Best Filter for a Large Tank??

[amanda_]

I am building a 175 gallon wide tank for my 3 blood parrots and oscar. My first question is is this big enough? My second question is what is the best filter? I'm looking at the Fluval FX (I think thats the name) as its supposed to be good for up to 400 gallons. Is there a better option for such messy fish?

[mcox3]

wet/dry is the way to go...

[amanda_]

Can you recommend a particular wet/dry filter? What exactly is a wet/dry filter?

[mcox3]

you can either buy one or do what a lot of other people do, make one...
I'll find some links for you...

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=13648&N=2004+22778

Here's a link of the one I made for my 210g

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=111339&page=2

You just need 2 types of filtration...

1st is mechanical- will filter debris... you can use filter floss for this.
2nd is Biological- you need something to house your bacteria... you can use pot scrubbers, lava rock, bio-balls or anything else will a large surface area...

you'll also need an over-flow... if your tank isnt drilled you can make a DIY overflow or buy one that hangs on the back...

lastly you'll need a pump to return the water back into the main tank.

it seems complicated but IMO is the best way as you can do alot with it.

[mcox3]

here's a link to mine all done
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/5592/1024460tt8.th.jpg (http://img230.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1024460tt8.jpg)

only thing that i didnt do compeltely right, is that my bio-balls are mostly submerged...

typically you want the bio-balls to be above the water and have the water trickle though them...

[amanda_]

Thanks so much for your help!!! This helps alot. I'm anxious to try and make my own. Any tips? Was it pretty straight forward or did you run into any problems other than with the bio balls being mostly submerged?

[mcox3]

I'd originally purchased the wrong silicone... I used GE Silicone I, which is correct, but theres WINDOW & DOOR and theres KITCHEN & SINK... you want to use WINDOW & DOOR as the other contains an anti-mildew agent.

I also just used replacement glass for the baffles... simple glass cutter...

Plastic peg board from Lowes for the trickle plate... Egg crate & pvc pipes to keep the bio-balls up.

Oh and the height of the last baffle dictates your water level.

Here's another really good link: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67797

[Rbishop]

A 55 gal sump.

[sirasoni]

A wet/dry or a big canister (or 2) + big HOB(or 2)

[KenyanSandBoa]

I am building a 175 gallon wide tank for my 3 blood parrots and oscar. My first question is is this big enough? My second question is what is the best filter? I'm looking at the Fluval FX (I think thats the name) as its supposed to be good for up to 400 gallons. Is there a better option for such messy fish?

Yeah, that tank should be big enough for what you have.

I agree with mcox3...wet dry is the way to go. If you decide you want to go with the canister filters, the Fluval FX series is one of your best choices. The canister filters will move more water per hour than a wet/dry, but you can't beat the quality of the filtration a wet/dry does in one pass through.

[mudskippers]

i agree, #1 would have to be a wet/dry.
if you dont go that rout, then id suggest canisters, imo, i prefer 2 canisters rather than 1 big one. keep us updated on your progress! thx

[mcox3]

The canister filters will move more water per hour than a wet/dry

Well that depends on the size of the pump... My Quiet One does 1500gph at 0 head... so its probably doing somewhere around 1100gph for me... (which is about half of what my gph should be)