Cost-Effective 120 Gallon Filtration

[Eazy]

Hey guys, this is my first post. I have a 120 gallon (60x18x26) with:

5 tinfoil barbs (5-8")
1 florida gar (11")
1 pleco (8")

I plan on getting 1 more fish (oscar or green terror).


I currently have 2 Emperor 400 HOB filters and 1 Seio M1500 powerhead. It looks like if I buy 24 packs of the filter cartridges, it'll cost me $2.18 per cartridge... so if I change the 4 cartridges once a month, that's $8.72 a month. I think the 2 Emperor 400's are 18 watts each.

Let me start by asking, do you guys think I have enough filtration as it is? Or, do you think I should get a canister filter instead (or in addition)?

Thanks

 

[bitteraspects]

replace the emperors with AquaClear110's.

15w ea
rinseable media. no replacing cartridges (which potentially means hundreds of dollars in savings over the 20 year life span of the AquaClear filter)
100gph higher flow rating than the emperor
just about 4L (1gal) of available media space (compare do the emperor which holds roughly.... umm... none)

if you sell the 2 emperors, and throw in a few extra dollars, you can buy yourself 2 AC110's. they cost a little more initially, but in the end, pay for themselves and more.

 

[knicks791]

replace the emperors with AquaClear110's.

15w ea
rinseable media. no replacing cartridges (which potentially means hundreds of dollars in savings over the 20 year life span of the AquaClear filter)
100gph higher flow rating than the emperor
just about 4L (1gal) of available media space (compare do the emperor which holds roughly.... umm... none)

if you sell the 2 emperors, and throw in a few extra dollars, you can buy yourself 2 AC110's. they cost a little more initially, but in the end, pay for themselves and more.

yep yep

 

[12 Volt Man]

agree on the twin AC110's.

but don't add another fish unless you are planning on upgrading soon.

the tinfoils will get a foot long in that tank in no time..

 

[chesterthehero]

no more fish..
theres no need to change the media unless its falling apart..

 

[Eazy]

agree on the twin AC110's.

but don't add another fish unless you are planning on upgrading soon.

the tinfoils will get a foot long in that tank in no time..

Really? The 2 biggest tinfoils that I have are 8" and they haven't grown more than 2" in the past 3 or 4 years. The other 3 tinfoils I bought about a year ago, and they've grown from 1" long to 5-6" long.

 

[bitteraspects]

no more fish..
theres no need to change the media unless its falling apart..

sorry, but no.
the cartridges absolutely do need to be replaced. the media used is not made for rinse and replace.
also, the carbon in the cartridge is only active for 4-7 days, after which it does more harm than good.

get rid of the bio-fail asap

Really? The 2 biggest tinfoils that I have are 8" and they haven't grown more than 2" in the past 3 or 4 years. The other 3 tinfoils I bought about a year ago, and they've grown from 1" long to 5-6" long.

theres a good chance they are stunted. they can potentially get over a foot long.

 

[Potts050]

Maybe think about going to a sump and a wet/dry filter

 

[bitteraspects]

Maybe think about going to a sump and a wet/dry filter

also very true.
a cheap DIY wet/dry is by far the most cost effective filter you could get.

 

[Eazy]

I went to my LFS today and checked out AC110's. They were selling them for $80 each. I looked at the filter media (foam block, carbon, and bio)... all of which said on their boxes that they needed to be replaced. I'm assuming you guys just rinse the foam and bio, but the carbon one said monthly replacement. Am I missing something?