FX are just too expensive in my opinion. I wanted to get an fx6 but I am not paying for $350 for a filter. Thats insane.
Aquarium Canister Filters. Is higher flow rate really better?
- Thread starter RolexWatchDealer
- Start date
I own one simply because I played petco hard on sales they were having. Ordered it on the website for 20% off, picking up at a local store gave me another 10% or something off, and I had a coupon for like 20 bucks off haha
High flow is usually misleading. Turn over is important but 10x or even 15-20x isn't necessary in my opinion....a filter that can achieve a turn over of around 4-5x/hr is really just a luxury standard and, again, my opinion, not always necessary for most aquariums.
Eheim is a perfect example. They have traditionally designed filters with the filtration as number one....not how much flow they can blow through them. Eheim has developed some amazing bio-media with the intention based on the proper contact time...and they have designed their filters accordingly. Fluval has a lot to offer and so do many other brands. "But how does it filter" should be the question....not how fast does it filter.
Eheim is a perfect example. They have traditionally designed filters with the filtration as number one....not how much flow they can blow through them. Eheim has developed some amazing bio-media with the intention based on the proper contact time...and they have designed their filters accordingly. Fluval has a lot to offer and so do many other brands. "But how does it filter" should be the question....not how fast does it filter.
why not a sump? imo sumps are a little better since its custom. I put plants in mine what kind of media and I put fry in my sump.
Canisters are known to leak and flood the house.
Canisters are known to leak and flood the house.
for me the take is. canisters are for bio filtration, Hob for mech. A combo of both best IMHO, My thinking is canisters hold more bio media, but a PITA to clean compared to a HoB. Ideally I look for 5x turn over for a canister, and 10x for HoB, the Hob will take the lion share of particulates. re leaving the canister of handling the larger load and needing more cleaning. with a good HoB/canister set up, HoB cleaned every other week, canister every 2 months.
A 406 doesn't seem like enough filtration to me. I believe they are rated for around 380 gph? After media and tubing you'd probably have a turnover of a bit less than 3X an hour on a 120. While I agree that 10X an hr isn't necessary, less than 3X seems a bit inadequate to me.
Here's my recommendation: a Sunsun 304b for bio-filtration and an Odyssea 700CFS for mech-filtration. Plenty of filtration for a 120 with that stock....I'm guessing since its a 120, your stock are probably still juvies. You'll get 8X the turnover conservatively, which translate into visually clearer water. This set-up will run you well under $200 for plenty of bio/mech filtration. Plus, multiple smaller filters are better than a single large unit. BTW, the Odysseas have the pumps on the bottom, and all my tanks have sand substrate......I have 3 of these units, no issues!
Just to update you guys. I was able to get a 125 Gal Ensemble from Petsmart last black friday for 50% off. $329 and a Fluval 306 for $85. I wasnt really planning on the 306 but when I saw it was 50% off I could not resist it. My mistake was only buying one. I should have bought 3-4 at that price lol.
to me/my practice with filtration is " it's never enough !!! "
i currently have about little over 26x the turn over rate lol...
even my smaller 10g tanks have little over 26x at 300+gph.
lol... everything is loaded with bio/mech/& live plants...
combination of cls, sumps, canisters, planted refugiums,
hobs, and diy bio towers + overhead/top sump filtration.
i currently have about little over 26x the turn over rate lol...
even my smaller 10g tanks have little over 26x at 300+gph.
lol... everything is loaded with bio/mech/& live plants...
combination of cls, sumps, canisters, planted refugiums,
hobs, and diy bio towers + overhead/top sump filtration.
