choice between two options for filter system

[duarte]

Hi,

I am new to aquaria.

I am setting up a community tank with 433 liters (115 US gal).

I am planning to have many fish in there.

I am thinking of small fish (max 10 cm or 4 inches).

Things like zebra danio and Harlequin Rasbora (and other Cyprinids), tetras (like neon and rummy-nose), corydoras (like leaopard), Rainbowfishes, pearl gourami (or other gouramis), and maybe even South American Dwarf Cichlids (like Mikrogeophagus ramirezi).

Note sure of the quantities yet: for the smaller ones that school, I could go to numbers like 25-50. For the bigger ones, just a few individuals. I will see how it goes, but I would like to have plenty.

I am, however, undecided on the filter to choose. What capacity should it have?

Mainly, whether it is better to have one Eheim 2078 or two Fluval 405.

I heard good things about Eheim, but there are advantages to having 2 filters...

Can anyone advise me on that?

I am quite lost to be honest.

Thanks a lot.

 

[NeonFlux]

I would choose the canister filter fluval. Quite costly, but it will save you the time to clean off the mineral buildup from the hang on back filters. Plus you hear absolutely no sound from the filter, but no surface agitation. With this filter i reccomend getting bubblewands to get some oxygen in the water.

 

[Squawkbert]

You could also get an Eheim 2260 for that type of money... ($299 at F&S - no media) or you could go with a pair of Eheim 2217 filters (on sale at F&S, $128 ea. w/ media included, $120 at BigAlsonline). Either option would put you in the 500GPH range. Dual 2217s would allow for lots more media (8L for the 2078, 18L for 2260, ~11.25L for a pair of 2217s).

A pair of Fluvals would net you a bit higher turnover, but I think the Eheims would hold a bit more media, be cheaper (F405 $199 at F&S) and possibly quieter.

If you're interested in using a canister as a CO2 reactor as well, that factor is in favor of Eheim Classic as they do this more quietly than other canisters.

So, the cheapest of the above options nets you median media volume, top shelf media included as well as median pump output...

PS - the 2078 appears to have been replaced by the 2080 at BigAlsonline, $378 w/o media.

 

[OldMan47]

Whatever brand filter you get, be sure to get one rated for a tank much larger than the one you have. At the stocking levels you are talking about, you will need every bit of filter you can get. I have a tank about that size with a Rena XP3 on it and it works very nicely but if I wanted to put that many fish in my tank, nothing less than the XP4 would be big enough. BTW the XP3 is rated for a 175 gallon tank.