OK, Now that I have your attention let me give you more details on the issue at hand: I am going to get a 300+ Gal. aquarium in the next 3-4 months. This aquarium is going to be in the living room, and therefore I would want it to be relatively quiet. I have so far decided on the biological filtration - its going to be multiple (don't know how many - since I haven't got the exact gallonage yet) 2260 eheim filters. Because of the location (i.e., living room), and personal choice (I like to have multiple filters), I am *not* going the W/D way - so this is definitely not an option for me.
With this background information in place, I have the following questions:
1. What are my mechanical filtration choices? I am right now thinking multiple AC 110s but I am concerned about the noise this is going to create. Since I will be using sand as a substrate, these filters *will* create additional noise, and I was wondering if there is any other substitute for these? This leads to my second question:
2. Those of you who are using it for a while now, do you think FX5s will do the job of (exclusively) doing the mechanical filteration? In order to polish my water, I use the walmart poly-fil (Nu-foam I think is the name of the brand) in my AC110, and have to clean it once a week. Can I use it with FX5, and have the same cleaning schedule (i.e., cleaning once a week), or will the filter clog up faster, being set up as a "mechanical-only" filter?
3. Additionally, how easy is it, would you guys (i.e., long-term users of FX5s)) consider the cleaning of FX5s? I would also be interested in any direct comparisons with AC110 if you've had the experience.
4. Finally, I have seen most large tanks/aquariums come with "overflows". I have *no experience* with W/D, so please bear with me on this question - can all the filter "intakes" and "spray bars" etc. go into these overflows? I am considering this option such that I don't have to see all the ugly tubings (people with eheims will know what I am talking about) of the filters once the tank is setup. Have any of you had experience with/are using overflow for hiding of tubings, or is this too non-sensical? Again, I do not have any experience with any overflows/W/Ds so all of this may sound stupid - but I wanted to get opinions anyway.
I would really love to hear what you guys think/are using. I am particular about using eheims as biological filters - so W/D is not an option for me. I am going to keep cichlids in this tank, and therefore expect to have a lot of mess.
Let me know what you guys think.
With this background information in place, I have the following questions:
1. What are my mechanical filtration choices? I am right now thinking multiple AC 110s but I am concerned about the noise this is going to create. Since I will be using sand as a substrate, these filters *will* create additional noise, and I was wondering if there is any other substitute for these? This leads to my second question:
2. Those of you who are using it for a while now, do you think FX5s will do the job of (exclusively) doing the mechanical filteration? In order to polish my water, I use the walmart poly-fil (Nu-foam I think is the name of the brand) in my AC110, and have to clean it once a week. Can I use it with FX5, and have the same cleaning schedule (i.e., cleaning once a week), or will the filter clog up faster, being set up as a "mechanical-only" filter?
3. Additionally, how easy is it, would you guys (i.e., long-term users of FX5s)) consider the cleaning of FX5s? I would also be interested in any direct comparisons with AC110 if you've had the experience.
4. Finally, I have seen most large tanks/aquariums come with "overflows". I have *no experience* with W/D, so please bear with me on this question - can all the filter "intakes" and "spray bars" etc. go into these overflows? I am considering this option such that I don't have to see all the ugly tubings (people with eheims will know what I am talking about) of the filters once the tank is setup. Have any of you had experience with/are using overflow for hiding of tubings, or is this too non-sensical? Again, I do not have any experience with any overflows/W/Ds so all of this may sound stupid - but I wanted to get opinions anyway.
I would really love to hear what you guys think/are using. I am particular about using eheims as biological filters - so W/D is not an option for me. I am going to keep cichlids in this tank, and therefore expect to have a lot of mess.
Let me know what you guys think.