filters for 125 gallon new world cichlid tank

[Toby_H]

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

The AC 110's media chamber is 10" x 3.75" @ 7.5" deep... 1.21 gallons...

What are the measurements of the filters that you are suggesting have more?

 

[Experiment397]

hey i don't mean to be rude but aren't you guys a little intense about filters? i mean i have never had any trouble trusting the xx rate listed on the filter as long as i go about 30-90 gallons over the tank size. maybe it's just my experience

 

[Gobrian44]

AC 110....get one...u'll LOVE IT!

 

[Toby_H]

hey i don't mean to be rude but aren't you guys a little intense about filters? i mean i have never had any trouble trusting the xx rate listed on the filter as long as i go about 30-90 gallons over the tank size. maybe it's just my experience

Well, you are saying you trust the rating yet you overshoot it... so do you trust it or overshoot it?


An AC 110 is "rated" for up to 110 gal tanks... but it's very common practice to use two of them on 55~75 gal tanks...


The XP4 boasts "up to 265 gal tank". The motor that is 450 gph rated (at zero resistence) motor will actually move abotu 265 gph. Have you ever seen anyone suggest "1 time turnover" for Cichlid tanks.


I am suggesting that this "up to XX rating" be completely ignored as there is no consistent way to mend it as different manufacturers make up different theories to come up with this number. If doubling it worked on all filters, I'd say double it. But for some brands doubling it is overkill but for other brands doubling it is barely a start...


Instead I describe other methods to evaluate filtration that do not include manufacturers misleading suggestions.

 

[DMD123]

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?

Do you have the 305's already or are you thinking of purchasing them? Dont these go for about $150ish a piece? For $300ish and cichlids, a single FX5 seems a better choice. Then you can add your Emperor 400 to that for a very nice filtration combo.

 

[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 think900 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"...

I agree with you obviously and just to clear it up-please look closer, that's why I said "I think" I coulda sworn it was 900 but they used to be called ac 500 so now that I remember yup-you are right. But ac110's are the best HOB out there-hands down. Using an ac110 and a cannister makes more sense to me.

 

[Experiment397]

k thanks guys i will start looking for thoose fx5 and ac110's instead of doing the 305's