Filtering a 110gallon aquarium

[1commander]

I have made a lot of posts recently, but I am in a learning phase, so bear with me here. I am planning on setting up the necessary components for a 110 gallon tank. In the tank will be:
1) 2foot American Eel
2) 2-3inch Bullhead Catfish

And eventually, some small carp 4-8inches.
(This is a freshwater tank, I am planning for no real plants, but will have fake ones.)

I am wondering what would be an appropriate filtration setup for the tank above.

After scouring posts on this forum and reading many websites, it seems the following filters come highly recommended.

Aquaclear 110
Emperor 400
Fluval FX5
Rena XP3
Various Eheims are recommended. Unfortunately, I could not read much about these filters other than that people have recommended them fairly often, in both the canister and wet/dry variety.
Hydro5s

That said, I am looking for a great combination that with filters specialized for both biological and mechanical filtration, keeping in mind the fish requirements above and that I will add more fish in the future. I am also hoping low maintenance. (I don't know how high-maintenance any of these filters are.) I suppose I am hoping for what some have called "overfiltration," but not something wildly implausible on a 5-600 dollar budget.

Here's some random combinations to start with, all input welcomed:

Package (1)
2 Fluval FX5s
2 Emperor 400s with the special SuperCartridge SC6 for biological filtration

Package (2)
2 Eheim 2229s (wet/dry)
2 AquaClear 110s

Package (3)
1 Fluval FX5
1 Eheim 2229 (wet/dry)

And so forth...
Again, I am looking for all advice and recommendations. I am willing to learn any setup, although I prefer low maintenance, as stated, and would like to keep it all together under $600. (I am considering purchasing used or discounted filters from ebay, for those wondering how I calculated some of these packages.)


Thanks.

 

[Wolf3101]

A single FX5 and a pair of E400's (with sc6's of course) would be my prime recomendation along with a single Hydro5. (best run with an air pump that provides a battey back-up in case of power failure.

Fill the FX5 media baskets with ceramic rings only...no additional foam or sponges (IMO theres NO reason to ever use twin FX5's on a 110 gallon tank...one of them is overkill. After all they are designed for monster tanks.)

Another reason I always stick with the same equipment is because it makes keeping spare parts on hand much simpler and also creates a good way to establish new tanks...(transfur established media to the new tanks filters.) This is MUCH easier if everythings the same.

 

[aquatic_wonders]

your package one look's to much for 110 tank

 

[Yakuza-Irezumi]

I would go HOB all the way.Like 2 AC 110 and 2 Emp 400's,this way you can stagger their cleanings from right to left or vice versa to keep alot of bio intact AND if you read up you'll find quite a few people have problems with their fx5,like leaks and easily breakable parts which cause leaks to lowering flow rates the instant they qet mechanically overwhelemed(which is pretty quick).Besides with the 4 Hang Over the Back filters you'll have surpassed the flow rate of an fx5.And you get Wet Dry from the Bio-Wheels which is vital.

 

[Wolf3101]

LOL I have quite a few FX5's running with no problems and no leaks. I rely on flow meters and not faulty perception to decide when the flow rate actully slows down. Eheims, generally concidered the best canisters on the market will leak and show very poor flow rates when set up and handled by the inexpieranced.

2 E400's and two ac110's wont fit on the back of a euro braced standard 110. They would fit...just barely...on my 110 long (6 feet in width.) This is one of the major drawbacks to running multiple HOB filters. Before long you run out of BACK to hang off of...

I can only run a single E400 and a single E280 on my euro braced 150 and still have room for the canister hoses.

 

[DJ BIG T]

GET #1 you cant go wrong..

 

[ShadowBass]

A single FX5 and a pair of E400's (with sc6's of course) would be my prime recomendation along with a single Hydro5. (best run with an air pump that provides a battey back-up in case of power failure.

Fill the FX5 media baskets with ceramic rings only...no additional foam or sponges (IMO theres NO reason to ever use twin FX5's on a 110 gallon tank...one of them is overkill. After all they are designed for monster tanks.)

Another reason I always stick with the same equipment is because it makes keeping spare parts on hand much simpler and also creates a good way to establish new tanks...(transfur established media to the new tanks filters.) This is MUCH easier if everythings the same.

Two fx5's and two emp 400's is getting into my husbands idea of filtration, which isn't bad but a bit overkill

If you wanna do it though go for it. You are going to have some extremely messy fish.

At least I can't say you made the common mistake of planning UNDERfiltration

 

[1commander]

Two fx5's and two emp 400's is getting into my husbands idea of filtration, which isn't bad but a bit overkill

If you wanna do it though go for it. You are going to have some extremely messy fish.

At least I can't say you made the common mistake of planning UNDERfiltration

How will I have extremely messy fish? I was hoping to do this to avoid having a messy aquarium. Does overfiltration lead to a messy aquarium or was this a typo?

 

[DJ BIG T]

if you get #1 you'll have enough filterration..it is over kill but your tank would look good...but you'll still have to do your water changes..

 

[ShadowBass]

How will I have extremely messy fish? I was hoping to do this to avoid having a messy aquarium. Does overfiltration lead to a messy aquarium or was this a typo?

By messy I mean you're going to be keeping fish that produce a whole lot of waste so you'll need a large amount of filtration.