Filtration Question?

[fishyaddict]

My girlfriend and I just set up our new 125 gallon tank. We bought two Aquaclear 110 filters and placed them on the left and right side of the tank, and we have two airstones set up in the middle. Is this enough filtration?

[reptileguy2727]

what kind of fish are you wanting to do? i would use more filtration no matter what you do, it is better to have way too much than just a little too little. maybe a canister filter in the middle, but make sure the intake wont be pulling in air bubbles from the air pump.

[fishyaddict]

We are going to put Lake Malawi Cichlids (there very young now, moving from another tank) in it, We have a Fluval 403 cannister filter (came with the used setup we bought) we are not currently using. The lady at the LFS told my girlfriend some horror stories about them (mostly that they can end up backing up and draining the tank) and that's what prompted her to get the aquaclear 110s.

[YuccaPatrol]

I would get rid of the airstones and use that canister filter in addition to the two Aquaclear 110's. I love the Aquaclears, but I'd still add more to that large aquarium.

Right now I have an Aquaclear 110, an Emperor 400, and an Emperor 280 on my 75 gallon. If I could do it over I would have 3 of the Aquaclears running on it, and if I had more $$$, I would use a canister

[TKOS]

The Fluval 403 won't drain your tank unless the line breaks and even then it would take a miracle. The worst thing I have done with my canister is not close the 1 way valve when taking the top of the canister. That lead to all the water in the hose draining out. But just the water in the hose and it was my fault. I would use it on that size of tank and get rid of the air stones as they really don't do anything. Maybe run the canister and 1 Aquaclear and keep the other as backup? You will also be able to tell if you have enough filtration by testing the water to make sure it can adequately deal witht he ammonia and nitrites.

[kooter]

I run 2 Aquaclear 70's on my 125g and 1 aquaclear 150 powerhead w/filter.
I don't have a HUGE load of fish but my filtration seems more than enough.
I haven't had a problem. I gravel clean and do water changes every week.
My water is crystal clear and parameters are excellent. I feed 1-2 times per day (just enough so no food is left over and the fish are happy and healthy!).
IMO IF you keep up a good gravel clean and water change regime you have no need for anymore filtration. Then again, I don't have experience with a 120g long. My "cube" tank circulates very well with my 2 HOB aquaclear 70's and powerheads. But ALL tanks are different depending on maintenance regimes, fishload, placement of decorations, placement of filters, etc. etc.

I love my 125g and have had excellent feed back. You will enjoy yours just the same I'm sure!

Cheers.

[Tightdog1]

i use a fluval 304 on each of my 55g and i have never had a problem with them, thery have always been great, granted you do not have the 304, and u have a 403, the older model, i cannot tel you much about that 1, but you will probably need more filtration than 2 Aquaclear 110s, becasue with africans people tend to overstock the tank and then they grow bigger and the bioload gets a lot bigger and the fish get bigger, more filtration is always beter than not enuff, like they say, its better to have and not need, than to need and not have.

[jason2894]

i will soon be setting up another 125 and i plan on using 3 AC 110's and a fluval 404. granted i will be keeping 4 messy south americans in there but i still would say atleast anotherAC 110 and or a fluval 304 or 404 would suit u just fine.

[partsrep]

Add the Fluval and forget the airstones. Use a spraybar with the fluval and set it so it breaks the surface of the water. Between that and the 2 AC110's you'll have plenty of aeration.

[GeeForce11]

On my 100G African Community Tank I have 3 power filters and dual air pump. 1XAquaClear70 70G, 1XTetraTec500 100G, 1XFluval 404 100G adding up to 1140gph filtration and they do a great job. The TT is doing most of the mechanical filtration (floss is the best), AC is doing most of the Chemical filtration, and the Fluval is doing most of the biological filtration with 3 sets of sponges in it :) The water is crystal clear, i wouldn't do it with less filters.

I suggest you should also hook up that fluval you have, it's safe and it's a great filter.

[stingray4540]

Wow! Everybody here seems to like a lot of filtration! :eek: The ac 110's are doing 500 gallons an hour each, so that's 1000 gallons an hour. That means that a 125 gallon tank is being completely filtered 8 times an hour. I think that that would be just fine for malawis. I would just stay with the 2 110's and nix the airstone, but that's just my opinion. Of course the more filtration the better, but if you have qualms about the fluval, I would think your just fine without it.

[reptileguy2727]

you cant go just by gph. it has a lot to do with the amount of media and how clean those gallons per hour are getting. it can be a factor, but just because a filter may get more water through it per hour, doesnt mean the water is even as clean as another filter that does less gph, but gets what it does get very clean.