150 Gallon Build Thread ... From the Start

It sounds like the plan is for heavily planted and 'heavily' stocked. Even in that configuration, I think one Fluval FX5 would be more than enough and might cost less than 2 Eheim units at the end of the day. Where you looking for weekly water changes? Biweekly?

Weekly water changes. And I agree with you Vader the FX5 may be the best for the money (would actually love to us one); however, I am concerned about the outputs of that monster. I remember the time I had directing the outputs of 2 305's in my 45 corner and I hear the FX5 really blows!!
 
Hey there CFSINC. Just looking over the thread and am in agreement with previous suggestions regarding the filters. 2 2217's would be borderline for that size planted aquarium, especially in the initial startup, considering that most of the plants from TWS are grown terrestrially and will have to go through a adaptation period in which you will be getting a lot of dead matter. FX5 would be a great choice; also some of the larger Eheim's like the Eheim Pro 3 or the 2260. Depending where you put the output of the filter you might have to deflect it somehow though. I know in my 100 with 2 2217's I had to deflect the spray bar’s off the back. Otherwise there was a torrent of water and my plants had trouble holding on with the initial startup.

Any pics of how you guys with a 2250 or 2260 or FX5, for that matter, have setup your outputs / spray bars would be great!!
 
I am planning on using 2 Rena XP3's on my 150. and possibly an AC110 as well. I find the renas to be more cost effective than the eheims (and easier to use/prime/maintain). I didn't like my eheim 2217 nearly as much as my XP3.

Another country heard from (lol) ... the "only" down side I have ever heard about the Eheim is the priming! Comments?!?

Anybody else with a Rena XP3??
 
Brings back the question - tall or not? Boy, the tall is a sweet looking tank! The reaching in is not the biggest concern (6'5" and a step stool - lol) - the ground cover plants growing is my real concern. Just not sure if I can get the glosso to root (boy it looks good in my 45 now), or another ground cover plant would work / look better!!


if you are concerned about growing foreground plants like glossostigma in a 29" high tank you will probably have to go with some pretty intense lighting.

otherwise, your glosso will tend to grow up rather than spread out along the ground.

I would definately go for the taller tank though.

the 125 size with the extra height that the 150 offers makes the tank look massive.
 
I personally love my XP3. If it were me, I'd probably have 3 XP3's on that size of a tank. I'd have an intake in each corner, and have the spraybar from that filter on the side wall from that corner, directing flow out into the middle of the tank. I'd probably set up the 3rd one with its intake in the back left corner, and output in the back right. I figure that'd keep things moving for the most part, trying to minimize dead spots.

If you wanted to go with an FX5, but are intimidated by the sheer flow it can produce, set it up with a Y adapter and 2 spraybars, and plumb them to be on opposite sides of the tank. That should more than divert enough flow to tame that beast. :)
 
I use the powerjet nozzle attachment with the Rena for awesome surface movement, but with tall plants you probably want a more gentle output, so yeah, the spray bar is better.

one of the reasons I like the XP3 so much is it comes with built in quick disconnects and has two output options included.

with the eheim, you have to get all this stuff seperately...
 
I personally love my XP3. If it were me, I'd probably have 3 XP3's on that size of a tank. I'd have an intake in each corner, and have the spraybar from that filter on the side wall from that corner, directing flow out into the middle of the tank. I'd probably set up the 3rd one with its intake in the back left corner, and output in the back right. I figure that'd keep things moving for the most part, trying to minimize dead spots.

If you wanted to go with an FX5, but are intimidated by the sheer flow it can produce, set it up with a Y adapter and 2 spraybars, and plumb them to be on opposite sides of the tank. That should more than divert enough flow to tame that beast. :)

Excellent setup idea for the XP3's - anybody out there rigged up the FX5 to slow the roll!!
 
I use the powerjet nozzle attachment with the Rena for awesome surface movement, but with tall plants you probably want a more gentle output, so yeah, the spray bar is better.

one of the reasons I like the XP3 so much is it comes with built in quick disconnects and has two output options included.

with the eheim, you have to get all this stuff seperately...

Sounds like the XP3's are making their case!

Question: Which is the better filter (after all the extras, setup, etc, etc) - the XP3 or let's say the Eheim 2250?? Just the better filter - after all, setup only lasts so long and then the filter runs - which one will be the better "buy" in the long run??
 
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