If you own an aquarium, you already know the importance of canister filters as they are pretty much customizable and you can use them as per your requirement. However, a lot of people struggle while setting a canister filter. If you are confused about how to set up a canister filter, please remove all of your confusion.
Because, in this comprehensive guide, I will tell you everything you need to know about setting up a canister filter in a convenient way. So, stay with me throughout the article and learn the correct way of the canister filter installation process. Now, without further ado, let’s begin.
Required Accessories
To set up a canister filter, you need some accessories without which it will not be possible to set up the filter. For instance, you’ll need the following accessories in place to get the job done.
- Canister filter
- Hoses
- Valves (Both input and output)
- Biological media
- Mechanical media
These are some necessary accessories you need to have while setting up a canister filter successfully. However, besides these items, you may find a spray bar with some canister filter.
How to Set Up a Canister Filter
After getting all the necessary accessories and equipment, it’s time to start the main installation procedure. Setting up a canister filter is not rocket science at all. But, you need to know all the basics of the installation process.
Most people confused about the use of filter media and they think it may be tough to install the filter. However, you can easily remove all of your confusion. Because in this section, I will show you the step by step installation process of a canister filter.
Stage 1:
The installation process starts when you unlock the clamps. It will help you to keep away the motor housing from your canister filter. It is the very first step of this entire installation process. Then, you need to take out all those media baskets from your filter.
How many media baskets will you get with your canister filter package depends on the manufacturer. Some manufacturers only provide two media baskets, whereas some others provide more than two.
Stage 2:
It’s the washing time. You have to clean all the compartments of your canister filter. You should use normal water for this entire cleaning process. Also, you should wash all the filter media which comes with the canister filter. Remember one thing, this cleaning process should be done properly.
Stage 3:
In this stage, you must put the media baskets back again into the canister filter. The wise decision is, putting only a single media basket for the first time so that you can observe whether there is any gap in the bottom.
If you find any free space at the bottom, you should fill up the gap properly. In this case, any ceramic media will help you out to remove the gap. It is highly important because it will protect the media foam from unexpected clogging and also you’ll get additional filtration from this.
Stage 4:
At this point in the installation process, you have to take one media basket for putting it into the canister filter. First of all, you have to fill the basket with the media before putting it into the filter. At this point, you must put mechanical filter media in the basket.
Now, most of the canister filter packages include coarse foam which works as mechanical media. Now, you should use this coarse foam into the basket, and then you need to put the basket into the filter. There are three types of foam you may find which are coarse, medium coarse and fine foam.
If you put all kinds of foams into the media basket, it will surely increase the efficiency of the filter. However, you should maintain the sequence while putting these media foam. The sequence should be coarse, then medium-coarse foam, and finally the fine coarse foam.
These simple strategies will make the filtration process efficient. The coarse foam will remove the bigger particles and then fine particles will be removed in the medium-coarse foam. And finally, the fine foam media will remove all the minute particles.
It is a wise decision to use thin foam media instead of thick foam media to get the maximum benefit from this filtration process. However, if you use only single coarse media, it is completely fine as well. But, using three levels of foam media will improve the efficiency of the filter.
Stage 5:
At this stage, you have to take the second media basket and also should put the biological media in it. Ceramic rings will work as good biological filtration. However, if you want to biological filtration more efficient, you can also use bio home for it.
Now, you have to put this filter media above the first one. However, you have to ensure that tubes of both media baskets are aligned properly.
Stage 6:
Now, if you have more media baskets, you must grab the third one. You have to fill up this basket with a chemical media this time. In many cases, you’ll find activated carbon which comes with a canister filter. You have to insert all chemical media in the basket and then you must set it on top of the previous media basket.
Stage 7:
Many canister filters come with fourth media basket and in this case, you can do customization with it as per your preference. Whether you should fill it with biological or chemical media, it’s totally up to you. However, in a general sense, to make an efficient aquarium tank, you only need two or three media baskets.
Stage 8:
Now that you already put all of your media baskets in your canister filter. You have to make sure that you have taken all the necessary steps to prevent the media from floating around. In most of the cases, the canister filter package includes a tray or guard.
It will give you proper protection from the media being floated out. Therefore, you should be careful enough to see you put on the guard at the top of every media basket.
Stage 9:
As you are at stage 9, I am assuming that you have completed the major part of this whole installation process. But, you have a major step to do yet, which is why this stage is also important for you.
You have to fit the motor housing with your filter in this stage. Just connect the motor housing with the last media basket. You have to make sure that the connection is properly done. If everything is okay so far, now it’s time for locking up all the clamps that comes with the motor housing.
Stage 10:
At this point, you have to prepare the tubes for the filter. Take the tubing that comes with the canister filter and cut it as per your need. The placement of a canister filter is always important. You have to put the filter below the water tank so that it can work effectively.
Because of gravity, the water will enter into the canister filter from the tank easily. And pumping the water again in the aquarium will be easier. Another important thing is you have to check that the tubing is long enough for connecting the canister filter with the aquarium.
If there are any kinks into it, you must fix it. At this point, you have to attach the tube with a canister filter. You can do this connection with the input valve. Make sure that the connection between the aquarium tank and the canister filter is properly done.
However, you have to identify the inlet and outlet valves properly so that you can complete the job with maximum accuracy. Now, you have to attach another tubing to the canister filter’s outlet and connect the other end of the tubing to the output tubes.
Step 11:
Now, if you have a spray bar, it’s time to connect it properly. After attaching it, you have to mount the output tubing in the tank properly. You can use vacuum cups for making the connection.
Step 12:
It is the final step of this entire installation process. It’s time you have to plug in the filter. You should also go for priming the filter. In most of the cases, canister filters are not self-priming.
You will easily find a button for the priming process. So, pressing the knob will make your day shiner. If you have completed all the stages I have described so far, your canister filter installation process already is completed. In 1-2 days you’ll get clear water from the canister filter.
Final Words
Setting up a canister filter is not tough at all. But, you have to follow every step properly. In this comprehensive guide, I tried to gather all the necessary information you need to know for setting up a canister filter. I believe, now you know how to set up a canister filter in the correct way.
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