all!
I have never really been a fan of cannister filters, other than for their increased water flow and place in which to house filter media(chemical).
LIve rock and sand(biological) filtration and an efficient protein skimmer are your best bet IMO> this in conjunction with the many filter feeders, polychaete worms, and other microbial organisms will offer you the best results... _________ 125gal.w/Mag9.5 return(dual megaflow)>Mag7 pump Aqua Cev180skimmer.Wave2k Hamilton Reefstar(2)250watthqi(mh)pend.a Yellow, Naso Tang Red Lip Blenny Percula Clown Demoiselles Niger Trigger F. Wrasses Ceriantharia Orn.Shrimp and Stars Hermits Queen Conch asst. snails> Stars Zoos shrooms Montipora Brains Gorgonians Favia Turbinaria(large+small polyp) Acropora Xenia Tridacna (CroceaMaximaSquamosa) Leathers <35+75gal.reef tank as well> 
"IF THE PHONE DOESN'T RING...IT'S ME"  jb  | |
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