What filter should I buy?
- Thread starter Wulfonce
- Start date
The XP3 filled with bio-media will maintain your water parameters, but at under 3x turnover, it won't do much for circulation or mechanical filtration.
As long as you don't mind regularly vacuuming your tank, it will be fine until you're able to get a second filter.
As long as you don't mind regularly vacuuming your tank, it will be fine until you're able to get a second filter.
Bderick67;3886489; said:
last i checked. 1.5x was "under 3x".
even at 1x turnover, and weekly WC, the water parameters should be fine. though it is far from ideal. and the mechanical filtration will be nearly non existent.
but if cost is a concern, and the OP is willing to do the physical work to maintain the tank in the meantime, the xp3 should hold him over until he is able to buy a second filter for the tank.
however, as i said in my initial post, i would definitely suggest going with a DIY sump if you want the best bang for your buck. for the same price as the XP3 you can build a filter that will properly filter that tank.
or as Bderick67 said, a pair of AC110s would do the trick.
i just got a 125 gallon tank. I called my local pet store and the owner said if it was his tank he would buy 2 filters. He told me that with that big of a tank that one filterwould have trouble filtering all of the water. He recomended two 110 gallon filters. It was about 160 for both of the filters. Water stays very clean. gl with your tank
i use a resun power head for my 3 foot, but a large hang on or a sump is the best way to go.
It will cost a little more but it is worth it.
<------- 200ish with sump
It will cost a little more but it is worth it.
<------- 200ish with sump
You actually checked on this
Well I didn't really want to use HOB filters but having done some research and considering my limited budget I think it's probably the way to go. I did a little research on the AC 110 and it doesn't really seem much better then the Emperor 400. Here's what I found out.
x2 AC 110:
-500gph (1000gph)
-No biowheel
-$88 ($176)
-turnover x8 per hour
x2 Emperor 400:
-400gph (800gph)
-larger media area
-has bio wheels
-$70 ($140) <--- I already own one so really its just $70
-turnover x6.4 per hour
Well It seems to me that everyone likes one or the other at almost a 50:50 split. Since I already have an emperor 400 and its been treating me great for the last 2 years, I think I'll go for x2 400's, one at each end. I also have a maxijet 1200 that I could blow across the gravel to assist in the mechanical filtration. A good idea?
x2 AC 110:
-500gph (1000gph)
-No biowheel
-$88 ($176)
-turnover x8 per hour
x2 Emperor 400:
-400gph (800gph)
-larger media area
-has bio wheels
-$70 ($140) <--- I already own one so really its just $70
-turnover x6.4 per hour
Well It seems to me that everyone likes one or the other at almost a 50:50 split. Since I already have an emperor 400 and its been treating me great for the last 2 years, I think I'll go for x2 400's, one at each end. I also have a maxijet 1200 that I could blow across the gravel to assist in the mechanical filtration. A good idea?
