Another wet/dry vs. canister question

[TankBuster]

OK I have a 250 G. acrylic. I dont have any overflows and I cant really move my tank out from the wall 8 inches to put a hang on overflow. I would love to have a wet/dry but I have 300 pounds of sand in the tank and my fish. It would be a nightmare to try to get the fish out and move the sand forward enough and dry the back corners to install the overflows. I have a chance to throw in the FX5. I have 2 XP3's right now. I dont really think they are enough filtration. Any ideas on what I can do to make this a better filtered tank? Should I attempt the wet/dry go for the FX5 or just stay with the 2 XP3's? Thanks for the help.

 

[FishHeadSoup]

test your water and see your params. you might be fine as you are???

generally over filtering is better filtering IMO.

 

[TankBuster]

Well my nitrates are always high, too high for me, about 20 ppm, I do 100 gallon water changes every week. I dont think I am over filtered at all. At the bare minimum actually. The only thing I like about the canister is that it collects debris that floating low and midwater

 

[GettingSassy]

You could use a DIY PVC pipe overflow. Those have small clearance and work very well.

Have you tested your tap water to see if you're getting nitrates out of the tap? I know that I do.

Canisters and wet/drys are two different animals. Wet/drys are really more for biological filtration (which will just give you more nitrates), however, in conjunction with a sump, you could probably add some nitrate-sponging plants and bring the nitrates down. Canisters are all-arounders, but I use mine primarily for mechanical/chemical filtration, and leave the biological to my wet/dry.

 

[TankBuster]

well now Im more confused than ever. Do you think I should go with a wet/dry or keep my XP3's and add some bilo media or get the FX5? Im dyin over here. If it aint broke dont fix it? Most of the people on here with monster fish have wet/dry filtration, but I cant figure out what is best for me. Should I go to the trouble of doing the wet/dry? I think you can also put bio media in the FX5 also.

 

[sharp tooth]

your tank is acrylic, why not drain it slightly and drill it in one of the side pannels at the top back corner. you wont have to move the tank or take fish out or anything. its quite easy ive done it when i added an extra overflow to my big acrylic tank.