Canister filter

[Bud]

Gerwin,

OK, I have been fightening my nitrates (pretty constant 20). I am thinking it has something to do wirh my cannister filter. I haven't changed the media since you gave me the bacteria super charger bag to jump start the cycling. (my bad). Question , with a seperate whisper hang on the back filter , a RO HOB skimmer, 75 lbs of live rock, do I need this filter at all? It is not running as I type. Advice. Bud

[Scott Allen]

No, canister filters are not "necessary" As long as you have a decent amount of live rock and flow you can maintain the rest with water changes alone. Skimmers give you more room for feeding (significantly). Canister filters, filter socks, filter floss, or sponges are forms of mechanical filtration that can help remove food that is floating in the water column and as long as you maintain them regularly can lower the waste levels in the tank. Other wise the food/poop/etc breaks down and sits there not being consumed. Canister filters also do give more surface area for bacterial growth, but with your live rock it isn't necessary. The other benefit is the ability to easily run carbon, but you can do that on your HOB, and unless you have put fresh carbon in recently, it's only a place for more bacteria to grow, which is once again covered by your rock.

So, the tl;dr version
No, your canister filter is not required.

[Bud]

Scott, thanks for the reply. Running the can again wirh just some new filter media. I like the surface movement it supplies.

Hey Gerwin, do you want the jump start bag back. I kept in some tank water just in case.

Thanks, Bud

[Gerwin]

happy to get it back,
running carbon , gfo, bio pellets are all options you can do with the canister, if you asked should I buy one when you have all the rock...nah, but if you got it use it!