can someone please help me? i see people talk about both Emporer 400 and ac500. what one would be better for a 125 gal planted tank?
Emporer 400 vs AC500
- Thread starter Mgamer20o0
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OH no...not this again. You will get answers from both sides. The AC people will tell you that the Bio-wheels are no good for plants, and the Marineland people will tell you that their filtration is superior.
The best answer is neither! For a planted tank, an Eheim or Fluval canister filter will be your best option. With any HOB filter, you are going to need at least 2 if not 3 for that size tank. If you add up the cost, you could buy 1 Fluval 404 and be done with it.
The best answer is neither! For a planted tank, an Eheim or Fluval canister filter will be your best option. With any HOB filter, you are going to need at least 2 if not 3 for that size tank. If you add up the cost, you could buy 1 Fluval 404 and be done with it.
Either is probably fine as far as that goes. I do prefer Emperor, but you can research both kinds. NickH is right, if you go that route, you will need 2 minimum, probably 3 unless you do very regular water changes and stock lightly.
Do some research though. You may find two AC500's or Emporers (still cheaper than a canister, even if you went with a Filstar XP3!) will work out better (maintenance speaking). Oh, but you did say planted tank. Then there's the whole surface agitation aspect that you don't want if your tank is planted. One of the aforementioned AND a canister would most likely be the best route, but as stated, opinions vary.
One thing to keep in mind, if you are ever going to use C02 injection of any sort (canister or diy) then neither filter is going to be what you want. Both will give way to much aeration to keep your co2 levels any higher than the surrounding air.
As far as the filters themselves, I have used both, and both are good filters. They both have their perks and negatives. However, in the long run the AC is going to be much cheaper, both out the door and for maintainance.
As far as the filters themselves, I have used both, and both are good filters. They both have their perks and negatives. However, in the long run the AC is going to be much cheaper, both out the door and for maintainance.
bingo, gutterguppy nails it.
Planted tanks, with CO2 should have no surface movement if possible. The surface movement depletes CO2 from the water quickly. Cannister filters are good because you can inject the CO2 into the filter. Look at the Marineland brand because they have a bottom mounted impeller that will keep the noise level down when you add the CO2 into the cannister.
I personally use two Emperor 400's and I have a rectangle built around the outflow so it doesn't cause any surface turbulance. I still have the Biowheel, and I use external CO2 reactors with pumps to circulate CO2 enriched water into the tank (like a cannister)
Planted tanks, with CO2 should have no surface movement if possible. The surface movement depletes CO2 from the water quickly. Cannister filters are good because you can inject the CO2 into the filter. Look at the Marineland brand because they have a bottom mounted impeller that will keep the noise level down when you add the CO2 into the cannister.
I personally use two Emperor 400's and I have a rectangle built around the outflow so it doesn't cause any surface turbulance. I still have the Biowheel, and I use external CO2 reactors with pumps to circulate CO2 enriched water into the tank (like a cannister)
I guess I need to be more explicit?
Originally posted by beviking
Then there's the whole surface agitation aspect that you don't want if your tank is planted.
What exactly do you mean by having a rectangle built around the overflow? That sounds rather interesting to prevent the surface agitation. I think I would want to do something like that to my 2 Emps on my 72g.
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