Yeah you could try it, just keep an eye on your water params. Personally I've found the best way to run an AC110 is the stock set up. Clean the foam sponge thuroughly every couple weeks. Also to make the sponge easier to clean cut it in half lengthwise and stack the two halves. Of coarse you need to get your intakes down low to be most effect but if you got sand then that's a no go.
How much Biomedia?
- Thread starter BillyBlanco
- Start date
Those two ac110's turn over more gph then most canister filters do man. Your two together are doing about 1000gph. To get a canister filter to turnover that much water you would spend 500-750 bucks and all you would gain from that is more space for media.. which you don't need with your stock. Your filtering is just fine an then some. I use AC110's on most of my set ups but just for mech. filtration. Mine are full to the top with sponges and if I have to treat I drop a bag or two of carbon to purify the water. Super great filters that most people over look because its a HOB style. Don't get me wrong I have canisters on all my set ups also. I keep a little more fish and much messier fish though lol so the extra Bio media space is needed
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I believe there was a thread a while back that measured ACTUAL gph of ACs and the 110s only did like 250? That's still great bang for your buck though, but don't think two AC110s are giving you 1000gph.
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You are probably right. But the filter is measured the same as every other filter on the market is. that is pump with a stall head pressure. The restriction in the AC110 is no where close to what the restriction in a fully stocked canister is. so if you have two filters both rated at 500gph (both numbers are achieved with the same style of measure) one is an AC110 and one is a canister.. which do you think is going to lose more flow in an actual used situation? Probably the canister because it has more to slow the flow down. So yeah it probably does not really get 500gph.. but neither does the listed canister filter people buy. Catch what I'm saying?
My FX5 says 925gph on the box. When we actually measured the flow though I'm only getting 598gph!! That is a huge difference. Also the filter was clean.. not clogged or backed up. Just trying to better explain what I'm trying to say lol
Correct, I've never seen a canister that gets what's on the box. I do think stand alone pumps are more accurate when you figure in actual head.
An FX5 has also been measured on MFK and it got 600gph BTW.
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An FX5 has also been measured on MFK and it got 600gph BTW.
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with a lightly stocked tank like that 2 ac110s with plenty of bio media is more than enough. there are exceptions to the turnover rules. i run 500gph on my 225 but i have the sump loaded with bio media and change at least 100% of the water weekly and the tank is crystal clear and the parameters are perfect. water changes are the single most important thing imo and as long as your changing a decent amount of water weekly along with lots of bio media. funny how people see 180 gallon and assume you need loads of turnover when in all reality the bio load on that tank doesnt require loads of turnover.
Dont know if any one else did it to but this is my link to the states i got from my ac110's last year. http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...ut-to-the-test-here-are-my-results&highlight=
And if your water paramiter are fine then the filters are fine on it for now. I personaully like most on this site over filter the hell out of my tanks. i got tow ac110's and a fluval 406 on my 75 with just my 8 inch midas in it. If i had the 180 i would just build a sump for it. and use the 2 ac110's for water polishing.
Deffenitly not a good idea to rip a large chunk of bio out of them all at one time. Even if persay it doesnt need as much as they have. Doesnt mean the bio isnt spread out in them and being used and colonized. Take a little out at a time. Or if you take out a large chunk of bio from them use stability. Just my two sence good luck i love festae
And if your water paramiter are fine then the filters are fine on it for now. I personaully like most on this site over filter the hell out of my tanks. i got tow ac110's and a fluval 406 on my 75 with just my 8 inch midas in it. If i had the 180 i would just build a sump for it. and use the 2 ac110's for water polishing.
Deffenitly not a good idea to rip a large chunk of bio out of them all at one time. Even if persay it doesnt need as much as they have. Doesnt mean the bio isnt spread out in them and being used and colonized. Take a little out at a time. Or if you take out a large chunk of bio from them use stability. Just my two sence good luck i love festae
that's pretty cool.. I didn't know they tested it on here too.. As you can see I just joined this site. been on fish forums forever but just joined this one. I agree with you on the pumps are nicer. Sumps with your pump to get a true set up for whats listed is the best way. But with his stock would def. be over kill lol
Especially since his water is working with him to buffer any changes... so much water.. so little load.. it actually helps him out. Good point in your post man.
You're probably more than good with bio but if you're worried you could always get a roll of fine micron padding and cut to size. About 1/8" thick and great for polishing yet won't take up space occupied by your bio. It will clog fairly fast but takes less than a minute to rinse especially in an ac.
