canister filters and nitrates

[sansouci01]

I'm new to canister filters. Setting mine up this weekend. I've read a lot of things about them and one thing that bothers me is a lot of comments refer to them as "nitrate factories" Is this true? Do canister filters produce more nitrates than hob filters? Do I need to clean them more often to keep this from happening. Is any media I can put in the filter to help?

 

[DanTheGuppyMan]

I have never heard of canister filters to add to the nitrates of a tank...just clean them once a month at least and you should be fine. For a non-planted tank, I would put in some filter sponge, polishing pads, filter floss, etc., ceramic rings, carbon and some bio balls. For planted tanks with DW, etc i would put in the polishing pads, etc., purigen, ceramic rings, and bio balls. No carbon. I prefer canister over HOB filters, just because they can hold more than HOBs can and most canisters just filter better than HOBs do IMO.

 

[molliwopp]

Well canisters like any other filter need ammos and nitrites to make nitrate which is 100times better than seeing the other 2 in your tank. If nitrates get high, up your % of water changes.

 

[bkiggy]

I have Fluval 406 on 40g planted tank. I have very high nitrates which require 50% WC every 7 days. Filter goes bottom to Top - 4 sponges, 2 trays Matrix with De*Nitrate, 2 ammonia pads, 1 Clear FxPro, and Purigen I clean and swish sponges once month (pretty gross) and change Purigen Put back together and add Stability

 

[Ardynas]

I've got a Fluval FX5 on a 150 gal planted tank. Filled all three baskets with bio media and generally put a filtering micro pad. Cleaning the filter somewhere between 3-6 months.
50% PWC weekly. Don't test the water that much anymore unless fish start acting funny (flashing or darting). Keeping clean water really keeps the fish healthy.