3 Canisters for 180G

[kevin007]

I plan to run 2 Fluval FX5s along with 1 Eheim 2217 on a 180 G, I have a few questions though.

1. Where would you place the filters?

I plan on placing 2 fx5s outputs on each of the back corner (one nozzle aiming parallel to the back glass and the other towards the middle of the front glass) with the eheim 2217 spraybar running on the center back glass.

How would you do it? What about water movement? Are powerheads necessary? I think the 2 front corners would be lacking circulation?

2. What would you will the canisters with?

I have the 2217 on a 55G right now with the media that came with the filter. Would you put bio & mechanical media in all 3 filters or maybe use 1 fx5 for bio and 1 for mechanical?

3. Is the 3 canister enough? I refuse to use a sump.

Thanks

 

[TheOscarGuy]

I plan to run 2 Fluval FX5s along with 1 Eheim 2217 on a 180 G, I have a few questions though.

1. Where would you place the filters?

Below the tank, in the tank cabinet/stand

I plan on placing 2 fx5s outputs on each of the back corner (one nozzle aiming parallel to the back glass and the other towards the middle of the front glass) with the eheim 2217 spraybar running on the center back glass.


How would you do it? What about water movement? Are powerheads necessary? I think the 2 front corners would be lacking circulation?

I think this configuration should be fine and should give you sufficient water circulation. What are you planning on keeping in there?

2. What would you will the canisters with?

You mean fill, right? You already have the 2217 filled with the media. I would recommend filling the FX5s with bio media as well. Your tank is quite big, and I think, the existing FX4 "sponges" that it comes with should take care of the mechanical filtration for you. So, all the three trays should be filled with bio media.

3. Is the 3 canister enough? I refuse to use a sump.

I personally like to have a *lot* of filtration. For example, I have a 125 with an FX5 and eheim 2260 running on it. I think if you don't have too crowded tank, you should be OK. I personally would have liked more eheims in there as opposed to FX5 (maybe a pro, or a 2250/60).

 

[ettfettbranamn]

this depends on what you want to put in the tank.. I'd say you're fine with just 2 of the canisters but the more the merrier.. if you're a good boy who does his water changes on time that is! (waving the finger of accusation)*

I fully agree with filling them with bio.

 

[Potts050]

My guess is you have enough filtration.

 

[kevin007]

I plan to keep the dirty mbunas! there will be alot of juvies in there (smaller the fish, the bigger the tank looks)

..to be honest. I'm very lazy when it comes to water changes, the less, the better!

Thanks for the input guys, yea 6x2x2 is quite big!

 

[Bderick67]

You can put 10 more filters on that tank, it will not reduce the need for regular water changes. Laziness and fishkeeping generally don't mix well.

IMO the 2217 and a single FX5 will be more then enough filtration.

 

[Potts050]

mbuna aren't in my experience a dirty fish. I use an XP3 for a 250 gallon system with a planted tank refugium that keeps the nitrates at or below 10 ppm. I still change about 10 % water a week regardless.

 

[Damon0306]

Running 3 Eheim Pro3e 2078's canisters on a 150-gallon, still do daily 50% water changes.

 

[kevin007]

You can put 10 more filters on that tank, it will not reduce the need for regular water changes. Laziness and fishkeeping generally don't mix well.

IMO the 2217 and a single FX5 will be more then enough filtration.

I still do water changes obviously, but hopefully, not as much.

I guess the 2nd fx5 has more to do with water flow then filtration.

Still, if you had these 3 filters, what media would you put in each?

 

[Toby_H]

high levels of filtration is to keep waste off the floor of the tank... it does nothing to reduce the necessity of water changes nor to reduce the required frequency...

Water changes remove nitrates, excessive filtration does not... water changes adds minerals and such, filtration doe not... water changes removes organics which can lower PH (think tannins), excessive filtration does not...

That's almost like saying "My car is dirty, I had better get new tires"

I hope that didn't sound degrading at all... I typed it with a smile meaning for it to be humorous...