- Hey, it's Thomas here.
And today we're gonna be checking out
Sicce's Space EKO+ Canister Filter.
And if you're wondering why we're talking
about a canister filter on a reefing channel,
they can be pretty useful for us reefers too,
but I'll touch on that in just a bit.
Canister filters don't get a lot of love
on the saltwater side of the hobby,
but they can be fantastic tools for a number of scenarios
like adding extra filtration capacity
to an all-in-one system,
acting as a temporary external media reactor
for chemical media and also for periodic water polishing.
Sicce's Space EKO+ Canisters are a great option
for those looking for immediate reactor type filter setup
that already has a super reliable Sicce pump
built right into the lid with unobtrusive intake
and output assemblies, easy priming,
convenient features for making maintenance
and media swaps a breeze.
And speaking of media,
it also comes with media to get you started.
So, let's get this one out of the box and get a closer look.
In the box, you'll find the canister filter
with media trays preloaded with media,
the installation sets and parts,
some smoke gray tubing, as well as clear rigid tubing,
as well as the instructions and the quality control card.
The Space EKO+ comes in three sizes, the 100, 200 and 300,
rated for aquariums between 30 and 80 gallons
when used as the primary filter,
and they push 145, 185 and 240 gallons per hour,
respectively.
Keep in mind, the tank size ratings
are really based on freshwater aquariums
and us reefers are gonna find those flow ratings
don't quite match what we would expect.
But we're not likely to use these as our primary filters
and instead, we'll be using them a bit differently,
but I'll talk about that shortly.
All three models come ready to go with media,
including a 10 PPI and a 20 PPI foam pad
as well as bio media and with the largest model,
you'll also get a fine filtration pad,
as well as some carbon.
All of the media is separated into walking media baskets
that pull out easily with a handle on the top.
The round shape of the media baskets are consistent,
which makes it possible to use
off-brand, cut-to-fit mechanical media
as well as just about any brand
of biological and chemical media,
which is really convenient since most of us reefers
are going to be using a canister filter like this one
as a temporary media reactor for things like carbon,
Purigen, Purit, Cuprisorb, and similar chemical medias,
or as a maintenance tool
for periodic water polishing before dinner parties
or after extensive maintenance and water changes
to help clear up that tank without bogging up
our filter rollers or filter socks prematurely.
I'll also give you my preferred media setup
for this canister if I'm gonna be using it
for water polishing.
But before that, let's look at why this is a good option
for that specific job.
One big reason is that these canister filters
are really user-friendly.
The intake and output are clearly marked
so you can't get them mixed up.
And they have an easy priming rod and a check valve built-in
that makes setting them up a breeze.
They also have a quick disconnect gang valve
for detaching the tubing from the canister
when it comes time to do maintenance.
The internal locking media baskets I mentioned earlier
are a treat to work with when it comes time
to swap out or rinse the media.
The motor and the impeller are also built into the lid,
meaning you won't have a pump or power cord in the tank,
plus it runs very quietly and will be completely inaudible
in your average aquarium stand.
And on top of that, the Space EKO+ comes with an extension
for the output nozzle for running the filter
on aquariums with a lower water level,
or if you just prefer to have the output
well below the water surface.
So, I'm sure at least a few of you are wondering
if this is a good filtration option
as a primary filter for something like a nano reef tank,
instead of using something like a hang on refugium
or power filter.
The answer is yes,
if you prefer your aquarium to be closer to the wall
and don't wanna leave clearance for a hang on filter,
then you certainly can use a canister filter.
But keep in mind that the flow ratings of canister filters
are fairly low compared to what we would want
for our reef tanks.
And that is because the flow rating of the canister
is tailored to contact time with the bio media specifically.
So, you'll wanna make up some of that lack of flow
from your filter with extra circulation pumps in your tank.
And to prevent the canister from bogging up quickly
with debris, you'll wanna set up the media
with a coarse foam pad on the bottom
and the rest of the trays topped up
with bio media of your choice.
This way you can stick to monthly maintenance
rather than having to go into it weekly or biweekly
to clean it up and make sure it's running at full capacity.
I personally did use a canister filter just like this one,
for a 20 gallon SPS dominated reef
using exactly that filtration setup.
And it did a good job for the two years
that the tank was running.
Now, like I was saying earlier,
I think most reefers are gonna find these a great tool
for doing periodic maintenance
like water polishing before guests come over
or after heavy maintenance that stirs up a lot of crud.
The media setup I like to use for water polishing
starting with the bottom basket and working our way up.
I like to use a 10 PPI pad and then a 20 PPI pad,
then a fine filter pad, like felt or floss or batting.
And top that off with a high quality bag of carbon,
run it for the entire day or overnight
but not longer than 48 hours.
And you'll pull out all of those tiny bits of dust
and specks floating around
while also removing yellowing pigments from the water
for a crystal clear tank.
If the Sicce Space EKO+ matches your reefing mantra,
and you'd like to have one in your arsenal,
you can pick one up by clicking right here.
That's the spot.
(gentle upbeat music)