upgrading filters

[JeninOK]

I have too much equipment in my 55 gallon, Two AC70s a large powerhead with a sponge-prefilter and an airstone also with a sponge that I run at night.

the airstone is noisy and drives me batty and the trickling sound of the filters drives me nuts as well- so I am constantly topping it off.

Not to mention the ridiculous amount of plugs and cords under my stand.

So I am thinking of upgrading to a canister filter but I dont know much about them. Are they my only other reasonable option?

Any enlightenment would be helpful

Will the return flow or a spray bar create flow similar to a powerhead?

Is there a quit brand of airpumps because this one is only rated for a 15-20 gallon but its loud!

 

[cichlid2006]

i am upgrading from 2 cheaper canisters to a couple of eheim 2217 classic filters soon. canisters are definitely the way to go unless you can fit a sump in your cabinet.
canisters are cheap and the classics hold a good amount of bio too.
the return flow will be enough for surface agitation if you angle it upwards so the spray just disturbs the surface. i havent used an airstone for years. an air pump is noisy and good for emergencies but an external filter will oxygenate enough. the air pump gives you noise and a larger electricity bill for doing something an external filter can do.
i dont know what an ac70 is but if its bugging you then get a couple of canister filters.

 

[JeninOK]

What size canister would you all recommend for a heavily but not overstocked 55 gallon?

it is also pretty well planted if that makes a difference

 

[duke33]

I'm running a fluval 305 on a 55g. Heavily planted and stocked. It does a fine job.

 

[TRENT]

Fluval FX5, http://www.hagen.com/uk/aquatic/product.cfm?CAT=1&SUBCAT=107&PROD_ID=01002180030101 may be alittle overkill but this is what I ran in my 55 and then on my 125 when I upgraded. It will clear a 55 in no time at all. The only thing I didn't like about it is it wouldnt fit inside my 55's stand, other than that awsome filter. You can find them for under 200.00

 

[cichlid2006]

for huge bio you cant beat the eheim 2217 apparently. thats what im buying. the fx5 may be too much flow if your 55 is heavily planted

 

[misplacedsooner]

hey there fellow okie..... canisters are nice to have, i have the fx5 mentioned above and love it but it does kick alot of water flow. another option is an xp3 with a spraybar made by rena. or if you wanted you could rig an extention on your ac s so the water flows down further. as far as pumps ive been lucky i guess with regular walmart air pumps being quiet, when they vibrate against something they tend to make noise.
mike

 

[Trippingpara]

I use a Rena xP3 on my heavily stocked 55g and it works like a charm. The spraybar puts out some good circulation. I have an old Whisper air pump on my fry tank and it is silent as long as I have a washcloth under it.

 

[JeninOK]

Thanks for the help, I was lost trying to compare all the different canisters and not knowing much about them.

I have my air pump sitting on a sponge and wrapped in a hand towel and now I cant hear it..I was trying to sleep last night and could hear it through the darn wall!!

I am going to do more reading and will be getting a canister in the next couple of weeks for my 55 and If I like it will get another for our 90 soon after.

 

[Hawkfish3.0]

I think you will find that most of the members here swear by the Eheim canisters. Followed by Fluvals and finally Renas.