Filtration Talk

[Chago09]

OK I have 3 freshwater tanks and 1 Salt. I have some big tanks as you can see in my sig although I to this day still have not owned a canister filter. My larger tanks are run on sumps and my 55 and 75 are run with AC 500 only. Now I want to try something new. I am buying a brand spanking new 75 gallon with probably a nice show stand. I want this to be something really nice because I have some cool ideas for it.

I was thinking of having the AC 500 again although I want to try sealing off the hood completly and not have any clutter on top of the tank. I also don't want to have a sump for this tank. So I am thinking about canisters.

Now like I said I have never used one. Although as I understand something like a xp3 only has like 400gph. Thats not enough flow for a 75 gallon is it??? its rated for a 175 gallon. My question is can you run a cichlid tank with a heavy bioload on solely a canister??? or do you need a HOB anyways to help clear the debris from the water??

[12 Volt Man]

Personally, I think an XP3 would be fine for a 75.

its not just about turnover, its also about amount of media.

the XP3 has lots and lots of room for media, and has a very powerful flow rate for a canister filter (350 gph):

mine (seen here using powernet nozzle) puts out a lot of current (as you can see) and handles the load of big fish in a 90.

IMO it would be fine, but I think you always should have two filters on a tank (one for backup) where possible..

[Chago09]

is there any possiblitly of a flood using a canister filter??? I don't sleep enough as it is with two sumps is there anyway a canister can flood??? I mean anyway??

[ercnan]

OK I have 3 freshwater tanks and 1 Salt. I have some big tanks as you can see in my sig although I to this day still have not owned a canister filter. My larger tanks are run on sumps and my 55 and 75 are run with AC 500 only. Now I want to try something new. I am buying a brand spanking new 75 gallon with probably a nice show stand. I want this to be something really nice because I have some cool ideas for it.

I was thinking of having the AC 500 again although I want to try sealing off the hood completly and not have any clutter on top of the tank. I also don't want to have a sump for this tank. So I am thinking about canisters.

Now like I said I have never used one. Although as I understand something like a xp3 only has like 400gph. Thats not enough flow for a 75 gallon is it??? its rated for a 175 gallon. My question is can you run a cichlid tank with a heavy bioload on solely a canister??? or do you need a HOB anyways to help clear the debris from the water??
How do suppose to accomplish this if the tank is not drilled ??
Any filter system besides internal or a bottom/back drilled tank is going to prevent this.
Why would you even want to. The tank needs to "breathe" to some extent.
IMO, multiple filters, either cans, hob's, sump/wet/dry's, etc., are not solely for current, media capacity, gph, etc., but more importantly for me, is the backup issue.
One filter bites the dust and so shall the entire tank if you don't catch it soon enough.
I have 4 on my 125, and getting ready to add a WD. The chances of all of them crapping out at the same time are astronomical (excluding a power outage, which I have made arrangements for as well).
I guess it's sort of like a security blanket for me, maybe I should just log out and go suck my thumb. :D :D :D :D
Anything outside the tank can potetially leak, even the tank itself. If you are losing sleep about it, maybe try reptiles or something non-aquatic.

[12 Volt Man]

yes, it could leak.

but so can aquaclears. I have drained 15 gallons out of my 65 when the motor unit on my AC500 was slightly crossthreaded (unknown to me) so it can happen with ANY filter.

so I would not be too concerned.

just put it together properly and you will be okay..

[JonF]

On a 75 I'd be tempted to run the XP3 and the AC110 (500)... or two AC110's. The nice thing with the canisters is that they can be very low maintenance. However, with sponge prefilters on my AC's I have considerable cut down on filter maintenance. The prefilters keep the poop/sand/food out of the main filter.

- Jonathan

[dmopar74]

i dont understand what "sealing off the hood completely" means. do you not want to see anything? buy or build yourself a nice canopy. even can filters have to go over the top rim to enter/exit the tank. a properly set-up sump will not leak at all unless something major happens, but that goes with every other filter made. plus with a sump you can hide your heaters in it, but i dont even have a sump but cant wait to set one up.

[ercnan]

i dont understand what "sealing off the hood completely" means. do you not want to see anything? buy or build yourself a nice canopy. even can filters have to go over the top rim to enter/exit the tank. a properly set-up sump will not leak at all unless something major happens, but that goes with every other filter made. plus with a sump you can hide your heaters in it, but i dont even have a sump but cant wait to set one up.
Nor do I. :nilly: :nilly:

[Fry]

yes, it could leak.

but so can aquaclears. I have drained 15 gallons out of my 65 when the motor unit on my AC500 was slightly crossthreaded (unknown to me) so it can happen with ANY filter.

so I would not be too concerned.

just put it together properly and you will be okay..

