I am getting my first 150 gal aquarium tomorrow. I have always had 55 gals. I just wanted to know what is the best filter for a 150 gal. It isn't drilled. I would appreciate any feedback.
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What is the best filter for a 150 gal?
- Thread starter ann6015
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That depends on whether you prefer hob's or canister filters. Personally, I set up filtration according to the critters I'm stocking. It would be helpful to have an idea of how you'll set the tank up (planted, open-water for active swimmers, African cichlids and rocks, etc.).
What will you stock w/?
The Fulval 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 150 for sure. I run 1 FX5 on a 75gl (in addition to a total of 8 other type's of filtration on this tank) 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 & this set up allow's 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 CAN filter's), ( http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/NavResults.cfm?N=2004+113040 PwrHd's) & (http://www.aquariumsuppliesforless.com/ FX5) among other site's.
Sorry if that was TMI, I just alway's try to keep the big pic in mind
Good Luck
The gen rule of thumb is 2x's the filtration as is what the gl size is i.e. 150gl you want min. 300gph of "total filtration", some fish can take 4-5x's or more, so it really depends on what you have. And if you "pack" a tank then you really need to up the filtration. Evaluate your fish set up then decide do you go w/ a couple CAN's ( Fluval 405's, Rena xp4's, Eheim pro's ) couple PwrFltr's ( Whisper 60's, AquaClear 428(110's) & an in tank filter w/ some additional PwrHd's ( 4-6 AquaClear 50's ). Possiblities are all most endless, as to your Bank account only you know. I would assume w/ a 150gl you knew this was comin though right
The Fulval 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 150 for sure. I run 1 FX5 on a 75gl (in addition to a total of 8 other type's of filtration on this tank) 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 & this set up allow's 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 CAN filter's), ( http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/NavResults.cfm?N=2004+113040 PwrHd's) & (http://www.aquariumsuppliesforless.com/ FX5) among other site's.
Sorry if that was TMI, I just alway's try to keep the big pic in mind
Good Luck
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Everyone will have an idea of what they prefer based on their experience and some will just mention what they have heard.
I too, like the over filtration as has been mentioned, but in some cases the flow can cause issues with certain fish and/or plants.
Some people find HOB easier to maintain than canisters and some prefer canisters.
On a big tank like you are talking about, I would be running two large canisters, and RUGF with full plates. Down the road, I'd add a sump.
I happen to prefer MAG 350s, and most on here will mention repeatedly the normal line up of Rena, Fluval, Eheim and others. All pretty much similar, bells and whistles.
I too, like the over filtration as has been mentioned, but in some cases the flow can cause issues with certain fish and/or plants.
Some people find HOB easier to maintain than canisters and some prefer canisters.
On a big tank like you are talking about, I would be running two large canisters, and RUGF with full plates. Down the road, I'd add a sump.
I happen to prefer MAG 350s, and most on here will mention repeatedly the normal line up of Rena, Fluval, Eheim and others. All pretty much similar, bells and whistles.
I run a 150 long with custom filtration. At the moment, I have only one running at about 300 gph over 1.5 gallons of media. It's a wet/dry setup that sits on top of the tank, inside the canopy and simply circulates water over the wet/dry media and directly back into the tank. On the other end of the tank, which is nearly finished construction and waiting on the powerhead to run it, is a similar design where I've added a significant amount of additional filtration via a HOB style basket that feeds from the bottom and overflows on to the drip trays for the wet/dry media. Again, this one flows directly back into the tank. The one that is running makes less noise than the Aquaclears that I run on my other tanks and provides a staggering amount of filtration in a small, quiet, and cheap package. I suspect by virtue of design and volume, the next model will provide even more.
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i use a combo of hang on back and canisters. for example my 125 i have 2 ac110s and a mag 350. i use mine i little differently than most,the acs are just bio.a combo of bio-max and pot scrubbers.the mag 350 is just mechanical and water polishing.works vary well. it would really depend on what your going to keep.mine is a piranha tank.
Thanks for all the good advice. I plan on putting my 3 angels, 4 blood parrots, 3 dwarf gourmis, 3 corys, and 1 small pleco in it with fake plants (for now) and a few pieces of driftwood. Again, thanks.
legendaryfrog
Tactical Refreshment Action
I have a 55 set up with 2 Aquaclear 110 hob's running the UG filter plates. The arrangement works quite well, since nothing accumulates under the plates, ending up instead in the sponge blocks. They get squeezed/rinsed out when I siphon the gravel/do partial water changes. The water is always crystal clear, and waste doesn't build up in the gravel. I have a similar arrangement in a 38, though it has larger gravel, about pea-size. That tank never has any significant amount of debris in the gravel, it almost all ends up in the filter.