135 filtration???

[shanebetzina]

hello all. I am new to MFK. I just purchased a 135 tank. it came with an eheim 2128 & a magnum 350. I set up the tank for African Chiclids. I have the Ehiem on one side of the tank for Bio flitration. I have the magnum on the other end set up for carbon filtration. I just recentlly put an emperor 400 on it as well. My question is what is the best filtration set up???

I have always heard that with chiclids over filtering is best. I do also plan to fully stock the tank over time. I like the ehiems flitration power and the spray bar is great. The magnum however doesn't seem to have as much power so that end of the tank didn't get as much water agitation as I would like. That is until I put the empereor on. This is my 1st big tank and smaller tanks I have no questions withy filtration. But this tank I really love and want to make sure it's set up correctly. Any suggestions would be appreciated....Thanx

 

[Trippingpara]

I would set up a wet/dry system on it. Keep the Eheim going and put on an overflow box on the other side. A wet/dry system is pretty inexpensive (if you make it yourself from an old tank or Rubbermaid container). I have a Rena xP3 and a wet/dry system on 135g CA tank and the water is crystal clear and water parameters are excellent. Personally, I don't use carbon filtration unless I needed to medicate the tank, but I use a quarantine tank for that. With a wet/dry, you don't need any surface agitation since the wet/dry oxygenates the water. If you just want water movement below the surface, get a Korali pump.

 

[shanebetzina]

Very good points, I was thinking of a possible wet/dry but haven't a clue as to how to set it up. I do have a spare 20 gal. tank sitting around. The tank isn't drilled for plumbing so I'm not sure how I could set that up. I also have heard about some not using carbon. I personally always have. Especially with messy fish like chiclids. I would be interested to get more information on both subjects. Especially setting up a wet/dry without breaking the bank

 

[MrHarris]

FX5

 

[Trippingpara]

Very good points, I was thinking of a possible wet/dry but haven't a clue as to how to set it up. I do have a spare 20 gal. tank sitting around. The tank isn't drilled for plumbing so I'm not sure how I could set that up.

Here is some basic info on an overflow box that will pull the water out of your tank (for a non-drilled tank). The page is from Chuck Gadd's website. http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/overflow.htm. As for building the biotower and sump, search this forum, there are tons of great ones out there. My wet/dry system cost me about $110 including the pump.

In lieu of an overflow box, you can also use PVC piping to create the overflow. All you really need is basically to start a siphon. Again, this forum has some pretty ingenius guys (and gals!) that have designed some great wet/dry systems.

I also have heard about some not using carbon. I personally always have. Especially with messy fish like chiclids. I would be interested to get more information on both subjects. Especially setting up a wet/dry without breaking the bank

The main thing for messy cichlids is mechanical and biological filtration not necessarily chemical filtration. They eat a lot and poop a lot leaving behind a ton of waste. Carbon has no real effect on this waste. It is removed by sponges and filter floss (mechanical) and their side effects (nitrates and nitrites) are removed biologically by bacteria and regular water changes. Carbon primarily removes chemicals from your water such as medicines. Carbon's not bad to have in your tank, I just find it rather useless since most people don't continually change the carbon once it becomes inert.

 

[Trippingpara]

Here's a breakdown of my DIY wet/dry costs:
20g tank - $0 (got it free off Craigslist)
3 sheets 1/4 acrylic - $20 (again, off Craigslist)
2x4 sheet of plastic pegboard - $12 (Lowes)
CSR100 Overflow - $20 (off Craigslist)
Quiet One 4000 pump - $55 (on sale at Dr. Fosters Pets)

I made a custom biotower with the acrylic and pegboard, but you can just use a 5 gallon pail, plastic trash can, plastic container boxes, etc., as long as the water flows from one stage of filtration to another i.e. mechanical then biological.