Personally I think you should consider using a pair of rena xp-3 filters or if you want to stick with a single filter you can use a rena xp-4.
canister filter for a 120 gal.
- Thread starter meow91
- Start date
The wet dry sump seems kind of complicated to me. I am not a dummy but I have found little information on the system that did not sound confusing.What are all the things you need to set one up? What do you have to do to maintain it and how often?
The xp3's sound good. My only concern is that from what I have read it is a hit or miss system as far as are people really happy with them.:read:
The xp3's sound good. My only concern is that from what I have read it is a hit or miss system as far as are people really happy with them.:read:
i really like my xp 3 more so then the fluval 404. cheap way to get the higher turn over. also hear its very easy to clean.
Sumps definitely aren’t the easiest to setup, and I'd only recommend if your good at, and enjoy doing diy projects. There are two different aspects you have to look at, the overflow (assuming your tank isn’t drilled) and the sump itself. The overflow goes over your tank and uses a siphon to allow tank water to go up and over the wall of your tank and drain down into the sump tank. They can be built for cheap using PVC piping, take a look at this picture: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=780353&postcount=18
That’s to get the water out of the tank, then it drains down into a sump tank placed below the aquarium. If you dont mind a little noise and not planning on injecting CO2 you can build a wet/dry trickle filter like this: http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/wetdry.htm his site can get you up to speed on the concept of building a wet/dry. But basically you can make it out of anything, a bucket, for example. Water comes in at some point and exits via a pump. In between the two you put your filtration (filter floss, bio media, etc.). Or you could simply use the sump tank as a volume of water for holding your heater, temperature probe, spot for doing water changes, etc, and put your filter inline between the return pump and your tank (like an ocean clear filter or lifegaurd modular filter - both are 'passive' filters requiring an external pump.
It might not be the easiest option, but it provides additional benefits like that your main tank water level will never go down due to evaporation (the evap will show a decrease in the water level in the sump instead) and you can add your meds or take water samples out of the sump rather than getting into your main tank and spooking the fish. You can keep all your equipment like heaters in the sump as well, instead of putting them in your tank. You can also add a HOB filter to the sump for extra filtration pretty easily. Just something too consider. Such a system must be built properly though, or else risk a bad flood! If you do it super diy with all cheap parts your main cost will be you return pump, and on a tank that size its going to be $60 probably for something new (or more). Some have built entire sump filters with parts around the house and freebie used pump out of someone pond they could no longer maintain, total cost was about $0. If your not a DIYer and have to buy everything new its probably going to be around the $75-150 amount. I am still designing sump systems for two different tanks right now, so unfortunately I dont have a real life data on them yet. But soon.
Good luck in your decision, sorry to muddy up the waters with all these choices
That’s to get the water out of the tank, then it drains down into a sump tank placed below the aquarium. If you dont mind a little noise and not planning on injecting CO2 you can build a wet/dry trickle filter like this: http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/wetdry.htm his site can get you up to speed on the concept of building a wet/dry. But basically you can make it out of anything, a bucket, for example. Water comes in at some point and exits via a pump. In between the two you put your filtration (filter floss, bio media, etc.). Or you could simply use the sump tank as a volume of water for holding your heater, temperature probe, spot for doing water changes, etc, and put your filter inline between the return pump and your tank (like an ocean clear filter or lifegaurd modular filter - both are 'passive' filters requiring an external pump.
It might not be the easiest option, but it provides additional benefits like that your main tank water level will never go down due to evaporation (the evap will show a decrease in the water level in the sump instead) and you can add your meds or take water samples out of the sump rather than getting into your main tank and spooking the fish. You can keep all your equipment like heaters in the sump as well, instead of putting them in your tank. You can also add a HOB filter to the sump for extra filtration pretty easily. Just something too consider. Such a system must be built properly though, or else risk a bad flood! If you do it super diy with all cheap parts your main cost will be you return pump, and on a tank that size its going to be $60 probably for something new (or more). Some have built entire sump filters with parts around the house and freebie used pump out of someone pond they could no longer maintain, total cost was about $0. If your not a DIYer and have to buy everything new its probably going to be around the $75-150 amount. I am still designing sump systems for two different tanks right now, so unfortunately I dont have a real life data on them yet. But soon.