^^ agreed

I guess internal filters would be the exception. But you can't worry too much, your glass can crack and...etc....

[Lonewolfblue]

Only if you get a leak by not setting it up properly. You'll definitely get more sleep with a canister, knowing you are not going to get a flood. I have an XP3 on my 75G, and no other filters, with an inline heater. This eliminates the heater in the tank. Get the Hydor ETH300 if you do, it's the correct size input and output for the XP's. My 75Gis also heavily planted, and really doesn't need a filter other than for mechanical filtering. The plants to the biofiltering.

[WyldFya]

OK I have 3 freshwater tanks and 1 Salt. I have some big tanks as you can see in my sig although I to this day still have not owned a canister filter. My larger tanks are run on sumps and my 55 and 75 are run with AC 500 only. Now I want to try something new. I am buying a brand spanking new 75 gallon with probably a nice show stand. I want this to be something really nice because I have some cool ideas for it.

I was thinking of having the AC 500 again although I want to try sealing off the hood completly and not have any clutter on top of the tank. I also don't want to have a sump for this tank. So I am thinking about canisters.

Now like I said I have never used one. Although as I understand something like a xp3 only has like 400gph. Thats not enough flow for a 75 gallon is it??? its rated for a 175 gallon. My question is can you run a cichlid tank with a heavy bioload on solely a canister??? or do you need a HOB anyways to help clear the debris from the water??

Canisters are great filters. Depending on what type you use, and what your exact stock is, will dictate whether or not a single canister will be enough. Of course on most tanks, running one filter can be very dangerous.

[WyldFya]

is there any possiblitly of a flood using a canister filter??? I don't sleep enough as it is with two sumps is there anyway a canister can flood??? I mean anyway??

Very possible. There are many places for canisters to leak. The main o-ring seal, the tube connections, the valves, and even out holes like the primers, and rarely the electrical connection. Canisters are much safer than sumps though, and like most commercially assembled filters this will not be a problem.

[WyldFya]

... One filter bites the dust and so shall the entire tank if you don't catch it soon enough...

Not always true. I have had my planted 135 running for over 3 weeks without a filter before (forgot to turn it on) and this caused no problems. Of course this is a fully teched out, high light, densely planted aquarium.

[WyldFya]

...so it can happen with ANY filter...

Not internal filters. They are the one exception to that rule.

[12 Volt Man]

very true. but they suck :)

[ercnan]

Not always true. I have had my planted 135 running for over 3 weeks without a filter before (forgot to turn it on) and this caused no problems. Of course this is a fully teched out, high light, densely planted aquarium.
Yep, comepletely forgot planteds. :) :)

[ercnan]

very true. but they suck :)
:D :D

[Chago09]

alright guys thanks.... but I have to say I am not convinced that I need to dish out all that money for a canister. Your telling me I need to spend $200 on a canister and then another $50 for a AC500. Well I can simply buy two AC500 for $100 and IMO have just as good filtering. I wanted to not have anything on top of the tank but I guess its just the best way to go. My 135 gallon discus tank is run on 3 AC 500 and it runs awesome.

Well guys thanks for your comments although I think I am gonna stick with my good ole aqua clear 500

[fishdance]

Overhead Filter is being overlooked.... but definitely stick with what you know if your afraid of getting out of your comfort zone.

[Chago09]

Overhead Filter is being overlooked.... but definitely stick with what you know if your afraid of getting out of your comfort zone.

that exactly it... I have had a trillion aqua clears in my time so I know how much I like them. I don't want to spend the money to try something else... because if I don't like it i'm gonna get pissed lol just stay with what i know

[WyldFya]

You should look into Eheim 2217 filters. They are great filters, and come filled with great media, and will only run you ~$100 online. The major difference for a canister doesn't lie in mech filtration. They are meant to be bio-filters primarily, and should be used as such, with a few exceptions. AC110s (formally known as the AC500) are great filters, but cannot handle nearly as much as a canister. The combination of the two, however, gives you great mech and great bio filtration. I personally would use 2 foam blocks and 1 bio-max bag in the AC, and run the stock medias that come with the eheim.

[WyldFya]

very true. but they suck :)
You underestimate the internal filter. Foam filters are IMO far better than many filters. They are great for mech and bio, and are cheap. It is very difficult for them to fail as well. Then there are internals like the fluval plus series, and the AC powerheads with attachments. These aren't meant to be bio, but are great for use as mech, or chemical filtration.