A new look (and question) on tank population?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I do not see anything wrong with housing them in a 150 gal tank. As far as filtration with oscars they must have very clean water or you run the risk of HITH.
 
balton777 said:
Rena makes the X3, not XP3. I used to use them on my 156g and 135g but later switched to two Fluval FX5 on each tank. After using the Fluvals for a couple of years, I pulled all the Rena's out of storage and hooked them back up again. I switched back for their ease of cleaning and they filter just fine. The Fluvals are a big pain in the butt to break down and clean opposed to the X3's. Anyway, my point is I like the X3's and I would recommend adding another one to help filter your tank. I have a wet dry sump on my biggest tank and that's really the absolute best way to go if the tank is drilled.

As far as stock, I think there's enough space for what you want to keep. Also agree with others about the common pleco. Have fun with it and good luck.
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They actually are xp3's. I run 3 xp3's, an xp2 and an xp1. I like them, but I wouldnt trust one to filter a 150. I run 2 on my 90 with a 400 gph wetdry. They market them to filter a 175 but if you look at the side of the box, it shows flowrates with media to be 187 gph. Thats only turning your tank a little over 1x an hour. Definately not enough filtration to keep a common pleco.

If it were me, I choose a loricariid that stays a little smaller like an L75, L114 or even an L14 getting up to a foot long. Stockwise you should be fine with a smaller pleco. As far as filtration goes, you'll need at least one more good sized canister or an ac110 or two. Fx5's seem great, but I agree, cleaning is a PITA. Renas are some of the easiest to do regular maintenance on. I've had 2 of my xp3's running 24/7 for about 4 years. Replaced one seal each. Great filter for the money.
 
I really don't find doing maintenance on my FX5 to be all that bad, but then again I've never owned a Rena, only Fluvals (good), Eheims (good), and Marineland (never again).
 
balton777 said:
LoL whoops, you're absolutely right, Jc...I'm using them on my tanks and don't even know what their called derrrr...
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no worries. I do it all the time. My wifes looking at me going " what the hell is an fp5?" It's an Fx5 right:duh:?
 
Thanks everyone for the advice. I'll definately consider a powerhead to aim it at my intake tube, that was actually something that I wondered about; how well th filter actually did at filtering ALL the water. And as for the pleco idea, the suggestions sound great. I think I'll get a smaller pleco, and also the electric yellow cichlids look gorgeous.
 
Power heads are fish keepers best friend and bit forgotten about or under used in freshwater setups. I use them all the time. I've used them for water changes on tanks that are low to the ground. I use them to get behind and under rocks to blow out the junk for maintenance. And of course, use them to create current in the tank and eliminate dead zones.
 
Those 3 would be a fine combination in a 150. A big plec is definitely a poop factory, but still quite a fish to behold.
 
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