I just got a 180 gallon tank with no overflows. I want to filter 850 gallons per hour. I have a filstar xp2 that filters up to 300gph that I will be using as a supplement, so I need a new filter that filters at least 550 gallons per hour I guess. I don't know what kind to get. Someone recommended wet/dry. I've never had a tank over 75 gallons so I don't know anything about these types of filters. What are some brands that have good performance for a decent price? Also, easy setup and maintainance is a must.
filtration for dummies
- Thread starter sixpack_ey
- Start date
I like to use a three way combination of Cannister filters....emporer HOB units and air driven sponge filters. All simple to set up and easy to maintain. The FX5 would be my first choice for a cannister but a pair of 404's or 405's would do nicely. 2 Emp...400's and a couple of hydro 5's and you'll have all the filtration you'll even need and no single equipment failure will spell disaster.
Thanks for the advice, but you lost me. Who makes fx5 and 404s? What is a hydro 5? Sorry, I've been keeping fish a long time, but I find one thing I like and stick with it. All I've had is hagan aquaclear HOBs and the rena filstar canister.
Fluval makes the FX5...404 and 405 cannisters. (in other words hagan)
the AQ's are good filters but the Marineland Emporer bio wheel fliters...(400 and 280) are far superior in biological filtration.
Hydro 5's are air driven sponge filters than can be run off of a battery powered pump in case of an emergancy. They also add a great deal of bio filtration capacity to the tank.
I've used a couple of Rena cannister filters but I wasn't impressed with their overall quality. Because of their low price and availability they have a large following but I'm not one of them.
the AQ's are good filters but the Marineland Emporer bio wheel fliters...(400 and 280) are far superior in biological filtration.
Hydro 5's are air driven sponge filters than can be run off of a battery powered pump in case of an emergancy. They also add a great deal of bio filtration capacity to the tank.
I've used a couple of Rena cannister filters but I wasn't impressed with their overall quality. Because of their low price and availability they have a large following but I'm not one of them.
Well, I am looking to get something better than I've used in the past for this aquarium. There will be a pretty big bioload. So, you don't recommend a wet/dry?
Eheims are great as well as the fluvals. I think they are a superior in filtration over fluvals but still Fluvals are fantastic. Eheims are great for any type of filtration ( bio, chem., mech.). They also allow completely different and all medias to go into the canister. Fluvals do the same but I just don't like their media trays feature. It seems to me some of the water bypasses the media as Eheims it's impossible to bypass media. Although you won't get the 550gph you are looking for since flow rate isn't all that fast. Eheim Pro II and III series are the best IMO but are a little pricey. If you want a wet/dry my dad just ordered this from drsfostersmith.com for his 90 gallon but you might want to get model 4. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=13648&N=2004+22778 . He says its perfect.
IMO Fluvals suck, even if the mfg is hagen(has nothing to do with fluvals being sucky, hagen just makes em)
Aquaclears are the way to go, i would get a few AC110's if you are familiar with them along with two rena xp3's.
The partial bypass your talking about in fluval canisters is designed to prevent a total loss of water flow in the event that you let it go for long periods of time...properly packed and set up...the 405's don't normally bypass.
Eheims ...at least the newer pro models... are very good filters but in most cases cost two to three times as much as comprable filters from other companies. In other words you can run two or even three other filters for the same price.
The AQ's are a good reliable filter even though they are out of date and low tech. The main feature of AQ's that everyone seems to like is that you can use whatever sort of media in them you'd like...however with very little work you can do the same thing with almost any HOB filter.
Every brand of filter on the market has it's own strengths and weaknesses.
For every horror story you hear about ANY brand you can find and equil amount of praise. Most of it depends on the application and the people involved. "THIS or THAT...sucks" is hardly constructive in helping someone make a decision.
Eheims ...at least the newer pro models... are very good filters but in most cases cost two to three times as much as comprable filters from other companies. In other words you can run two or even three other filters for the same price.
The AQ's are a good reliable filter even though they are out of date and low tech. The main feature of AQ's that everyone seems to like is that you can use whatever sort of media in them you'd like...however with very little work you can do the same thing with almost any HOB filter.
Every brand of filter on the market has it's own strengths and weaknesses.
For every horror story you hear about ANY brand you can find and equil amount of praise. Most of it depends on the application and the people involved. "THIS or THAT...sucks" is hardly constructive in helping someone make a decision.
I run systems similar to Wolf, but I do them with opposing brands. I like to run Eheim canisters (can't get better than Eheim's for bio filtration, IMO (not counting W/D filters), combined with AC110s, and Hydro 5 foam filters.