what would be the best filtration for 55 gallon with two cichlids. I want to overfilter but i dont want to spend to much. would two hang on the backs works or should i go to canister. if you could give some brands or models that would help. i would like to stick with hang on the backs but if more is needed that is that
Filtration
- Thread starter bennylax3
- Start date
An emperor 400 ($36.99) and a Magnum350 canister ($86) would be plenty for a 55 gallon. The prices are at www.bigalsonline.com . The Emperor 400 (power filter) has 2 large bio wheels, and the Magnum is a nice affordable canister.
I would suggest using one of each. You could have the emperor 400 on one half of the aquarium and the Magnum350 on the other. You could also get 2 Magnum 350's, with one of them being the "Pro series" (comes with biowheels), and have one in each corner of the tank. There are better filters out there, but these do the job and don't cost much.
EDIT: AT $36.99 a pop, 2 Emperor 400's would work great, and you would have 800 gph.
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I would buy two Emp 400s. I would toss the disposable Emp cartridges and buy AquaClear 500 foams to fill the filter well as mechanical media. I cut the 500 foam so it's just a bit longer than the filter well, insuring a snug fit.
You can use two blocks of foam per media well, or only one. If you use just one block of foam, you have to push it into the well just enough so that the biowheel can spin freely, but no further. If you use two blocks per well, just push then both in until they bottom out. Four AC500 foam blocks will fill a single Emp (with two cut pieces per well). They are easy to clean and will last pretty much forever. They provide good mechanical filtration, too.
I don't know that I'd mess with a Mag 350, esp. if you're trying to watch expenses. It's hard to less expensive filters than HOBs. Aquaclear 500s are also good filters (a pair would be OK for you) but I much prefer Emperors for reliabilty and for separating mechanical and biological filters.
HTH,
Jim
You can use two blocks of foam per media well, or only one. If you use just one block of foam, you have to push it into the well just enough so that the biowheel can spin freely, but no further. If you use two blocks per well, just push then both in until they bottom out. Four AC500 foam blocks will fill a single Emp (with two cut pieces per well). They are easy to clean and will last pretty much forever. They provide good mechanical filtration, too.
I don't know that I'd mess with a Mag 350, esp. if you're trying to watch expenses. It's hard to less expensive filters than HOBs. Aquaclear 500s are also good filters (a pair would be OK for you) but I much prefer Emperors for reliabilty and for separating mechanical and biological filters.
HTH,
Jim
i think one emperor would suffice easily unless they were huge fish. how big are these cichlids? also, i would recommend using the filter things that come with the filter, then just replacing it with regular plain filter floss and/or sponges. carbon is overrated.
They wont be that big at first. i bought a jack dempsey a couple of days ago and i plan on buying a green terror next week. they will be in a 20gal but i plan on buying and setting up a 55 gal mid to late march. they wouldalso be in with some tiger barbs a pleco.
I have two penguin 330's on my 55... Two 400's would be cool, but seeing the effects of 660gph on my tank, I'm not sure that I would want two 400's on it... thats alot of current... Especially if you plan on using a power head... Just my personal oppion.
But either way, your tank would be able to handle a pretty large bio-load...
