Filters for F/W?

The_Caper

AC Members
Oct 11, 2005
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Hi all,

I am going to be buying a new tank soon. Probably a 55G or 90G, not sure yet.
I would like to know what are the best filtres out there to use. I would like info on H.O.B , Canister, all types. Does anyone know of a thread that talks about or compares filters. I would like peoples opinion's on the water quality the filter provides as well as ease of use.
Please keep in mind I would like to have plants in my tank if even that's a consideration I don't know?

Thanks all in advance for any help and/or info.

Paul.
 
I don't live in the states so I can't give you any advise filters, but I will say 55g and 90g is a big gap between sizes. If you can get the biggest tank you can, it is a lot easier to keep the water conditions stable. Ofcorse this will mean a bigger filter, but there are plenty good ones around. I hope someone can help you out with your choice of filters.
 
Thanks ashdavid, I believe I will probably go with the 90G. I hope this helps on the advice for a filter size and type.
 
Filter type and capacity are determined by the use of the tank. I use canisters (internal and external), Wet/Drys, fluidized beds, RFUG, and plant filters - all as I think appropriate for the particular set-up. Filtration for a planted tank with cleaning crews and a nice school of fish will be quite different from that of the same size tank with mbuna, and that will be quite different from the same size tank with a large predator. Multiple filters or more than one type of filter may be needed.

Let us know what you plan for the tank, and we can all offer better targeted suggestions.
 
Thanks RTR, appreciate this alot.
I would like to have a planted Discus/Community tank. Possibly with several Cardinal tetras as a shoaling fish. Some Otos and mabey another type of clean up artist.

A couple of Clown Loach's providing the Discus are ok with them. And any other little fishies you can suggest. :)

Thanks for the help all.
 
For a planted Discus tank, I would use nothing but external canisters, Eheim would be my personal choice.

Discus do not like strong currents, so setting the intakes and returns is imporant for them - you want good flow throughout the tank for the plants and to to avoid "dead" areas, but you do not want to force the fish into high local current situations. This may mean some DIY modification of the provided spraybar returns. Consider during setup taking some time to play with this for future long-term payoff. I routinely modify my spraybars to "tune the current" for the fish. The simplest tuning is just to enlarge each hole one drill bit size - larger holes gives lower pressure through the opening and lower velocity at the bar, providing less current for the same or slightly increased total flow volume. If you want to go first class, hook up the canister on the half-filled tank and lift the spraybar return carefully horizonal and levelly above the water surface - note the difference in the spary arcs from the bar. If you enlarge the most distal holes a couple of bit sizes, the central ones one bit size, and leave the the initial ones as is, you will even out the flow a bit over the length of the bar.

Further, I would use at least two units for the filtration, and for me they would not be the same. For a 90 I would likely use a model 2226 (or 2228) Professional as mechanical-only, that is, all mechanical filtration (Ehfimech bottom, sponges above). this unit would be rinsed as often as I was willing to do it - weekly ideal, bi-weekly good, monthly at least. The other unit would be biofiltration-only* and stocked with either Dupla Minikaskade bioballs or Eheim's Ehfimech (which they sell as a crude mechanical medium, but it does serve nicely as a biomedium), with a FiterMaxIII prefilter replacing the intake strainer. The bio-only canister would have its prefilter rinsed at least weekly, the canister itself backflushed by reverse siphoning tank water in from the return side and out through the intake every one to two months as part of a routine water change. Every six to twelve months this unit would be opened to clean the impeller and its housing.

*http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/water/canister.html

The two sparypars I would likely place initially at least along the rear of the tank (back wall) with the openings vertically aligned directed straight up the back glass, about 1/2 suction cup diameter above the substrate. The two water return lines would be tank center back with 90-degree elbows to the spraybars. The intakes would be at each back corner, one extreme left, the other extreme right. The prefilter-equipped intake will need a bit more space than the strainer-only unit, but still is easily concealed by plants. If your fish spawn, use prefilters on both intakes.

Multiple other configurations are of course possible, but that would be my choice.
 
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