Best canister filter for a 30 gallon?

dbwhicker

AC Members
Feb 20, 2006
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Dallas, TX
My parents gave me a rather large gift certificate to my LFS as a gift and I'm going to use some of it to put together a new planted aquarium :bday:. I'm planning on trying a canister filter for this one, so what is the best canister filter for a 30 gallon tank?
 
get on big als and get the properly rated eheim. there are a few models depending on your budget.
 
can I ask you somjething?

that filter is rated at 116 gph. If it's a 30gal, don't you want about 210 gph? I'm thinking of that 7x turnover an hour "rule".
 
I have seen this on these forums before, I plan to build one soon. We are currently looking for second hand tanks (over 55g) to set up for 2 oscars, or some cichlids, or maybe even our first marine.
Enjoy..
omg.. i think we killed the link.. lol
here is the google cache. don't kill it before i get a chance to print this out!
DIY Canister Filter
 
7x turnover is more of a rule of thumb. Depending on stocking density and plant density more or less turnover may be needed. Most true "planted tanks" are understocked. I would have no problem running that fitler on a 30g tank.
 
I have a Fluval 204 plus an internal fluval power filter for my 29 gallon. It is a good idea to get two filters instead of one.

That way, if one dies on you somehow, you do not lose all of your filtering and nearly all of your beneficial bacteria.

Also, having an extra, easily movable, established filter on your tank is great if you need to set up a hospital/quarantine tank in a hurry.
 
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