GFO in Cannister

[jvmesle]

I have no intentions of getting any reactors as I have a Fluval FX5 cannister filter that I got for free so I intend to make use of it. I was just wondering how to place the GFO? I am going to use BRS GFO in a mesh bag. I'm taking out all the sponges in the cannister too.

Should I just keep the GFO inbetween two poly filter pads in the bottom tray? Or is there a different way I should position them?

 

[Potatohead]

Just throwing this out there;

FX5 uses 50w, a small pump to drive a reactor uses about 6 - 8w. 42w running 24/7 will cost you about 15 cents a day depending on your cost of power. If a reactor and pump costs about $90 it will pay for itself after about 20 months.

If you want to use the canister you will need to put it in a filter bag. Truthfully it's probably just as effective to put it in a bag in the sump rather than use the FX5.

 

[jvmesle]

Just throwing this out there;

FX5 uses 50w, a small pump to drive a reactor uses about 6 - 8w. 42w running 24/7 will cost you about 15 cents a day depending on your cost of power. If a reactor and pump costs about $90 it will pay for itself after about 20 months.

If you want to use the canister you will need to put it in a filter bag. Truthfully it's probably just as effective to put it in a bag in the sump rather than use the FX5.

I would have a sump but my tank cannot be drilled and my tank stand doesn't have room to hold a sump but the canister fits perfectly into the stand. I do not mind about the power costs but thank you for your input!

I will be putting the GFO in a filter bag, do you have any suggestions as to which compartment I should put it in or if I should place it in between poly filter pads or not? I don't want the GFO to to tumble too much. Also do I have to wash GFO beforehand?

 

[surfingdude]

i have my gfo (in a bag) in between a thin sponge that it came with, then chemipure, then gfo then polyfilter pad...its a chemipure gfo sandwich....polyfilter/foam is the bread. I still use the sponges mine came with cause your gonna have to open it up and clean it out anyway. The polyfilter pads gonna get crap into them anyway. I clean mine out once a month, was doing it every 2 weeks, but even once a month, my nitrate levels are 0. Tho my bioload is fairly small. 10 small fish in a 60 gallon with coral. Everything is flourishing with no skimmer...yet.

 

[duncanpate1]

Just throwing this out there;

FX5 uses 50w, a small pump to drive a reactor uses about 6 - 8w. 42w running 24/7 will cost you about 15 cents a day depending on your cost of power. If a reactor and pump costs about $90 it will pay for itself after about 20 months.

If you want to use the canister you will need to put it in a filter bag. Truthfully it's probably just as effective to put it in a bag in the sump rather than use the FX5.

I would agree that from a cost standpoint this makes sense, however, running it in the FX5 will be way more effective than just floating around the sump.
Passive vs aggressive filtering.


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[TideFluxFlo]

I would agree that from a cost standpoint this makes sense, however, running it in the FX5 will be way more effective than just floating around the sump.
Passive vs aggressive filtering.


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I Agree, been thinking about my canister as well.

"Questioning Content, Understanding Principles and Applying what's relevant in every situation!'

 

[bean2986]

Sounds like the same situation as me. I've been running GFO in my second basket (Aquatop canister) for a few months. Seems to be working sandwiched between basket and thin filter floss. Situation isn't ideal, but would rather not spend more money on equipment on this specific tank.

 

[anthonys51]

It doesn't matter when in the filter you put it. To answer your question. Just try to cover the whole later. Remember water flows in the area if least resistance


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[ReefsandGeeks]

I've been running GFO in a canister for years. I have it in a mesh bag in the top compartment, with filter floss stuffed around the rest of the compartment to try to encourage the water to flow through the bag rather than around it. Has worked well for me. I also keep some rubble rock in the canister, and keep a layer of filter floss on the bottom to catch anything that might make it's way into the filter. has worked just fine for me. Probably not as efficient as a canister, but a canister isn't a good option for me as well due to a non-drilled tank with no sump

 

[gjustinj]

I run a fluval fx4 canister filter on a 125 gallon tank and it's doing a great job from what I can tell so far I have no complaints (yet).