filtration suggestions

[zspidel]

i currently have a 55g african cichlid tank w a regular AC40-70 filter. i also have a 120g w gar, 2 oscars, shovelnose cat and goby. all are small fish being filtered w an xp4 but will all be together in the 180 when i get it. im going to update to a 180 within 2 yrs tops. so im gonna go filter shopping this weekend. so my options are

1. buy another xp4 and run 2 xp4's on the 120
2. buy an fx5 for the 120 and move the xp4 to the 55g
3. you guys suggest something else!

thanks for your help, whatever you suggest keep in my mind i dont have a ton of money to spend but want to do this right. if you have other suggestions let me know the cost of them and also where to find the best price on the products. thanks

 

[zspidel]

anyone????

 

[vfc]

What do you want to hear?

Some folks will recommend two FX5s just for the 55G; others will recommend minimal filtration and save your money or spend it on something else.

I recommend a conservative filtration set up, supplemented by power heads for additional circulation.

BTW - I have two HOBs and a power head on my 125G, and an XP3 and XP4 on my 150G. I'm moving away from canisters because they are a PITA to clean. When the XPs break, I'll replace them with HOBs.

 

[zspidel]

What do you want to hear?

I recommend a conservative filtration set up, supplemented by power heads for additional circulation.

BTW - I have two HOBs and a power head on my 125G, and an XP3 and XP4 on my 150G. I'm moving away from canisters because they are a PITA to clean. When the XPs break, I'll replace them with HOBs.

thanks for the input. can you tell me how long youve had your xp's?

 

[vfc]

Between 3 to 4 years.

 

[LD50]

I suggest just holding what you got atm. When you get your 180 spend the extra 150 bucks and get a reef redy tank. In the mean time you can design/build a killer sump that will be better than ANY canister/HOB you can get off the shelf. Here is why

1) versatility, you can design it any way you want. You can fill it full of scrubbies and have a giant nitrate factory or you can run just plants and never have to worry about your NO3 levels and every form of compromise in between.

2) it increases the volume of water in your system.

3) it just looks cleaner, you can house all your gear in the sump/refugeum.

4) its cheap...but going back to versatility, you can make it as complex/expensive or simple and cheap as you want anything from a rubbermaid container with scrubbies and a pump to a 75g tank with uber lighting for a fuge.

 

[zspidel]

I suggest just holding what you got atm. When you get your 180 spend the extra 150 bucks and get a reef redy tank. In the mean time you can design/build a killer sump that will be better than ANY canister/HOB you can get off the shelf. Here is why

1) versatility, you can design it any way you want. You can fill it full of scrubbies and have a giant nitrate factory or you can run just plants and never have to worry about your NO3 levels and every form of compromise in between.

2) it increases the volume of water in your system.

3) it just looks cleaner, you can house all your gear in the sump/refugeum.

4) its cheap...but going back to versatility, you can make it as complex/expensive or simple and cheap as you want anything from a rubbermaid container with scrubbies and a pump to a 75g tank with uber lighting for a fuge.

thanks but i have no interest in a reef ready tank. i have all the fish i want now + or - oen or 2

 

[zspidel]

anyone else

 

[alexmuw]

I would go with a Fluval FX5 for the 120. It has up to 900 gph !!! I would also keep the XP on the 120. Look on craigslist for a cheap filter for the 55.

Previous person said to use 2 FX5s on 1 55 gallon tank. To me that's insane ! That's almost 2000 gph filtration on a 55 gal tank ! Talk about water turbulence. I think your fish would die from exhaustion.


Good luck !!

 

[zspidel]

I would go with a Fluval FX5 for the 120. It has up to 900 gph !!! I would also keep the XP on the 120. Look on craigslist for a cheap filter for the 55.

Previous person said to use 2 FX5s on 1 55 gallon tank. To me that's insane ! That's almost 2000 gph filtration on a 55 gal tank ! Talk about water turbulence. I think your fish would die from exhaustion.


Good luck !!

ok, thanks for the input. im likin this idea cuz this would be enough filtration when i go to my 180. how should i arrange the filter media in the 2 canisters? just leave them set normally or switch them around and have one just for polishing?

and yea, 2 fx5s and id have fish plastered to the wall lol