Good luck in your decision, sorry to muddy up the waters with all these choices
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Are you looking on-line or in a LFS. Petsmart will meet any price w/ ad, but ( http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/NavResults.cfm?N=2004+22777 ) run's Fluval 405's for $169 all the time & Eheim Pro's for $320 & ( http://www.aquariumsuppliesforless.com/ ) run's Fluval FX5's for $239 on sale & $299 reg. All of these are very good filter's & are extremely good price's (they're 2x's or more $$ in your LFS I'm sure). Both are established online businesses & are very trustworthy. I'm sure there are other's as well, just happen's to be my go to site's & if Petsmart will accept a print out of a price on an item they carry, well then your good ta go
Let us know what you did & where you did it at when you do, do it
Let us know what you did & where you did it at when you do, do it
The FX5 is a computerized "microprocessor" filter, like the Eheim Pro's that has an adjustable flow rate & other "bell's & whistle's" most of the time LFS recommend them to 200-400gl if they're brave enough to even carry them
but you can def use them for a 120 for sure. I run 1 FX5 on a 75gl (in addition to a total of 8 other type's of filtration on this tank)cause & here's my answer to the "overkill ?" if your fish can hang then you can NEVER HAVE TO MUCH GOOD FILTRATION. I live to be able to provide 3-5x's or more gph of filtration than the tank size i.e. my 75gl has a total of 1600gph of filtration And my African CICH's love it Swim or Die is 1 of my mottoes. Between flow & aeration most of my tank's are like surf/braker zone's. Not like their natural habitat's, but they do great w/ it & allow for greater bioload's. I don't employ this method w/ my Angle's
Keep us up to date on what you go w/ & where you get it from. Sure you know, but do not buy w/ out chking online, example's (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/NavResults.cfm?N=2004+22777) & (http://www.aquariumsuppliesforless.com/) among other's.
Response to:
Would a Fluval FX5 be total overkill on a 120g? I'm kind of thinking about getting a tank this size (since I can't possibly fit a bigger one in my room)
most of the time LFS recommend them to 200-400gl if they're brave enough to even carry them but you can def use them for a 120 for sure. I run 1 FX5 on a 75gl (in addition to a total of 8 other type's of filtration on this tank)cause & here's my answer to the "overkill ?" if your fish can hang then you can NEVER HAVE TO MUCH GOOD FILTRATION. I live to be able to provide 3-5x's or more gph of filtration than the tank size i.e. my 75gl has a total of 1600gph of filtration And my African CICH's love it Swim or Die is 1 of my mottoes. Between flow & aeration most of my tank's are like surf/braker zone's. Not like their natural habitat's, but they do great w/ it & allow for greater bioload's. I don't employ this method w/ my Angle'sKeep us up to date on what you go w/ & where you get it from. Sure you know, but do not buy w/ out chking online, example's (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/NavResults.cfm?N=2004+22777) & (http://www.aquariumsuppliesforless.com/) among other's.
Response to:
Would a Fluval FX5 be total overkill on a 120g? I'm kind of thinking about getting a tank this size (since I can't possibly fit a bigger one in my room)
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You will ALWAY'S find positive & negetive about all of these system's. Like car's & beer, import vs. domestic, know what I mean? You just make the best informed choice based on what you need/want & price you can afford & go w/ it. We all know nothing is guaranted.
Response to: The xp3's sound good. My only concern is that from what I have read it is a hit or miss system as far as are people really happy with them.
You just make the best informed choice based on what you need/want & price you can afford & go w/ it. We all know nothing is guaranted.Response to: The xp3's sound good. My only concern is that from what I have read it is a hit or miss system as far as are people really happy with them.
The fluvals, filstar and eheim's are all quality filters. The eheims are just supposed to be the cadiallacs. If you are still rnning the old HOB then a single canister will probably do. If you find dead spots in the tank then possible look to adding some powerheads for extra water mov't.
All of this also depends on what you are keeping in the tank?
All of this also depends on what you are keeping in the tank?
The FX5 is a computerized "microprocessor" filter, like the Eheim Pro's that has an adjustable flow rate & other "bell's & whistle's"
Keep us up to date on what you go w/ & where you get it from. Sure you know, but do not buy w/ out chking online, example's (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/NavResults.cfm?N=2004+22777) & (http://www.aquariumsuppliesforless.com/) among other's.
Response to:
Would a Fluval FX5 be total overkill on a 120g? I'm kind of thinking about getting a tank this size (since I can't possibly fit a bigger one in my room)
Thanks, that helps a lot
I'll be putting in an oscar, JD and possibly 3 silver dollars or giant danios. I'm sure they'll be able to swim... (or die lol an interesting motto)
