I am looking for some help on choosing a new filter system. I am moving up from a 55 gal to a 180 gal---huge step for a 5.00 catfish. The tank wasoriginally set up for salt water with in tank plumbing so nothing hangs off the side. The canister filters i have always used now seem to be not made large enough. What filter system should i be using?
Bigger Filter
- Thread starter gurnet
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I have a single large canister that can turn over the water almost 2x an hour (depending on media), a FBF doing about .5 an hour. I had another 2x an hour internal filter doing mainly mechanical but I removed it a few weeks ago. Water is perfect, but I do daily light vac work and partial water changes. You should have no prob finding a suitable canister that can do 3x on a 180g. Eheim makes a HUGE canister with massive inlet/outlet hoses.
My lfs uses power heads with undergravel filters in the oscar tank for good mechanical filtration because oscars are messy fish so you may want to try that and you should probably use a large canaster filter. Another intresting filter is a tide pool and is mostly for large tanks and they are very cool looking but expensive. I have thought about switching to canister filters, but they are too much of a hassle and too expensive to maintain for me so I guess as long as the current filter on my tank is working than I should'nt mess with it./
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I use a combination of an ehein 2213 canister filter and an aquaclear power filter as I do not have enough money to purchase a huge canister filter. The two work well together and the AC gives a nice water flow that my fish like. You can increase your bio filtration with sponge filters. I use the two-sponged models by hagen because you can rinse out one sponge, and leave the other so as not to affect the bacteria so much. They are the cheapest filters you can get too, $5 online.