Anyone use cannister filters

Right now i am running a bio-wheel and a protein skimmer. I would like to get all of the stuff that is hanging off the back off of my tank so iam thinking of switching to a cannister filter then having it flow into some sort of DIY refugium. would i need an overflow? i would like to pull the water from the display tank to the refugium using the cannister filter. I still am in a state of confusion how to get this to work so if anyone has any ideas please shoot me your thoughts.
 
i have a hang on back overflow that runs down pcv and dumps into a 10g tank in the stand where i house my skimmer and canister filter and then i have a return pump that pumps water back to the display tank using a spraybar...you could use a 10 g or 20g like the same way i did and just add some baffles and a light and there you got a fuge
 
i guess i just dont get how an overflow really works. I know what it does but i dont know exactly where it would be in the system if i hooked up a cannister filter.
 

sambrinar

Well-Known Member
i guess i just dont get how an overflow really works. I know what it does but i dont know exactly where it would be in the system if i hooked up a cannister filter.


I think (now keep in mind I am a noob) that the canister filter would go into the sump. you can omit the canister completely by just putting your medias (charcoal, phosban etc) on trays in the sump (that is what is in the canister filter i believe) the purpose of the sump is to move all equipment that you can (except of coarse the power heads) out of the tank and into the sump. you can even have a sump/fuge combo.

I just asked about this on an earlier thread. I was even talking about the overflow.... check this out

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/equipment/33607-sump-tank-transfer-questions.html

hopefully I didn't give you misinformation, someone more experienced will come along
 

JWarren

Active Member
George,

Post some photo's of your tank and what you have to work with so everyone can see. This will get you a lot of help as far as options.

Canisters are a pain because the have to be cleaned out all the time. Post some pics and lets see what you got.
 
<a href="http://s282.photobucket.com/albums/kk247/George771177/?action=view&current=Tank8.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk247/George771177/Tank8.jpg" border="0" alt="Full Tank"></a>
 
Tank3.jpg
 
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