Emporer 400's or AC 110s for a 125 tank?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
If it were me, and cost would be an issue, I'd go with an AC 110 and a Rena xP3. Gotta agree that the xP4 isn't worth the extra money and has a lot more leaking/breaking down complaints. I haven't tried the aquatops or cascades and hear good things, except they don't last that long. If money isn't the issue, go Eheim, they last decades.

My FX5 was a piece of junk. I know a lot of people love them, but I just can't recommend.

On my 135 I use a homemade (really simple, all plastic) sump with 2 tower wet/dry's made out of stacked plastic containers and a soldering iron. And for mechanical a water bottle filter. I've seen no change since replacing the FX5 with the water bottle filter. Here's the site I took the basic ideas from (though I altered them)

http://dramaticaquascapes.com/doityourself.html

make sure to check page two for the wet/dry and overflows. These are cheap and really easy designs (otherwise I couldn't use them).
 
if your starting from scratchI'd do 2 ac110's ,to suppliment this you might try xp3.if your on a tight budget theac's plus 2 big sponge filters would do it
 
I'd use a couple Eheim canisters or a big sump. The Pro2 and Pro3 models are ridiculously easy to break down and clean. It takes me about 5-10 minutes.

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Gotta agree with ya fishman they are cheap but great filters. You never know they could be expensive if they become more popular. I may buy another to replace my cascade canister

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Its a HOB that pushes a lot of water for the price. Drfosters has them on sale for $23 right now. The replacement pads are pretty expensive so I use the marineland blue bonded pads I just cut to size. There really is a lot of space behind the pads to add whatever you want media wise.

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not impressed with the aqueon, with big fish not much of a concern but ive had the bottom fall out leaveing the impeller moving, and open to sucking up small fish, imo bad design. its nice since you dont have to prime it ect... but ill never pay for one ( i do have a few in boxes collecting dust from swapping some ancient penguins i wasnt useing anymore). personally i wouldnt have any qualms about running 2 400s on a 120. atm my 75 is running same as yours and i have a very heavily stocked tank, not a single water quality issue. i run extra bio media in the fillable compartments and rinse the carbon inserts, only replaceing them when they are unsalvageable. imo the pnly downside to them is how expensive the replacements are but ive been a long time fan of them, i pulled an AC not long ago from my comm tank as it just wasnt keeping up and replaced it with the 280 as it was comparable. much better imo.

btw i would just xfer the filters over with the fish and get new ones for the 75 or do one on each and add to them... insta cycle!
 
I might transfer one of the 400's to the 125 to get it started. I'm also considering starting 3 sponge filters in my 75 to transfer over as well. I should be patient and wait for the water to cycle, not sure if I can do that. I'll also be using Nite Out II on the new setup. I do really like the emporers. I wanted one for years and now that I have them I am very pleased with them. Just have to remember to attach the intake tubes with silicon next time. Maybe a 400 from the 75 and a new ac 110, try a combination deal. With only one large fish in the tank, that should be enough maybe?
 
I have found the replacement catridges for the 400's cheap on Dr Foster and Smith. About 2.00 each when you order in bulk 12 or 24 backs. My brother and I keep saying we will split the cost on a bulk pack, just haven't each had the money at the same time yet. He runs a Emp. 400 on a 75 salt setup. I like the idea of transferring a filter from an established tank, should have thought of that before instead of going with all new ones. I still like the idea of getting a ac 110 to go with it. One 400 left on my 75 leaves it set up for whatever I put in it next.
 
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