buying a new filter ! opinions please !

S

SBee

AC Members
Feb 19, 2003
159
0
0
44
Delta, BC, Canada!
ok.....so me and Jinks are buying a new filter for a 75 gallon tank. We're planning on putting in a dozen or so small "mixed africans" because they're on sale for 2 bucks at Big Al's. Yes, we're not being very picky!

The tank has black sand for substrate, if that matters,

but anyways, it boils down to this:

Rena Filstar xp3 or xp2

or

Fluval 304 or 404


Which one should be go for!!?? pro's / con's ??

(We hear the Eheim's are great, but unfortunately, not within our budget. )
 
that sounds crazy to me.!! :)

on my 90 gal I have a fluval 303 and have for years.......it has been great; no complaints, even though it's technically considered to small.

the filstar xp3 is supposed to be good for 125 gallons......so why would I need 2 on a 75 gallon tank?? It's not in our budget!! that would cost us 400 dollars. Shouldn't an xp2 , good for 70 gallons, be just sufficient? I do weekly water changes, and could also have an aquaclear 150 or 2 in combo with the xp2. ??
 
Eheims are not expensive. A classic 2213 can be gotten for $50 and will handle a lightly stocked 55gal.

good luck
:)
 
Depends on your total fish load and how much and often you change the water...as long as you are doing around 35% water changes weekly(I do 50% on my 55), then 1 filter will be fine...I agree on the filstar being your best bet..damn good filter.
 
Big Al's online has the XP3s for $95 each. When it says on the filter box what size tank the filter is recommend for, don't pay attention to it. Its not remotely crazy at all to have 2 large canisters on a 75g tank. In fact, it's most desirable. You are aiming for a high turnover rate, somewhere around 8x-12x. 2 xP3s would provide that with a 365 ghp flow rate each. With a tank that large, you need to get 2 filters to adequately filter the water, just like you should get 2 heaters to heat the water efficently, unless you are very lightly stocking the tank. Big tanks coust big bucks to maintain. If this is still not within your budget, go with either 2 Aqua Clear 500 or 2 Emperor 400 power filters, both around $35 each at Big Al's online.
 
Last edited:
The Filstar XP-2 is marginal for your tank size. Get the XP-3.....
Extra filtration is a good thing! I have an 80 gallon and have 2 canisters filtering it.
 
"Eheims are not expensive. A classic 2213 can be gotten for $50 and will handle a lightly stocked 55gal."


FIFTY BUCKS?!?!?! on big al's online (canada) they are 169.99!! are you talkin' used?? or do you know a cheaper place??

Slappy---thinking of getting a dozen small african cichlids....counting on a couple not making it........so let's say 10 eventually fully-grown africans....still think one filter, w/big weekly water changes, is ok??
 
NJ Devil---

the thing is, I'm in Canada and the price difference on filters/heaters/everything is HUGE.....the xp3 is 259.99 at big al's here.......not 95......and an aquaclear 500 is not 35.......it's 75.....

I don't mean that it's a BAD thing to have multiple expensive filters on a large tank.....not at all......I just can't afford it now....

another thing....I was told to "ignore the information on the boxes" as well.....but in the opposite direction.....I was told that if they say "good for 100 gallons" then it would probably be just fine for 80, for example. ?
 
Last edited:
I agree, overfiltration is a "good" thing but my answer is still yes, with 35-50% weekly water changes, 1 canister filter on a 75 is fine. Especially if the wallet is screaming at you;)...if you are still worried, then by all means go ahead and throw one of those AC filters on the back...and I would do so anyway....just make sure it will fit on the tank's rim..some of the smaller ACs will not fit on larger tanks...I'm pretty sure an AC 300 would though.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom