55gal Filter Question

[cmorland]

I am setting up a brand new 55gal FW and I am getting a little confused over what type of filter will best suit my needs.

My tank is somewhat built into a wall which complicates things I guess. That means I can't have a filter that hangs off the back as the tank is flush against the wall. Also, there is no storage space underneath. The only storage in the area of the tank is a cabinet that I have built above it.

So I went out to my LFS and explained this to him and he suggested that I get a cannister filter. Sounds good... a little expensive but still sounds good. I take it home and start reading the manual and I find out that it has to be placed BELOW the water level. I started thinking about poking holes through the wall and keeping it in the closet that is located directly behind the tank but common sense kicked in.

So my question is this... what filters are available that do no hang off the back and can be placed ABOVE or IN the tank? My friend uses an undergravel filter but I've heard those are not so great. I have also see in tank filters but the biggest I have come across is a 40gal model. Would two of these in tank filters be sufficient?

I also plan on keeping a fair amount of live plants in the tank so bear this in mind when making recommendations. Thanks!

-CM

[AlbinosRule]

I dont recall the brand, but they have the ones that look like mini canisters that hang in the tank.

Check out this link, there are alot of the ones i am talking about.

http://bigalsonline.com/catalog/category.xml?pcid1=2885;category_id=1717

You should be able to find something there.

[Jericho]

Fruval makes box filters that go inside the tank. You would probably want a 3 plus or a 4 plus.

[sammi]

Depending on the fish you are planning to keep a Fluval 4 plus internal cannister filter will not be enough for a 55 gal tank.....i have tried it!
It will work to some extent but will not keep the tank as clean as it could and should really be. I used two for a while (one either side of the tank) I then purchased a interpet bio life internal filter (fluval do these as well) they are a lot larger and hold alot more media so are capable of filtering a 55 gal.

Is there no way you could use a External filter with the tank set up?

[cyberbeer65]

You could try useing a HOB,and try to hang it off of the side of the tank.

[Pretender]

There are a number of brands of internal power filters. The advantage is that they don't hang outside the tank, but the disadvantage is that they take up space inside the tank and are visible.

This Eheim model (http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=21999;category_id=1717;pcid 1=2885;pcid2=) is supposed to be almost big enough for your tank as is this mentioned Fluval (http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=22435;category_id=1717;pcid 1=2885;pcid2=) . Or you might want to run two slightly smaller units like these Whisper 40's. (http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=30187;category_id=1717;pcid 1=2885;pcid2=) Redundancy is good. You can let one filter continue to run while maintaining the other. you can even put them on different breakered power strips, and if one shorts out for some reason, the other will continue to run.

[cmorland]

Thanks for all of your suggestions...

Being the impatient guy that I am, I really didn't wait until I got any replys to my posts...

I went out to my LFS and they recommended a Rio 2100 pump / filter. I purchased that and a spraybar to better distribute the outflow. It has two media chambers which are both filled with sponges from the factory. I have replaced one of the sponges with a media bag full of carbon. It seems to have worked pretty well. I have had it running in my new tank which was a bit cloudy and things cleared up in a few hours.

Here are some specs on this item:

http://www.wcaquatics.com/cgi-bin/items/PH2100UL.html