Running biopellet and carbon in cannister filter?

[WatDatThing]

I have been running carbon through my cannister filter. Is it OK to add biopellet? I'll add it to a separate media bag.

Tank: 55gal, 4 months old
skimless, sumpless.
Nitrate: 10-20 ppm
Other params are stable.

 

[anthonys51]

Biopellets won't work in canister filter the flow will be too high. Those filters aren't designed to run anaerobically. They are fine fir carbon but you need much slower flow for biopellets


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[anthonys51]

Also how often do you clean that canister filter. Not cleaning it and the carbon weekly will just add nitrates to your tank


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[anthonys51]

Also why don't you have a skimmer. What made you choose a canister filter over a skimmer.

Skimmers take out nutrients before they can be broken down but bacteria. Therefore never turning to nitrates. Canister filters collect dirt and hold it there until user can clean at a later date. All the while bacteria is turning dirt into nitrate


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[WatDatThing]

Also why don't you have a skimmer. What made you choose a canister filter over a skimmer.

Skimmers take out nutrients before they can be broken down but bacteria. Therefore never turning to nitrates. Canister filters collect dirt and hold it there until user can clean at a later date. All the while bacteria is turning dirt into nitrate


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Poor planning I guess. I didn't leave enough clearance in the back for a hob skimmer. Now that the tank is up, it is too heavy to move. I'm using the canister filter because I have it when I switch from fw to SW.

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[anthonys51]

I totally understand. You know if you drain 3/4 of the water 55 gallon tanks aren't hard to move a couple inches. Might be a lot of work. But if you add up all the time you wasted cleaning your canister filter it will catch up quickly


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[WatDatThing]

Will try. I have been keeping an eye out for a used one.

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[GimpyFin]

If you are considering biopellets, they need a dedicated media reactor that tumbles them gently and keeps them suspended, so they won't work in a canister or bag. They also require a fairly strong skimmer (Preferably near the output of the reactor) to pull the film that is shed as bacteria consumes the pellets.

 

[WatDatThing]

Oh...Thanks guys.

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[JustAClownFish]

Also how often do you clean that canister filter. Not cleaning it and the carbon weekly will just add nitrates to your tank


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You are one of those people who read something and repost it everywhere without thinking about it. First off, you can't 'add' nitrates 'back' into the tank because the canister filter is part of the tank. Second off, it's a myth that canister filters are nitrate factories. I have one and even if I don't clean when I stop feeding my nitrates drop over time. What does that tell you? When people say their canister filters are nitrate factories it's because they don't turn that thing off while feeding and they feed too much too often. Even if you have a sump if the food keeps rotting in the filter sock you'll have just as much of a nitrate 'factory'.

iopellets won't work in canister filter the flow will be too high. Those filters aren't designed to run anaerobically. They are fine fir carbon but you need much slower flow for bio pellets

Bio pellets do not need to be in low flow to dissolve, which is what they are supposed to do. It's a carbon source for the bacteria population in your tank. This has nothing to do with anaerobic or aerobic. They dissolve and provide a carbon source for certain bacteria which will, in turn, multiply, thus metabolize nitrates and phosphates faster. If the flow is too high the bio pellets might not dissolve as nicely and quickly but they will still dissolve. They have been used in canister filters by many with success. The people who had success with it used it sparingly in their canister filters to give them enough room to tumble around in the chamber.


So, yes, the OP can use carbon and bio pellets in a canister filter.