External Cannister on a Reef Tank

[Istanbul_Kop]

Have a 390L tank.

Can't fit a skimmer or sump.

Plan to have Softies, Live Rock (40KG) and light fish stocking.

Is there any use for my external Eheim 2080 (I love that filter!)?

I was thinking using 100ml of Seachem Purigen in it and recharge after 6 months. Was also thinking of floss to grab particles, but worried about this going biological. Would carbon be of any use?

I assume there is no use for the media already in it for a reef tank? ie Eheim Substrat Pro and Eheim Mech.

Cheers.

 

[Cerianthus]

Although Eheim is my choice of canister, I dont see the need for a canister in reef. If any canisters are used, should be cleaned pretty oftern otherwise it could end up being Nitrate Factory.

I done reef with just Power heads and skimmer (HOB or even internal: any PS is better than nothing) and of course lighting does makes difference.

 

[tyler79durdan]

NO! But you could sell it or clean it real good then lube all the o-rings and gaskets with mineral oil or light coat vaseline, then store it away until you come back to the fresh-side.

 

[Conski]

Nitrate city man

 

[cav]

Nitrate city man

Tottally disagree with this statement.

External filters can be used quite happliy on a reef tank if they are cleaned on a weekly basis and not used to run media like sponges/bio balls/ceramic rings.

You can happliy run an external that contains phos remover (although this is much better fludised), purigen, floss (changed weekly) and carbon.

 

[ToeJam]

Nitrate city man

I don't disagree with this. For the most part they are highly "potential" nitrate source. They are detritus traps. Unless this trap is cleaned out very often. Often isn't once a week but every few days. You are only introducing nutrients into your water.

Can one use it on reef? Sure they can if you stay on top of keeping it clean ..very clean. Anyone ever use a filter sock of 200 micron? (Rhetorical) Those pick up detritus and you can monitor it....those suckers need to be cleaned every few days for me....I have several socks so i can go through them like normal socks between washings. *The point is those external filters are good traps like filter socks ...and will need constant cleaning*

There is far better filtration. HOB Skimmer for instances Reef Octopus and CPR make some good ones.

The protein skimmer + LR +Flow + Regular weekly tank maintenance is all one will need to get a happy reef going.

I believe you just have to ask yourself. Do I want to monitor this thing often and clean it out often? If the answer is no, please look into skimmers.

The reason I am bit more strict when it comes to reef is they do require a better water chemistry .....otherwise on Fowlr why not.

 

[Cerianthus]

One of reason I like reef after its beauty is LESS MAINTENANCE than other set ups once well matured.
Even had auto water changers where water will over flow into DIY denitrator system in the basement. These recycled water was reinjected back into system as needed basis along with fresh batch of reserve.
I dont think i would want to clean anything in the tank every few days. I would prefer to sit in front of the tank with glass of wine/bottle of beer and dream Im in/on Maldives Islands. LOL! .

 

[ToeJam]

One of reason I like reef after its beauty is LESS MAINTENANCE than other set ups once well matured.
Even had auto water changers where water will over flow into DIY denitrator system in the basement. These recycled water was reinjected back into system as needed basis along with fresh batch of reserve.
I dont think i would want to clean anything in the tank every few days. I would prefer to sit in front of the tank with glass of wine/bottle of beer and dream Im in/on Maldives Islands. LOL! .

yah I noticed once you reach a certain mature tank age.... You can be dumb like Me and skip water change for like a month (70+g bow front)....

I finally had to change water once a tiny cyano patch appeared on a rock...easy fix with one 20g change..... still that made my day 1 month of doing nothing but top off....

Love my skimmer though...i think I couldn't be in this position without such a good skimmer and mature tank.

Normally I am supposed to change weekly cause I want to grow more to sell...to pay for the next toy....i like reefing ...it's surely like gardening underwater with SPS.

 

[Istanbul_Kop]

As I say Dudes, no space for a skimmer. Tank is in an alcove on solid bricks. There is roughly 1.5" space at one end of the tank. The tank is also 30" tall and has thick glass bracing all the way around the rim. There is no room for a skimmer or an overlflow. The only option would be an internal skimmer.

I was hoping to run the cannister empty with Seachem Purigen (which is often referred to as a skimmer in a bag). Detritus and Nitrates would surely not be trapped in an empty cannister, no?

 

[cav]

yah I noticed once you reach a certain mature tank age.... You can be dumb like Me and skip water change for like a month (70+g bow front)....

Certainly not advisable if you running something like balling light on your system.

A 10% weekly water change is a neccassity to avoid the build of chlorides and over shooting your salnity.

finally had to change water once a tiny cyano patch appeared on a rock...easy fix with one 20g change..... still that made my day 1 month of doing nothing but top off....

How do you go about replenishing essential trace elements required by your corals?