Anyone use pond canisters?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
C

cvermeulen

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jun 4, 2007
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Los Osos, CA
I see on ebay a LOT of large volume pond filters for high end koi keeping... everything from foam based to floating bead filters. Some of this stuff is retarded expensive, but I see a lot of really reasonable stuff for 1000 gallon ponds. Anyone using stuff like this on their in home tank? I imagine a lot of it is not designed for use beneath a tank, but if you had a shelf it might be OK.

Anyone?
 
really? noone?
 
The bead filters work great but as you noted are VERY expencive systems...The pond canisters are REALLY inefficiant and not something you want to run on a home aquarium. Personally I don't even like them on ponds. They are all hard to servace....bypass tremendiously....and gain that high flow rate at the expence of water clarity...the bio-filtration also leaves a LOT to be desired as they depend on the pond walls and substrait for most of it.

Compared to the better aquarium canisters they are also very poorly built IMO.
 
Cool, thanks.

Tempted to try building a bead filter at some point, but not yet!
 
Actully a bead filters not all that tough...it's really only a pool type sand filter with differant media....the beads themselves are the most expencive part other than the basic sand filter and you can pick those up used...My only question would be....what would you use a beast like that on?
 
Dr Joe;1123546; said:
Post links so we know what one's your talking about :D.
Click to expand...

Oh none specifically, I just was browsing ebay for FX5's and I noticed some huge-ass pond canisters in the same price range. I'll post links if I go E-shopping again today ;)
 
Ok, at the risk of getting shot down here I'll go ahead and stick my neck out...again.

I have a 120G fresh running a Hozelock pond filter. It's rated for a 500G pond. I got it cheap - as a closeout. I'm running a Genx4 pump pushing the works. Also have a Gamma UV, mostly for convenience. Does help with keeping things clean as I have a difficult work schedule that does not allow consistent tending.

I did mod the filter by removing the third foam layer as I didnt think it was necessary. I also, at one time, made a stainless mesh tray to run a layer of charcoal whenever I felt I needed to. Otherwise it's running as is.

I've had this system for several months now and I love it. After weeks of researching filters, how they work, comparing, talking to folks and just general reasoning, I went with the pond cannister. No, it doesnt have all the bells,whistles and spinning wheelie things but all my params are great, my water is crystal clear, fish seem happy and I have no regrets.

I have tremendous respect for Doc Joe and Wolf so I'd like to hear your pros and cons. If there is something I missed in choosing this setup please feel free to express. You never know, I might have overlooked something.
 
thanks for the info buckdog. I'm sure that any generalization will have exceptions. The pond filter industry is probably much like the aquarium filter industry - some filters are better than others.

The impression I got from the negative posts were that pond filters WORK, but consume a lot of power, and/or do not have the same options for bio, etc. as something like an FX5. It makes sense really - just because a filter turns over 1000+gph doesn't mean it actually FILTERS all that water.

I'm already running a 2300gph w/d on my tank but looking into a high flow canister or bead for additional mech/backup filtration. I'd like something I could run on a timer or switch, just to deal with the occasional mess like when moving tank decorations around, large/messy feedings etc.
 
Hmm. How big is your tank? I'm under the impression that this is a "secondary" filter and you would use it when you are moving things around, etc. Things get swirled up and you want to clear the water fast?

Like I said I have a lot of respect for Joe and Wolf. I wouldnt call the posts negative, they have even solved a few glitches for me.
 
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