View Full Version : filter choice for a new tank
I just bought a new 90 gallon tank and was wondering what the best type of filter would be.
Kasakato
03-14-2005, 4:59 PM
A Rena FilStar XP 2 or 3 would be great! What kind of filter where you wanting?
Raskolnikov
03-14-2005, 5:05 PM
It depends on what you plan on doing with the tank, as far as the occupants go. An XP3 or a pair of Aqua Clear 500s would be a good place to start.
cal26w
03-14-2005, 5:08 PM
u can go with 2 aquaclear 500 my friend uses them on his tank and its crystal clear all the time
I'm not sure! I have heard about under gravel filters but not sure how good they are, I have read both good and bad about them.
ben_manzella
03-14-2005, 7:39 PM
You really need to think long term. If for instance you are going to go with live plants eventually you want to go with canisters. The power filters are not as good for CO2 injection. I personally wouold recomend canisters. Besure to get quick release for the can. It takes me about 3 minutes to swap out media in my canister with minimal mess. If you have time I would go to Big Als http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=22137;category_id=1721 he has very good prices on filters and look at all of them and also the media that is offered for them. Hope this helps.
ScottoMacD
03-14-2005, 8:59 PM
I like to double up on larger tanks.
Two Eheim 2215's would be excellent.
I also like to double up on aquaclears.
On my 77 gallon I have an Eheim 2028 and an aquaclear 500.
My 50 has two ac 300's and so on.
would the Eheim 2217 not do the same thing? It is rated fo 160 gallon tank. I'm kinda new at this, so what is the benifit of doubling up on the filters?
Don't look at the ratings the companys give you. Most are underrated. Instead look at things like stocking levels, planted unplanted ect...
Most people overstock their tanks so extra filtration is a good idea. Aim for up to 10 times water change or 900gph. 6 times per hour would be a minimum I would go with. But for messy fish liek oscars, goldfish etc... definatley aim high.
And spliting it between two is a better idea. That way you have better coverage over the whole tank and lessen the chances of deadspots with no current. Also if one breaks down things won't go south so fast.
It would be best to buy 2 of the same filter so you don't have to worry about all sorts of different filter media.
A big tank can be expensive to run.
I wouldnt use undergravel without another form of filtration to go with it.
HeinekenMike
03-15-2005, 3:53 PM
glad I found this thread, I am starting out a 72G and only using undergravel filter should I be using somthing more?
Kasakato
03-15-2005, 3:55 PM
Get a HOB or a Canister. It will help a lot with keeping the water clean because of the filter media in it.
Undergrounds are good filters but do a search for RUGF or reverse underground filters. They are a much better choice and use pretty much the same equipment. Still adding a small canister or HOB would be a good idea as well. And many people don't like UGF's when they have planted tanks.
HeinekenMike
03-15-2005, 4:29 PM
ya I am planting my tank... kind of sucks I allready have it all set up wish I would have found this earlyer. do you think the undergravel filter will work ok for a couple weeks to a month while I have just a few plants and fish untill I find a better method or backup method?
Kasakato
03-15-2005, 4:38 PM
Its not a good idea to use a UGF with live plants. If possible pull out the UGF and add the canister or HOB.
It also depends on the plants you want to grow. Things like Amazon swords and other heavy root plants will want a good substrate to grow in so the UGF won't be a good idea. Something more like java fern will work fine as it mostly uses it's roots to hold onto a surface. But all in all a UGF usually isn't a great idea with a planted tank and it will be best served comign out, the sooner you do it the easier it will be to get things settled. But I wouldn't do the switch until you know what sort of susbtrate you are going to use to replace it with and have that all ready to go. Do the change over once.
Any more questions on that will be best for the planted forums.