More media in a canister to clog and break down into nitrates. Not to mention tubes and any other areas where mulm can build up and decompose.
main difference between HOB and cannister filter?
- Thread starter djmodifyd
- Start date
More media in a canister to clog and break down into nitrates. Not to mention tubes and any other areas where mulm can build up and decompose.
echoofformless
Peat Advocate & Defender Of Snails
More gas exchange. Supposedly the fact that there is surface agitation above the media allows some of the nitrate to dissipate. A canister is enclosed so this isn't allowed.
At least that is what a lot of reefers/marine keepers claim. Like I said originally, it's a "claim" so don't quote me on it. Though I can see it making sense for that reason, as well as the fact that there is a lot more dirt buildup over time in a canister system.
I love the idea of canisters being a nitrate factory for my heavily planted tanks.
I encourage it.
At least that is what a lot of reefers/marine keepers claim. Like I said originally, it's a "claim" so don't quote me on it. Though I can see it making sense for that reason, as well as the fact that there is a lot more dirt buildup over time in a canister system.
I love the idea of canisters being a nitrate factory for my heavily planted tanks.
I encourage it.
Isn't surface agitation a good thing?
also, the idea that canisters require less maintenance is not one I am buying either. I've used both, and now with my overstocked rift lake tanks I pretty much use fluidized bed filters and the marineland Emperor series - I've never come across a filter that needed less maintenance or was easier to maintain than the marineland. I've completely gone away from canisters all together - all it takes is just ONE time to have an o-ring fail or a hose fail on you, have 75 gallons of water pumped onto your hardwood floor, and it will make you rethink canisters for the rest of your fish keeping life (take my word on that one!)
my rifties certainly haven't filed any complaints since I banish Eheim from my house forever, in fact I wouldn't be surprised if there is something to that nitrate theory, because I've had less algae issues far and away
also, the idea that canisters require less maintenance is not one I am buying either. I've used both, and now with my overstocked rift lake tanks I pretty much use fluidized bed filters and the marineland Emperor series - I've never come across a filter that needed less maintenance or was easier to maintain than the marineland. I've completely gone away from canisters all together - all it takes is just ONE time to have an o-ring fail or a hose fail on you, have 75 gallons of water pumped onto your hardwood floor, and it will make you rethink canisters for the rest of your fish keeping life (take my word on that one!)
my rifties certainly haven't filed any complaints since I banish Eheim from my house forever, in fact I wouldn't be surprised if there is something to that nitrate theory, because I've had less algae issues far and away
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Surface agitation is bad for me because it promotes the outgassing of my precious co2. (not to say the surface of my water is unrippled)
I think people tend to go longer between maintenance on canisters vs. hobs. Probably more of a reason for more nitrates to be present.
True an o-ring fail or hose fail is horrible, but there are many other things that can spill water,, like a busted seam or a crack in the body of a hob. Its all a game of chance and there is no telling when any one part of a complex system will fail.
Understock and overfilter and you shouldnt have any problems.
I think people tend to go longer between maintenance on canisters vs. hobs. Probably more of a reason for more nitrates to be present.
True an o-ring fail or hose fail is horrible, but there are many other things that can spill water,, like a busted seam or a crack in the body of a hob. Its all a game of chance and there is no telling when any one part of a complex system will fail.
Understock and overfilter and you shouldnt have any problems.
yeah, I see the point - I am setting up my first marine tank now and people are telling me I need to find ways to vent CO2, so I guess it all depends on what your goal is.
I do keep large, overstocked African Cichlid tanks and the conventional wisdom you would get out of reading this forum is you must have an awesome canister filter to do this successfully. I would argue against that conventional wisdom. There is more than one way to skin a cat. I love doing maintenance on my tanks, its a labor of love, but that doesn't mean I want to haul around gallons of water and gunk-ridden media. Aside from that, I openly admit that after my Eheim classic (considered holy on this forum, and I readily admit most are probably great) caused a catastrophy it just turned me off all together to that style of filtration.
I do keep large, overstocked African Cichlid tanks and the conventional wisdom you would get out of reading this forum is you must have an awesome canister filter to do this successfully. I would argue against that conventional wisdom. There is more than one way to skin a cat. I love doing maintenance on my tanks, its a labor of love, but that doesn't mean I want to haul around gallons of water and gunk-ridden media. Aside from that, I openly admit that after my Eheim classic (considered holy on this forum, and I readily admit most are probably great) caused a catastrophy it just turned me off all together to that style of filtration.
Excellent post! Proof that there is no one right answer for everyone. I personally like performing maintenance as well so all I really use a filter for is catching debris. I like getting my oxygen & bio filtration from my plants (not easy for you to do, I bet any plants you put in get uprooted and/or eaten) steady water changes works wonders.
indeed - I love aquatic plants, but the varieties of Africans I keep either turn them into lunch, or make life miserable by digging them up and "re-arranging their furniture."
Sometimes you have to look past your own inferences, another example when I say things like "I keep overstocked African Cichlid tanks" some on here probably think "oh no those poor crowded fish and their unhealthy environment." I actually do it to LIMIT AGGRESSION (which is effective) and keep them from bullying one another, and I compensate with an aggressive water change schedule and heavily bio filter (hence the fluidized bed filters)
this is the first time I've started a marine tank, and I've already learned SO MUCH from people here on AC... but I'm always suspicious when someone comes across as all-knowing or puts off the vibe that they are experts and nobody else can have a different approach. Thats why threads like this are so interesting to me, you usually get people who swear by their methods, which is fine... I just like seeing all the different methods
Sometimes you have to look past your own inferences, another example when I say things like "I keep overstocked African Cichlid tanks" some on here probably think "oh no those poor crowded fish and their unhealthy environment." I actually do it to LIMIT AGGRESSION (which is effective) and keep them from bullying one another, and I compensate with an aggressive water change schedule and heavily bio filter (hence the fluidized bed filters)
this is the first time I've started a marine tank, and I've already learned SO MUCH from people here on AC... but I'm always suspicious when someone comes across as all-knowing or puts off the vibe that they are experts and nobody else can have a different approach. Thats why threads like this are so interesting to me, you usually get people who swear by their methods, which is fine... I just like seeing all the different methods
Indeed an excellent post.
Every tank is different and as such will have different needs. There is no hard line that says a canister is better than a hob or vice versa.
This is where yank maintenance comes in... you have to do it! Amonthly cleaning is really all it takes on these filters.
Nitrate does not gass off. If this were the case, we'd all be blasting air in to our aquariums to get rid of it and phosban wouldn't exist!
You said it yourself, you're overstocked! Maybe you need more filtration or a bigger tank? Just something to consider. I've never had a canister blow a gasket on me. You do have to pay attention to whay you're doing when reassembling them!
Best wishes!
