Pick my next filter

[Jason_S]

So I'm setting up a couple of new tanks soon which means I'll be pulling a couple of filters off of my 75 gallon to go on the new tanks. I promise you, the cycle will be fine

That means I need to add a new filter to the 75. I have, new in box, a fluval 407 and marineland c 530 along with an fx2 due to arrive tomorrow. The results of this poll will decide which filter goes on to replace what I'm moving. The tank would be "properly filtered" without a canister on it at all, so this is really about nothing more than your preference between these 3

 

[Midwater]

Sump was not on the list.

 

[duanes]

As Midwater alluded....
while cans can do a adequate job of bio filtration, in that they handle ammonia and nitrite, and the mechanical end,
to me they fall short when it comes to the other elephant in the room, the elimination of nitrate (that creates long term health effects),
in fact they are primary producers of nitrate when not regularely purged of metabolim by-products.

 

[neutrino]

I've used various filtration types over the years, high on my list is moving bed systems. These days, for the sake of simplicity I have canisters and I have LOW NITRATES.

Any biofiltration in any filter type produces nitrates, it's all a matter of how a particular combination of tank setup (size, substrate, plants, etc.) filters and media, what and how much you feed (overfeed? protein source? higher than necessary protein?) and maintenance routine addresses this biological fact. My opinion is the Fluvals are generally more trouble free and between them all the FX2 would be the best choice as a single filter on a tank.

 

[Jason_S]

Sump was not on the list.

Correct, because I have those 3 filters sitting in my home new in box, ready to use. May look into sumps one day, but not today. So the choice right now is between those 3

 

[Jason_S]

As Midwater alluded....
while cans can do a adequate job of bio filtration, in that they handle ammonia and nitrite, and the mechanical end,
to me they fall short when it comes to the other elephant in the room, the elimination of nitrate (that creates long term health effects),
in fact they are primary producers of nitrate when not regularely purged of metabolim by-products.

I have live plants in the tank currently, and if the fish start to destroy those plants as the grow I'll tinker with something like pothos, monstera or other floaters. Plus a long as the fish are still growing, I'll be doing regular, large water changes. So while incorporating plants into a sump is an incredibly smart idea, especially for larger boisterous cichlids, its not something in interested in pursuing at this time.

I currently have a tidal 110, aquaclear 110, pennplax cascade 700 and pennplax cascade 1200 on this 75 gallon. 2 of those filters will be moved off, I just haven't decided which 2 yet. But no matter which 2 get moved, it will be one of the 3 from the poll that will be the next to be opened and setup.

 

[Krackar]

I have live plants in the tank currently, and if the fish start to destroy those plants as the grow I'll tinker with something like pothos, monstera or other floaters. Plus a long as the fish are still growing, I'll be doing regular, large water changes. So while incorporating plants into a sump is an incredibly smart idea, especially for larger boisterous cichlids, its not something in interested in pursuing at this time.

I currently have a tidal 110, aquaclear 110, pennplax cascade 700 and pennplax cascade 1200 on this 75 gallon. 2 of those filters will be moved off, I just haven't decided which 2 yet. But no matter which 2 get moved, it will be one of the 3 from the poll that will be the next to be opened and setup.

I run 2 407's on my 75 and they are great, side note- Which of these do you prefer, Tidal 110 or Aquaclear 110 ?

 

[Jason_S]

I run 2 407's on my 75 and they are great, side note- Which of these do you prefer, Tidal 110 or Aquaclear 110 ?

I like both a lot and they reach have their advantages. I like the for control wheel on the tidal, they give far more control over the flow rate than you get from aquaclears which helps during feeding times. But the aquaclears have more space for bio media. So on smaller tanks (less than 3 feet long) especially i go with tidal. On bigger tanks (4 feet or longer) it depends on which one is on sale.

 

[Jason_S]

Im glad the 407 is winning because I got an email saying the fx2 is delayed lol

 

[Cal Amari]

Sorry I tied it up lol, i ran a 407 over a decade ago, and it was a good filter, now I run an fx4, and I like it as well. The main reason I picked the fx is maintenance, still annoying but better than on the 407. The worst part was tryng to pop the top part of the can loose from the bottom part, I even remember wedging a table knife in there and twisting it sideways once, which of course ruined the o ring. Anyway, both run well, but I prefer to open and work on the fx.