3 aquaclear 110's or a fluval fx4
- Thread starter erik123
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Having all 3 filters will be adequate as you grow them. Get used to testing with liquid tests for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. If ammonia and nitrite are not 0ppm then you don't have enough media and/or filtration to support the bio-load. When you service any of the 3 filters (on rotation) and you end up with a white bacterial bloom for a few days afterwards, then you don't have enough filtration.
I run both in my 150 goldfish tank... cleaning the ac110 is easy peasy every week, fx4 pushs a lot of water but cleaning is a pain in the ass. usually end up cleaning it when it's clogged and won't flow about 2 months
What I'll do is get the fx4 first and run it on the 75 till I get the bigger tank to help build bacteria won't be long till I get the bigger tank. when I get the 125 or 180 I'll get the two other filters at that time. thanks for all the information yall are great. Mabry I'll luck out and find a deal on a used aquarium that has filters with it.
When I had my 180 gallon I ran two Eheim 2217 canisters and an AquaClear 110. I now have a 135 gallon tank running with two AC110s with 8 frontosas. If you have any "dead spots" a power head can move debris around.
I don't use canisters any more. A few bad experiences with spray bars moving around, a few leaks and priming issues with Eheim classic. Not saying hang-on-back are better, but I like the ease of cleaning and access.
I don't use canisters any more. A few bad experiences with spray bars moving around, a few leaks and priming issues with Eheim classic. Not saying hang-on-back are better, but I like the ease of cleaning and access.
I run three AC 500's (old school 110's) on two different 6ft 125's. I've never had one leak on the floor, and I only clean the media every 3 months on average (all 3 filters at the same time), but my tanks are typically stocked more on the lighter side of the equation, and the bio media alone contains ample bio bacteria to run everything. It's simple enough to crack a lid once a week or so and check on the overall water level to decide when maintenance time is coming up. Don't be like DOOB and find out the hard way. lol
As far as media, I run all my AC filters the same way. Coarse AC sponge at bottom to catch the big stuff, then a layer or two of a finer blue/white media (some media brands are better than others) to catch finer particles, and then a large bag of ceramic bio rings on top. Most of my sponges and bio media rings are approx. 15 years old, or older, and only get a light rinse in dechlorinated water during maintenance. The finer media gets replaced when it starts shredding apart.
As far as media, I run all my AC filters the same way. Coarse AC sponge at bottom to catch the big stuff, then a layer or two of a finer blue/white media (some media brands are better than others) to catch finer particles, and then a large bag of ceramic bio rings on top. Most of my sponges and bio media rings are approx. 15 years old, or older, and only get a light rinse in dechlorinated water during maintenance. The finer media gets replaced when it starts shredding apart.
^^ I run my seachems the exact same onl;y ontop the ceramic rings I run a bag of purigen on one tank and a bag of phosban on the other tank.the 2nd tank has no plants and my tap water at the moment has higher phosphates from farm field fertilizers leaching into my well. the 1st tank is heavily planted and manages the higher phosphates on its own so just a little purigen. I never run carbon unless I absolutely need to
