Filter suggestions please.

9 posts

Discuss all topics related to freshwater and planted tanks.


LeftysLoft7012
 
Posts: 14
Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2008 3:11 am

Filter suggestions please.

by LeftysLoft7012

I am about to aquire a 125gal aquarium from the friend of a friend. I have been looking into the filtering for this tank and would like you to share your thoughts. This will be a planted freshwater community tank. I'm thinking about a canister filter as well as a BioWheel HOB, and an air pump.

The Fluval FX5 is too expensive and running a HOB I think I will be alright without 900+gpm. It looks like Fluval's next size down is the 405. Is it any good? @ 340gph, I will need a HOB that provides at least 400gpm, which seems like alot for a HOB. Does Fluval offer anything in between the 405 and the FX5?

Rena offers the XP4 which @ 450gph the HOB would only need to be 300gph. But I've heard it's noisy and or cumbersome to maintain.

I would ask that those of you who have used either, or both of these filters, please give me (us) your review.

Are there any other canister filters I should be looking at (Ehiem way out of reach for my wallet)? How about this one I found on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0092480294
The UV filter is after the media, which I feel would be safer for the bennificial bacteria, but I don't know how easy it would be to find parts. Seller sais it's made by same company that makes Sunsun (whatever that is?)

Please feel free also to comment if you think a different layout altogether would be better.

Thanks in advance for your replies.
Patrick


Peterkarig3210
 
Posts: 1980
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:04 am

by Peterkarig3210

I have 2 Rena xp3's and they're totally silent. I think these are the best for the $$$ and I like the way the trays stack better than the Fluval.


ebruenin
 
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2007 4:43 pm

by ebruenin

I have 2 Pen Plax Cascades...a 700 and a 300 on my 55 gallon tank. For the price they are good enough and I haven't had any issues changing out media


Peterkarig3210
 
Posts: 1980
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:04 am

by Peterkarig3210

I like that filter, and the UV feature seems like a good idea.

I don't know why everyone rates filters for GPH. I'd think the amount of media a filter holds is more important. The Rena XP3 that I have has a pretty small impeller, and doesn't pump that much water, but the baskets are large and it holds a lot of media.


ebruenin
 
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2007 4:43 pm

by ebruenin

Yeah the Cascades come with 2 trays and one is empty...just floss...so I added additional ceramics and they move plenty of water.


LeftysLoft7012
 
Posts: 14
Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2008 3:11 am

by LeftysLoft7012

Wow, wish I had received these replys a week ago. I just ebayed an FX5 (it actually arrives tomorrow). Peter, what you say makes so much sense, now I feel like I wasted my money. And to boot, I also bought a seperate UV filter to run branched off of the FX5's return line. Oh well.
Last edited by LeftysLoft7012 on Tue Sep 09, 2008 6:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.


Peterkarig3210
 
Posts: 1980
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:04 am

by Peterkarig3210

The Rena was a good choice, the XP4?, and the UV light is probably a decent buy that could be good for killing algae spores and lill bugs.


LeftysLoft7012
 
Posts: 14
Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2008 3:11 am

by LeftysLoft7012

Peter, see edit above. I meant to say FX5and not XP4. Based on these posts for a planted aquarium, it's overkill.


Peterkarig3210
 
Posts: 1980
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:04 am

by Peterkarig3210

I'd be happy with extra filtration. less filter cleaning, more stable aquarium.

Filter suggestions please.

9 posts

Display posts from previous: Sort by: