Canister Filter & CO2 tank recommendations...

oO.Crim.Oo

oO.Crim.Oo

I ♥ my fishies!
Jan 10, 2008
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Randallstown, MD
Real Name
Natosha
The title says it all. I am setting up a 50L. It will be heavily planted and the substrate will be Turface All Sport with Tahitian Moon Sand mixed in. I plan on it being heavily planted and will be making a DIY hood and hoping to get the lighting right around 4-5 watts per gallon. I also intend to set up pressurized CO2. Right now, my dilemma is that I don't know what canister filter brand to get. I'm a canister filter newb. What brand should I go with, Marineland, Fluval, Eheim, Rena, etc? I have been considering the Fluval 405. Good choice? I will want some over-filtration (preference).

Also, while I'm at it, I figured I might as well ask my other question. What size CO2 tank do I need, 5lb, 10lb, 15lb, 20lb?

Thanks in advance!!
 
Cannister filters I like:

Eheim 2026(or 2028 if you can spend a little more cash)
Rena XP3(good filter, don't like it as much as the Eheim)
Magnum 350(nice filter, but I use it as a water polisher using the micron sleeve)



5# cylinder would be fine. If you turn it off at night, it was last a year, and 6 months if left on 24/7. Often 10# cylinders are too much more to refill(some places it's the same price) so that's something to consider. And finally, I say get the biggest cylinder you can fit in your stand.
 
Mgamer20o0 said:
why so much light?
Click to expand...

Ya know, now that you ask, I don't really have an answer other than--because I can? Perhaps to help algae growth? LoL. Thanks for making me rethink, MG! Maybe I should aim for 3-3.5 WPG? I'd like to have no restrictions for plants. If I see something that I want, I want to be able to get it without having to sigh and walk away because I don't have enough light.

Also, thanks for the input, Jeff. Ouch@the price difference between the Fluval 405 and those Eheims that you mentioned.
 
Price is definitely an issue. When price matters, I suggest the Rena. It's nearly as good as the Eheims but half the price.

I wouldn't go with a Fluval. I've read good things and heard good things, but I'm just not a fan.

And, I would agree, tone down the light. I've got 206 watts of CFL(about 175 watts useable) over my 45g. It's a lot, too much. I'm thinking of dropping it down to 160 watts CFL. I kept bumping my light because I thought my red plants were turning red because they weren't getting enough light, turned out they were just getting too much nitrate.
 
50L = 15g? 12.5g? If so, chances are 5wpg is a good goal, as it will get you closer to the watts per square-foot of larger tanks at ~3wpg. watts per square-foot is better than watts per gallon.
 
Ah, well then wpg is actually a decent measure in that case; I'm pretty sure it's based around tanks that size/shape? Then, 3-3.5wpg is probably good.
 
I have had real good luck with fluval 404, which is just the older version instead of the 405. I have a 125gal with two 404's, which have performed great for me for the last three years. I also have a 404 on a 75g and a 403 on a 55g. The only problem that I have with it is the ribbed lines they have. About once every year and a half, I need to take the lines down and give them a good flush. I think the ribbed lines collect junk in it more than other filter lines do. Besides that I think they are great.
 
I really like the Eheim filters for canister filteration.They are super reliable and dead silent in their operation. They are a little more expensive then some of the other canister selections but well worth the extra money in my opinion.

Marinemom
 
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