My quest!! To get crystal clear water in a 40gb

[procustomsolar]

I've done lots of research on filters.... my planned tank will be a 3-4" bgk, 4-6" p. delhezi, 4-5" african butterfly. Some say canister some say hob, some say ac 110 will do the trick with its ingenious media basket, some say a fluval 405 will give me my desired results, or a rena xp3 will do the same. I really would only like to run 1 filter on this tank if possible but can that crystal clear water be found w the above mentioned filters w my parameters?

 

[makoshoemaker]

micron helps i hear. And I just got this powder, i forgot what its called. It takes the ammonia out out the water. and eventually turns black when used up, and you just recharge it with bleach, and it turns white again. Heard its good stuff

 

[makoshoemaker]

make a sump, like a 10 gal sump

 

[makoshoemaker]

its called purigen

 

[CLDarnell]

Every filter mentioned will give you crystal clear water. The bad thing about a poll like this is there are so many members with so many experiences that you are likely to get a whole bunch of votes for each filter listed.

The key is to have a good filter, yes...but more importantly, it's the Keepers knowledge and dedication to the maintenance required that will give you the results you want.

Good luck!

 

[aclockworkorange]

I wouldn't call the aquaclear design ingenious heh... It's just a good, simple design.
I don't like my 2 Rena xp3s very much... Both of them seem to have issues purging air, and aren't the highest quality.
My favorite mid sized canisters are eheim. But they are pricey.
Purigen will also help keep your water clear.

 

[cichlid2006]

Definitely the 405 out of the ones on the list, my experience with the 405 was a great one and I would buy one again in a heartbeat.
However, the price of a 405 is not far off a Fx5 (assuming your tank is a decent size) so maybe that would be better for you.
I run a sump currently and couldn't be happier, cheaper than a big canister but circulates much more water for the money. It is something else I would definitely consider as you can even DIY one quite easily if you are so orientated.

 

[aclockworkorange]

Definitely the 405 out of the ones on the list, my experience with the 405 was a great one and I would buy one again in a heartbeat.
However, the price of a 405 is not far off a Fx5 (assuming your tank is a decent size) so maybe that would be better for you.
I run a sump currently and couldn't be happier, cheaper than a big canister but circulates much more water for the money. It is something else I would definitely consider as you can even DIY one quite easily if you are so orientated.

See, I LOVE my FX5, but I've heard so many mixed reviews on the smaller fluval models. Did they have some design problems they worked out?

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Micron sock = Winner

 

[CLDarnell]

I wouldn't call the aquaclear design ingenious heh...

Sure it is! Its amazing how they put one filter media on top of another! And with this design, they are able to stack them 3 high! lol

Seriously, I do like my AC110s. Also, I agree with clockwork on his comments about the Rena's. I have an XP4. I like mine since I got it basically new for about half price, but it's a pain to re-prime after cleaning. I won't go as far to say they are a bad filter or are to be avoided, but they would be the bottom of the list for my recommendations.

Petsmart had their Fluval 205 for $90, not sure if the sale is still going on. But even so, its only a 40 gallon filter. I like to oversize my filtration by at least 2 times.

OP, have you looked for used? Maybe check Craigslist or at your LFS. One of the stores here for example has 2 Magnum 350s for $40 combined, a Magnum 250 for $20 and several HOB filters (AC50s, Emporer 400s, etc) for $15-$20 each refurbished. If you look at used, make sure you check them out closely (look for signs of wear on the impeller, magnet, etc). Also, if there are no cartridges or filter media, know that it will cost you at least another $10-$20 or more to get what you need.

Lastly, a lot of us prefer to run at least 2 filters on our tanks. With this set up, when its time to clean your filters, you do one at a time. You are able to maintain your bio with the second filter. Next change, change out the second filter. Another advantage of course is if you have trouble with one filter, your second one is still going while you repair or replace the first one.

Good luck!