Question regarding Canister Filters......

[steri]

I run 2 canister filters on my 75, along with other stuff (see below). I went to clean out my Magnum 350 yesterday, but decided not to for a couple of reasons:

1) Nitrates have always been concistent in my tank between 7-10.

2) There are 100s of pods in my canister filter!!!!!

I was amazed when I saw it yesterday. I've never seen so many pods at once so busy at work! Now, I have both canisters set up with LR and rubble LR in the storage comparments, so that this happened isn't too much of a surprise to me, but it got me thinking......

With so many pods now in my canisters, should I worry about cleaning the canisters so often? I know pods are great for a tank, and I really don't want to kill them just to clean a canister if they are going to eat the gunk any way. I figure, as long as the nitrates stay consistent, I will let sleeping dogs lie. You think that will work?

Man it was cool to see all those pods at work (eating ans swimming away in the canister). I never saw them to that degree before. Awesome

 

[sir_dudeguy]

well you're not gonna get any nitrate buildup because you're using live rock in them only. Correct? Its when you use the filter medias that you get the nitrates to skyrocket. Stuff like biomax and the eheim version, etc... Rock rubble will not make nitrates....just the media.

If it were me, i personally wouldnt clean the filter very often if at all. Maybe every couple months or something but i think it should stay pretty clean w/all the pods in there.

So do you have any filter media and/or the sponge pads in there? Those 2 things can make nitrates.

 

[drummereef]

What media do you run in the canister?

 

[taillonjohn]

if pods are in the filter like that, can you use the filter to run carbon, or is it empty except for the rubble?

 

[steri]

In my Magnum, I only have LR and LR rubble as my "media" in the filter. That's it.

In my Rena canister, that one has comparments. One compartment is full of LR and LR rubble and the other has LR rubble and carbon in it.

That's the "media" I use in my filters. There appears to be more pods in the Magnum then in the Rena, but don't get the wrong impression, there are plenty in the Rena as well.

Does that answer your questions?

 

[steri]

So, based on all that, you think I'm alright not cleaning them out so often?

 

[taillonjohn]

I would think that as long as the impeller was clean, and worked properly, then the bucket of the canister would not need to be cleaned so often, if its just pods and lr rubble. any other opinions?

 

[sir_dudeguy]

So, based on all that, you think I'm alright not cleaning them out so often?

yep, thats what i would think

 

[BurntOutReefer]

and change your carbon once a month