Filtration question

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.

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.

"Marco Qualizza" wrote in message
news
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.