Actually, I think that removing the cc during the day would cause less stress, as the fish would be able to see that you're not "hunting" them. Depending on how long you've had the cc in the tank, there is bound to be some detritus which will cloud the water - for this reason, I would recommend that you keep the cannister filter working with all the media you have in it.I've started pulling out some of the c.c.
I'm gonna do a little each night after "lights out" to try and minimize stress.
Yes, remove EVERYTHING (but not yet, as discussed above...)So, lemme get this straight: Run my canister filter with NOTHING in it? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of the filter altogether?
You will only use the canister as another water pump, and not as a filter. In a properly set up reef tank, the deep sand bed and/or live rock would be the filter, and you only need to provide good water movement (and of course proper lighting for the corals...). By the way, the canister filter is handy to run carbon in for short periods, so don't discard it completely
The way your filtration is currently set up it is essential to keep the cannister filter running "as is" untill the natural deep sand & live rock "filter" has matured. I would suggest that you only change one thing at a time - first the sand, then add some more live rock if needed (how much do you have in your tank anyway???), and then slowly remove the cannister filter media over a period of a few weeks.Right now, I have bio media, carbon, mech. filter and filter sponge in there.
Remember, be patient - ONLY BAD THINGS HAPPEN QUICKLY in a marine tank.
Oh, and do lots of reading on forums such as this, and perhaps get a good beginners book as well.
Hennie