Im running a 40 gallon saltwater tank with a snowflake eel and a dwarf fuzzy lion fish and some clown fish and cleaners. Im afraid that the bio load will be crazy and I should make a sump were I connect the intake hose from the sump then to the canister filter. Then I will have a pump to pump the water to the canister filter. The canister filter will act as a double check to get any left over dish poop and nasty stuff. The sump will have bio balls and live rock with snail to house bacteria.
Canister filter running on a 40 gallon tank
- Thread starter APEX_AIMZ
- Start date
top shelf
New member
Imo you are way over complicating it. I would remove the canister filter completely and just stick with a sump. Bioballs are outdated although some still swear by em and run em but lots of good ol' live rock would be a good choice. A 40b sump loaded with as much lr as you can fit and a oversized skimmer may be enough to keep up but it's a toss up, likely you'll still have high p04/no3
Pet Detective
New member
A canister filter is a good mechanical filter, it will keep the water column nice & clear especially for a fish only and or predator fish, which you may feed live food to.
I'ts always a good plan to run a sump, adds volume and versatility ie. skimmers, heaters, and whatever supplemental additions.
Bio Balls and live rock will work fine together in a wet/dry/sump, I currently run this on my reef as well as a refugium.
As far as your bio-load goes, rock in the display, bio balls and rock in the sump should provide plenty of area for bacterial colony growth.
Phosphates and nitrates will not be a problem for just fish.
I'm not sure how you want the sump intake to attach to the canister? Running them separately or in tandem will be sufficient.
I'ts always a good plan to run a sump, adds volume and versatility ie. skimmers, heaters, and whatever supplemental additions.
Bio Balls and live rock will work fine together in a wet/dry/sump, I currently run this on my reef as well as a refugium.
As far as your bio-load goes, rock in the display, bio balls and rock in the sump should provide plenty of area for bacterial colony growth.
Phosphates and nitrates will not be a problem for just fish.
I'm not sure how you want the sump intake to attach to the canister? Running them separately or in tandem will be sufficient.
billdogg
Well-known member
^^^Some of what both of them have said^^^
I'd ditch the bioballs as well - really no need for them when LR can easily take their place. Another issue you might have is that generally canisters need to be gravity fed - not pressure fed as it would be if you use a pump to get the water to it. Pressure tends to make them leak.
I would also suggest a good skimmer, and if you are that concerned about organic matter in the water, use a filter sock.
I'd ditch the bioballs as well - really no need for them when LR can easily take their place. Another issue you might have is that generally canisters need to be gravity fed - not pressure fed as it would be if you use a pump to get the water to it. Pressure tends to make them leak.
I would also suggest a good skimmer, and if you are that concerned about organic matter in the water, use a filter sock.
