Best filter?

[uncwnells]

AC110 in that price range. Although you may need more. Throw in an under gravel filter and you have a great budget setup.

People still use undergravel filters? They still make them or do you have to buy them off ebay?

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

go with ac110 IMO
just cover the intake(though you will have to clean in reguraly)

 

[heavyhitter]

People still use undergravel filters? They still make them or do you have to buy them off ebay?

You can get thrm from places like Dr. Fosters and PetSolutions.

While they had they're day in the sun decades ago there are far better filtration options.

If you have fish that like to dig, use sand or use live plants UGF's are not a road you will want to go down.

 

[Padiwan cichlidiot]

Thanks for the info, will the aquarium be good with just the ac110 and 2 sponge filters?

 

[Leptar]

Sand plus any HOB filter = dead filter. You can go wrong with an AC.

X2,
I killed 2 AC300's today... actually wore out an impeller and the motor on another only warms now...

 

[Mike fail]

under gravel sucks in my experience , ac110 is the way to go period. awesome filter, can filter a tang tank if the stock is less than 20 of em, oh and im running them on two tanks with sand and have been for 5 months, no problems, if your vaccing your sand turn off the filters

 

[RonBurgundy]

I am going to turn my 55g into a Tanganyika setup in a few months, I want to be ready for when I do. What is a good filter for a 55g with sand and tons of rocks (standard Tanganyika)? I am looking for something under $60, I could go a little higher, but not too far.

I've had undergravel filters and they work. You have to maintain them as tcarswell said but you wont be able to use a fine sand....it will clog the plates. I agree with the AC110..thats a great filter. If you go the cannister route. Check into either the RENA XP3 or I even saw a Eheim classic 2217 cannister at Petsmart Online for $130.00 delivered. Thats a steal.

 

[fobrinkle]

Use an AC110. I have one on my SA cichlid 55 gallon tank and it stays clean as long as I stay up on vaccuming and waterchanges. I change 30% weekly.

 

[wow_it_esploded]

Sand will enter the impeller shaft, and erode the chamber. Foam will restrict flow if not cleaned regularly enough, both can damage the filter.

As long as you do not pour sand into the intake or have them right next to the sand then it should not suck sand. I have never had a single HOB suck sand...

My UGF was not improperly maintained, weekly to biweekly gravel vacuumings and using a reverse flow system did not keep my mildly overstocked tank (by my standards... perfectly stocked by your guys') from having a bunch of crap in the gravel.

Also, ugf rely and work when there is an even layer of gravel over the entirety of the plates. Cichlids render it useless when they move the gravel around and expose the plates.

I do not suggest using an UGF. I also advise you not to use one.

Remember, every single post on this site is from the poster's opinion, or influenced by one, at least.

 

[wow_it_esploded]

LOL your comparing a 5.5 gallon betta tank. Do you really want to have an UGF debate? If so start a new thread and we can battle it out. For now lets let the OP relax and get good suggestions. I admit it wont work for a sand substrate. But your findings are simply based on bad maintenance.


Sorry about the hijack OP I won't post here any more as I have already given my advice. If this guy want's to argue you can read it in another thread. Best of luck with the AC110 try to keep the ac110 away from the bottom because of sand damage.

I did not see this post previously, and I too am sorry for the hijacking. But i do want to make it clear that the mentioned tank was maintained better than quite a few members on this site's tanks.