filters for 125 gallon new world cichlid tank

[Experiment397]

i am setting up a 125 gallon new world cichlid tank and was wondering what type of filteration would be good. i was thinking 2 fluval 305 filters. they are rated for 70 gallons each. i also have a hang on back filter with bio wheel rated for 80 gallons would theese three combined be good for the tank?

 

[G-Code]

Sounds sufficient to me... but what is a new world cichlid?

 

[nugpuffer]

If you are doing canisters, I would go with two XP3s personally. Or an XP3 and an AC110.

Or you could go with a wet/dry. On my 125 I use a standard 30gal with 2 x QuietOne 4000s and a Glass Holes.com 1500gph overflow. Takes a little work upfront, but will be worth it in the long run in terms of maintenance and efficiency.

 

[Toby_H]

FYI - Totally disregard the "up to XX gal tank" rating on any filter. To be polite, these numbers are not for use with Cichlids, to be blunt this is marketing trickery.

You will need enough flow to ensure there are no dead spots...

Most people also want enough flow to push waste into the filter intakes. The other option is to allow "mechanical filtration" to be inadequate and to pick up physical waste during weekly water changes.

In bare tanks (little to no substrate or decor) media volume is important. That means having enough media to house bacteria which aids in filtration. In tanks with ample substrate and decor media volume becomes les important as bacteria has ample space to colonize within the tank.


I have two Aqua Clear 110 Power Filter on my 125 gal which is heavily stocked with small to medium New World CIchlids (Geos, Elliottes & Dempseys)... I'm happy with this filtration, but there is room for improvement.

 

[TheFishJunky]

That's not good enough. You may want to add air as well. You should really aim for 4-5X's turnover . You want that 125 to turn over at least 3 times minimum but aim for 4-5 x's per hour.
You're better off getting one big canister and an ac110 for the top. I just edited this like 4 times LOL

 

[Toby_H]

Sounds sufficient to me... but what is a new world cichlid?

"The Americas" are considered "The New World"... thus South American and Central American Cichlids are called "New Wolrd Cichlids"...

As opposed to "Old World Cichlids" which is in reference to African Cichlids...

 

[TheFishJunky]

The only problem is when you look at turnover of 5 x's you see that 125 x 5 = 625 so one would assume that 1 ac110 at I think 900 gallons an hour would be more than enough but that would not be the case. Your canister would be more for bio and the ac110 as an actual filter for the most part but what the 2 together would do is leave no dead spots;as long as you have them on separate sides of the tank. When you add air to the mix it also helps with water movement as well.Or you could also get a power head to move water. As nutcase said, you don't want dead spots.
You also have to be reasonable with how much fish is in the tank...more fish= more turnover needed etc.

 

[TheFishJunky]

If you are doing canisters, I would go with two XP3s personally. Or an XP3 and an AC110.

Or you could go with a wet/dry. On my 125 I use a standard 30gal with 2 x QuietOne 4000s and a Glass Holes.com 1500gph overflow. Takes a little work upfront, but will be worth it in the long run in terms of maintenance and efficiency.

I am not sure if the O.P. is ready for all the wet/dry and/or sump and pumps etc. We all start somewhere and sticking with the basics of filtration is probably a lot more reasonable than the more advanced filtration some of us use.
But by all means,do some research on wet dry's and/or a sump system and if its not too advanced and you feel you can grasp it and concur it so it works,then by all means go for it! You could p.m. me with questions or post em up and there's plenty of us who could steer you in the right direction.

 

[Toby_H]

The only problem is when you look at turnover of 5 x's you see that 125 x 5 = 625 so one would assume that 1 ac110 at I think 900 gallons an hour would be more than enough but that would not be the case. Your canister would be more for bio and the ac110 as an actual filter for the most part but what the 2 together would do is leave no dead spots;as long as you have them on separate sides of the tank. When you add air to the mix it also helps with water movement as well.Or you could also get a power head to move water. As nutcase said, you don't want dead spots.
You also have to be reasonable with how much fish is in the tank...more fish= more turnover needed etc.

The AC 110 is 500 gph, not 900...

The AC 110 has roughly the same media capacity as most 250~400 gph canisters...

AC 110s are awesome PowerFilters... but canister filters and Power Filters each have their own individual advantages and cannot be compared "gph per gph"...

 

[zspidel]

The AC 110 is 500 gph, not 900...

The AC 110 has roughly the same media capacity as most 250~400 gph canisters...

AC 110s are awesome PowerFilters... but canister filters and Power Filters each have their own individual advantages and cannot be compared "gph per gph"...

i beg to differ that one. look at how much more the xp4, 405 and the eheims compared to the 110's