would two XP3's on a 180 be enough to cope with a heavy bio-load created by some fairly big cichlids as well as an albino channel cat and pacu.
Filtration on a 180
- Thread starter EF9sleeper
- Start date
I think that 2 xp3 would be suffiecient, but for the cost of the two filters you could probably build a larger than needed wet/dry.
Jason
Jason
Why run 2 pumps/filters when a large wet/dry will take care of it. Im using an Amiracle wet/dry on my 180 and have had no problems in over 8 yrs total use on it.Tank had about 15 or so large goldfish and a pleco. The tank now has 3 Oscars and the same pleco. Just my opinion, go with a wet/dry. Kelly
If your tank is drilled or you plan on drilling it, go with a wet dry. If you dont plan on drilling it, go with the two XP3s and an Emp400, you might want to look at doing a UGJ system if you will have a substrate. I have two XP3s on my 135 with an UGJ system and keeps the water crystal clear. The Emp400 should be able to take care of extra 45gal and the heavy bioload. I looking at setting up my 180 with a canister (ehiem or XP3), Emp400, and a Seio 1500gph pump for circulation since it will be a bare tank and the tank will house 4-5 large fish.
I have 2 xp3's, 2 emporer 400's, and a proclear 200 wet dry on my 220 and it barely copes with my bioload. 2 xp3's don't have enough area for biomedia to cope with that large of a tank.
EF9sleeper - In order for anyone to give you a better answer, I think it greatly depends on how many large cichids you are talking about and what max size they will attain, how large the Pacu and Cat are currently, as well as how often and how much are you are feeding the inhabitants, along with how often and how large you do water changes. I would bet the Pacu (if around 15-18inchs), Channel cat (if around 20-24 inches), and say 2x 15inch cichlids, and you are feeding 1 time a day just enough food that each fish gets some, and you are doing 50% water changes once or twice a week you can get by with 2 XP3s and adding an Emp400. Please keep in mind you are house two fish (Pacu and Cat) that will out grow your tank.
