Filter question.

[iVgOnMaD]

Im new at Saltwater and am super confused...

I had a lot of cannister filters that were used on my previous tank (60g FW Planted)...

Should I put these on ebay or use them on my SW aquarium?

I heard so far that the sump/refuge is the best bet but I like the way my aquarium is set up now, with the 300g/h under-cabinet cannister, and the two H.O.T. Magnum 250's. My Magnums are filled with de*nitrate by SeaChem and my large cannister filter is filled with ceramic bio media, a 1" thick micro sponge, carbon, and a 3" thick micro sponge that is used as bio media. This would be considered way more than necesary in FW as I'm turning over around 800g/h in a 60g!! Is it good enough for SW or should I auction all my filters and buy a good sump/refuge?

Can I do both (sump/refuge and cannisters) or is that bad?

My water is cristal-clear now with the cannisters.

[ReefNeck]

Time for a yard sale.

[stevebla]

I like canister filters! You have to clean them every couple of weeks but no big deal. I am in the minority on this one. I have a sump/fuge also no problems.

[peregrinus]

lots of cleaning is need for canisters if you are going to have a reef tank. they work good for fish only. the media in them will build up nitrates and cause problem with corals. you could always thak the media out and use the to circulate the water?

[iVgOnMaD]

but isnt nitrate part of the normal cycle? I mean, isnt the live rock in my aquarium, the substrate and any other media able to sustain bacteria, generating nitrate just like a cannister filter?

is it a bad idea to use the filters if my goal is to have a coral reef with a very low fish volume?

Isnt it better to have nitrate than ammonia and nitrite?

I also run a skimmer that is rated almost twice the cappacity of my tank along side my cannisters.

[iVgOnMaD]

also, a sump/refuge creates just as much nitrate as a cannister, the difference is that it creates a safe haven for the pods, and it gives you room to add things that help with the water chemistry like a deep sand bed for anaerobic bacteria to turn nitrite into nitrate.

Can I use a coil denitrator, instead of the deep sand bed?

As for the safe haven for the pods... i dont think i need one since my tank will be stocked with over 100 lbs of live rock and rubble, and my fish load will be very low (would rather have many, many, inverts and a couple of very beautiful fish).