Filtration advise.

[Denominator]

I'm starting up my 200 gallon tank soon and I want opinions from anybody.
Fluval fx5 will be my preference and a bare tank. (no gravel) is this possible?

I have other ideas as well, but this would be my first and top of the list idea.

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

You will definetly need more filtration for 200 gallons. A fx5 pushes about 600g and hour while it is clean and that GPh slowly goes down as the media gets dirty. But even while it is clean it will only turn your tank over 3 times in a hour. Now if this WAS a very large sump with loads of bio-media than you might get away with a 3x turn over rate and a low stock. The trouble with a bare tank is that there has to be places for biological bacteria to colonize to stablize your tank. And in a normal tank they would do this on the gravel/sand/decorations/filters/etc/etc. But having a bare tank with no substrate you have to give them other places to colonize. So there for you have to have alot more bio-media. And there is just not enough room for this amount of media in a single fx5. A well layed out sump would be your best bet. But you could do it with a couple of fx5's if you have to.

 

[Urbo]

Nice advice

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

Thanks and I hope it helps----and welcome to MFK

 

[Denominator]

You will definetly need more filtration for 200 gallons. A fx5 pushes about 600g and hour while it is clean and that GPh slowly goes down as the media gets dirty. But even while it is clean it will only turn your tank over 3 times in a hour. Now if this WAS a very large sump with loads of bio-media than you might get away with a 3x turn over rate and a low stock. The trouble with a bare tank is that there has to be places for biological bacteria to colonize to stablize your tank. And in a normal tank they would do this on the gravel/sand/decorations/filters/etc/etc. But having a bare tank with no substrate you have to give them other places to colonize. So there for you have to have alot more bio-media. And there is just not enough room for this amount of media in a single fx5. A well layed out sump would be your best bet. But you could do it with a couple of fx5's if you have to.

Awesome! Thanks hybridtheoryd16 That's really nice to know. I do want to do a large sump but my tank stand won't allow to put one underneath/inside it and space is VERY limited So 2 Fx5's should do the trick eh?

And also, how about if I add large size gravel in the tank, and.. AND use pot scrubbies or alfa groc like some of the other guys had mentioned in the other threads.. so it would hold more media right?

 

[drb]

Scroll down and read the whole thread, it compares the FX5 to the Eheim 2080. The Eheim is more expensive but well worth the money that is all I use is Eheim. I also have the 2080 and its the best hands down in everyway accept price but WELL WORTH IT!
http://www.discusforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7080

 

[Denominator]

Scroll down and read the whole thread, it compares the FX5 to the Eheim 2080. The Eheim is more expensive but well worth the money that is all I use is Eheim. I also have the 2080 and its the best hands down in everyway accept price but WELL WORTH IT!
http://www.discusforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7080

I thought about the Eheim, but the price is kinda high.
So running 1 Eheim 2080 alone is good enough to power my bare tank?

If so I'm going on ebay tomorrow and buying this one from petstore.com
for $417.58 unless you can tell me where I can get one for cheaper.

Just please tell me I can find the best price for one is.

 

[Denominator]

I thought about the Eheim, but the price is kinda high.
So running 1 Eheim 2080 alone is good enough to power my bare tank?

If so I'm going on ebay tomorrow and buying this one from petstore.com
for $417.58 unless you can tell me where I can get one for cheaper.

Just please tell me I can find the best price for one is.

Actually.. at Petstore.com its only $399.99 shipped!

 

[Nic]

you will be fine on a decent bio load... keep your water changes up thats all.... i know of 3 ponds with rays 500 gallons each running 1200 gallons a hour and they are perfect....

 

[Denominator]

Follow up...
I'm going with 2 fx5's for the price of 1 Ehiem 2028..2 is better than 1.
Just ordered today and hoping that it will arive this week sometime.

I will let you all know how it goes. And post up pictures after I set everything up.

End of Story.