Still planing the new tank - filters

[TKOS]

Okay so the next stage of planning my new 33 gallon tank is to pick the right filter for the job. It will be a planted tank with a medium fish load. A school of 5 rosey barbs will be the main fish with some bottom feeders and possibly a small school of white clouds.

Anyway I was looking around and have decided that a canister is the way to go if I decide in the future to add CO2 to the system.

The first filter I was looking at was the Fluval 304 that I can get for 129$ at Big Als Online. Then I was wondering if I would need the 404 or if that would just be silly overkill and not owrth paying the extra 50$ for. Of course if the 404 is good then for an extra 10$ I can get the XP3.

Will the 304 be fine for a planted (medium to heavy) 33 gallon tank?

[Matt W]

Yeah the 304 would be fine for a 33G...

[JesseJ]

A 404 is overkill. I'm using a 304 to do my 50G and it's working fine. A 204 would do fine for the tank you are thinking of. One thing about the C02 though. I've heard from people that if you hook your C02 outlet into the Fluval intake the gas pools around the impeller and makes a lot of noise and keeps the water from flowing through it.

[boyohboy]

this may be of interest to you...
http://www.petcetera.ca/flyer/searchnext.do?aid=3&noc=11&ln=6&kw=null

Don't think PetCetera has store in NS, but oh well if you have friend in other provinces to send you... or try to get BA to match price.

Last month (Feb) alot of stores here in ON were selling the Fluval404 for ~$110... well too late now :p

[1tankneverenuff]

Is Fluval like one of the top companies out there when it comes to filters? Those prices look quite hefty...why?

[boyohboy]

Originally posted by 1tankneverenuff
Is Fluval like one of the top companies out there when it comes to filters? Those prices look quite hefty...why?
Fluval is just Hagen's brand I think (lazy to look at my box...) As for the price, well for one it's in Canadian dollar.... second it IS more expensive here in Canada than in US even after considering the currency exchange.... due to, I suppose, lack of competition here in Canada.

[Hoosier]

This might be of some help. Go to www.DrsFosterSmith.com They have the Fluval 304 on sale right now for $74.99! The 404 is on sale for $94.99! You can go to that website or call 1-800-443-1160. You can get a free catalog that has all sorts of stuff in it!

[TKOS]

Thanks for the replys. I will probably end up with the Fluval 304 then. I just keep hearing that the XP3 is the be all of canisters. Is the XP2 as good for smaller tanks?

Yeah, we don't have petcetera in Nova Scotia, but I am headed down to Boston at the end of the month so maybe I will check out some stores there and see if the prices are better.

[NJ Devils Fan]

Get an xP2 for your tank. Trust me, you will love it. You will like the fluval too if you get it, but more people around here recommend filstars.