Filtering and heating a 240 long?

[STONEDFISH]

I've been looking around at a bunch of products and was thinking about the Rena Filstar XP4 or a Fluval FX5 as the base of my filtration and possibly run some AC 110's.
It is going to be home to a 27" Arowana, about a dozen polypterus, and maybe my flowerhorn if he can behave himself. I got a lot of messy eaters, so I'd rather be on the over-filtered side.
I can buy two XP4 for the price of one FX5, that would give me more water turn over as well. Two XP4 would push 930 GPH compared to the 600 of 1 FX5.
Not really too knowledgeable about sumps, so I don't even have a clue about those.
Do I need to buy a bunch of smaller heaters and distribute them in the tank, or is there one badass one I can get?
stndfsh

 

[Danh]

I would do an fx5 and a sump if I were you. Heating would depend on the temp of the room and how warm you are going to keep the tank. Two or three 250W stealths should do the trick.

 

[Nic]

2 xp4s and a wetdry.... as for heating my 215 is heated by 3 250watt stealths

 

[Jb909]

i say make your own wet and dry system like a 60 gallon sump



here a ;ink that will help you

http://www.piranha-fury.com/information/article.php?id=27


good luck
if you live around me ill help you out

 

[CichlidAddict]

If you do 2 XP4s you could use in-line heaters on the return lines. That's how I have my 240 heated.
2 300 watt Hydor in-lines do the trick for me.

 

[STONEDFISH]

How much does it cost to build the sump? Are they hard to maintain and clean? Do you have to drill the tank for it? I thought the canisters would be easier....and cleaner. I love the idea of the in-line heaters! Do those work well?
stndfsh

 

[Danh]

A can might be easier, to set up, not that would be the main benefit of a can over a sump.

 

[rhinod56]

depends on your preferance and wants/needs. You could always do a sump/wet/dry filter. I would probabbly run a fx5, and 1 or 2 penguin HOB's.

 

[Nic]

you can build a wetdry for the cost of a rubbermaid tote and a sterilite 3 drawer unit.... mag drive 1800 cost you about... heaters 3 250watt stealths shop online cost you 60 bucks... I sudjested using the 2 xp4s earlier cause of the deal you can get on them... I would run one mechanical and chemical (chemipure,purigen) and the other as a regular setup this way if you ever need to set up another tank you have a filter ready to go....

 

[rhinod56]

I'd also use 2 heaters. 1 on each end of the tank