Filtration question

[Scott]

I'm just curious if anyone has successfully run a reef with a cannister
filter (Fluval) and undergravel?

I ran a great fish only setup this way and have attempted a reef with the
ecosystem. The ecosystem stabilized for about 6 months then it just went
way out of whack. I suddenly had a die off of caulerpa which caused a hair
outbreak. Never got rid of hair no matter how many water changes I did. I
even replaced my MH bulbs and CF tubes. No help. Bottom line, not
impressed so I'm thinking about going back to basics when I move next month.

Thanks.

[Marco Qualizza]

Did you happen to do any level checks? UG filter systems tend to be
nitrate factories, which will cause the caulerpa die-off and feed the GHA.
Basics (live sand, live rock, lots of water motion) is easier and
significantly :-) more effective.

Feel free to use the fluval, but get rid of the sponges, carbon, etc. etc.
In other words, use it as a closed-loop pump and nothing else. Otherwise
you'll have another nitrate factory on your hands.

HTH :-)

On Tue, 13 Apr 2004 16:50:58 +0000, Scott wrote:

> I'm just curious if anyone has successfully run a reef with a cannister
> filter (Fluval) and undergravel?
>
> I ran a great fish only setup this way and have attempted a reef with the
> ecosystem. The ecosystem stabilized for about 6 months then it just went
> way out of whack. I suddenly had a die off of caulerpa which caused a
> hair outbreak. Never got rid of hair no matter how many water changes I
> did. I even replaced my MH bulbs and CF tubes. No help. Bottom line,
> not impressed so I'm thinking about going back to basics when I move next
> month.
>
> Thanks.

[Chris \(....\)]

"Marco Qualizza" > wrote in message
...
> Did you happen to do any level checks? UG filter systems tend to be
> nitrate factories, which will cause the caulerpa die-off and feed the GHA.
> Basics (live sand, live rock, lots of water motion) is easier and
> significantly :-) more effective.
>
> Feel free to use the fluval, but get rid of the sponges, carbon, etc. etc.
> In other words, use it as a closed-loop pump and nothing else. Otherwise
> you'll have another nitrate factory on your hands.
>
> HTH :-)
>
> On Tue, 13 Apr 2004 16:50:58 +0000, Scott wrote:
>
> > I'm just curious if anyone has successfully run a reef with a cannister
> > filter (Fluval) and undergravel?
> >
> > I ran a great fish only setup this way and have attempted a reef with
the
> > ecosystem. The ecosystem stabilized for about 6 months then it just
went
> > way out of whack. I suddenly had a die off of caulerpa which caused a
> > hair outbreak. Never got rid of hair no matter how many water changes I
> > did. I even replaced my MH bulbs and CF tubes. No help. Bottom line,
> > not impressed so I'm thinking about going back to basics when I move
next
> > month.
> >
> > Thanks.
>

i tried to run an empty canister filter for extra water volume (10g nano)
and water movement. My nitrates were considerably higher running the empty
canister. Partly because its a storage tank for debris. Plus it was
inhibiting my skimmer, hardly any foam at all.
IMHO canisters are for freshwater of FO systems, with the exception of
running carbon occasionally.