Questions regarding filtering a 180 gallon?

[dbcb314]

I hope my next purchase will be a 180 gallon, which will be a large step up from the 75 i have now. The biggest tank I have actively been around is a 125.

So I have some questions on how to filter it. I am having huge problems finding one drilled and I refused to drill it myself. I have drilled tanks before, but somethign that big and expensive would scare me to death.

So what is the best way to filter somethign this big without it being drilled and assume no sump as I don't think the apartment complex would like 250 gallons of water in one spot...

thanks for you help... i have always been a HOB filter guy since thats is all u need for the size of tanks i have been around. so any help is appreciated

 

[knicks791]

Try a canister, FX5 or ehiem 2060 -2062.

 

[dbcb314]

would i need somethign that exteme (expensive as wel) if combined with say... 2 hob emps and a in tank uv sterilzer?

(have no experience with canisters outside of work_)

 

[knicks791]

IMO 2 aquaclears 110 and Rena FilStar xP3 should be okay. But it also depends on your stock.

Canisters are more, but you only have to clean them once or twice a year and are usually more quite that HOB. (I am sure someone will disagree but they always do)

 

[alexmuw]

I have an "All-Glass Company" 180 gallon glass tank. It has a tempered bottom, so you cannot drill it (if you try it will shatter). Make sure your bottom isn't tempered or it will break. You can also try to make a siphon-tube to your sump (I've seen these work just fine on a 200 gallon tank).


I currently filter my 180 with a Cascade 1200 (canister), aquaclear 110, and aquaclear 70. Combined, that's over 1100 gph and keeps tank looking good. (also get a UV filter, algae can be hard to clean from a 24" tall tank).


Good luck!!!!!

 

[dbcb314]

ive drilled about 50 ten gallons before... one of them wasn't labeled tempered and boy was that a surprise lol

I think i have given up on the looking for a pre drilled 180. the price seems to go up even higher

 

[leather]

Depending on your stock you can get away with lots of different filter options. My 150 has been up and running for 8 years with a cascade 1500 and two whisper 60s. For the first 5 or 6 years it was overstocked with african cichlids. Now it is just a planted community tank. I just did 50% water changes weekly with cichlids as opposed to 30% weekly now.

 

[Kogo]

I use three aquaclear 110's and frequent water changes on my 180. the Jaguar pair and midas pair spawn on a regular basis. I chose this setup for simplicity and economics and it accomplishes those goals well.

 

[dbcb314]

thanks for the replies.

I think I will go with 2 emps, my uv sterilizer and probably a smaller canister.