Good call. I recommend the 110 over the 75 for a 30 G or larger tank. You can always use more filtration and you can easily reduce the flow on the 110 if you want too.
Marineland pro filters
- Thread starter jft
- Start date
The noise with low water levels isn't a mechanical issue but because there are intake slots near the top, intended to give the option for 'surface skimming' (not protein skimming). You can adjust intake between the two, but I'd have been just as happy without that feature.
I had the old Emperor 400s, just about bullet proof, last forever, and you can ditch the cartridges and fit a good bit of media, but a bit on the noisy side and worse as they age. I've also had the Aqueon Quietflows, good performance for the size, but impellers wear out fast ime. I've run 75 gal tanks, moderately stocked with cichlids, on one Tidal 110 with no problem getting very clean water with large water changes (I do that anyway) and regular cleaning-- that said, while I have more filters than tanks, now, and run extras on some tanks just to keep the filters alive, I was a master at filtering tanks without huge filtration, getting low nitrates, etc.
I've also had canisters for many years and went all canister a few years ago, just because they're quieter. Not as easy to clean, but I've gotten older and like the quiet-- my computer is usually louder than my tanks in my office/fish display room.
I agree the surface skimmer on the Tidal filter is unnecessary. Food and detritus never stay on the surface of any of my aquariums for long regardless of whether I am using a Tidal, Marineland, or Aquaclear filter. If they remove the surface skimmer gimmick, it would actually improve the overall value of this otherwise outstanding filter to most hobbyists.
