Is two Filstar XP3's too much for a 90 gallon heavily-stocked Malawi cichlid tank?

Omega

Omega

Clowning Around
Dec 29, 2005
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Surrey, BC, Canada
I just bought a nice 90 gallon tank from Big Al's. As soon as I can get another guy over here to help me lift this thing onto the pine stand, I'm going to fill it, get all the filters I have up and running, and add a good ammonia source, along with some media from a filter in a stocked tank that a breeder is willing to either give me or sell me. Might even add some Cycle and hope the stuff actually works, LOL. Bio-spira is what I'd actually like to find. I should phone around.

At first I was going to get another Malawi mbuna tank (I've had a nice one before but sold it) or a frontosa tank, which I've never had before. As it turns out, maybe if my tank had twenty-five more gallons I could do it, but 90 gallons, that's too small for a breeding coloney of frontosas, unfortunately.

Two Filstar XP3’s have a combined rated output of 700 gallons per hour, or 7.78-times the tank volume per hour. However, with other variables factored in, that’s probably more like 450 gallons per hour, or five-times the tank volume per hour. Sounds good to me, what about you? Any thoughts?
 
Oh my gosh!

First I see these XP3's for $223 CDN on the shelves of Petsmart the other day, then I see them in a catalog of Big Al's for $180, then I see them for $150 at JL Aquatics, now I'm looking back at the online Big Al' catalog and they're $100! Whoohoo! Maybe I'll buy three. ;)
 
actually once you have that filter loaded up with all three baskets full with media your gph is reduced to about 187 gph so two xp3 together will give you about 374 gph
 
IMO one is plenty on a 90 gallon tank. I have 1 XP3 on my heavily stocked 90 gallon Malawi tank and I've had to turn the flow DOWN. If you wanted to add an aquaclear or something else just for something a little different that would be fine... but I think two XP3's is pushing it. Besides, they are not the quietest of filters ;).

Where abouts are you located?

King Ed's sells them for by far the cheapest, but during Big Al's sale I do believe they come close.

-Diana
 
~*LuvMyKribs*~ said:
IMO one is plenty on a 90 gallon tank. I have 1 XP3 on my heavily stocked 90 gallon Malawi tank and I've had to turn the flow DOWN. If you wanted to add an aquaclear or something else just for something a little different that would be fine... but I think two XP3's is pushing it. Besides, they are not the quietest of filters ;).

Where abouts are you located?

King Ed's sells them for by far the cheapest, but during Big Al's sale I do believe they come close.

-Diana
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So they put out more than 187 GPH fully-loaded? And just how loud are they?

I'm located in Surrey. :) I was actually looking accidentially on the US site when I saw them for $100. Does King Ed have them for less than $150 like JL Aquatics? Where's King Ed?
 
Thats not too much flow it just right imo
 
Well its no Eheim, but its not bad. Mine is a little whiny, and often gets bubbles in it somehow. I have mine in the bedroom though so I notice it a little more. I still think one would do you fine. Maybe start with one and add another later if you feel its needed.

I got mine at King Ed's for $110 but that was a super sale price (they gave me a slight discount on top of the sale price). Check out King Ed's first for sure.... its probebly around $130... but they might still give you a boxing day price. Might have to talk them into it though ;). Its located in Burnaby right near the corner of Kingsway and Edmonds streets.

:)
-Diana
 
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for the guys that say its noisy you guys must be doin something wrong, i have a xp3 and i cant even hear mine run
 
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