Fluval 305 VS Emperor 400

[jaymasta]

Iam going to be getting a 80 gallon tank or so, in the future and am starting to do my research now, as far as the "main" filter unit I am probobly going to go with a Fluval 305 or an Emperor 400, I will have a smaller backup unit, running at all times as well just in case and for extra filtration but as far as the main unit I would like to here your opinions, and any other info I should know, Iam edging towards the emporer, due to the biowheels, Iam quite sold on the whole oxygenated thing, try to prove me wrong. LOL

Emperor 400, 400GPH, HOB dual bio wheels with adjustable flow rate, and adjustable spray angles, with presuraized spray bars....

Fluval 305, the newer version of the fluval canister filters, has 260GPH output, lots of space for media capacity etc....

 

[reptileguy2727]

neither is enough for that tank, especially depending on what you put in there. my 75 has a fluval 405 and 2 whisper 60s (about equivalent to penguin 350s). whatever a filter claims it can handle "up to", cut that in half and that is about what the filter can actually handle, and it never hurts to have extra. my 55 goldfish tank has 2 whisper 60s and a fluval 304, so you can see that more is usually better. for an 80 gallon tank you could do a fluval 405 and an emperor 400. since the fluval 405 does up to 100 gallons you are getting about 50 gallons of filtration out of that one, and the emperor 400 goes up to 80 gallons, so you will be getting about 40 gallons of filtration out of that one, you will have about 90 gallons of filtration in there, just over the minimum. more filtration the better, you cant have too much and it is a common mistake to not have enough.

 

[Roan Art]

IMO anything over 30g needs either two filters or a filter and a powerhead.

Are you going to have plants? If yes, then ditch the Emperor. You'll love it at first but then you'll want to replace it with a Fluval instead. It's more CO2 efficient.

Frankly I would go with two Fluval, one at each end.

Roan

 

[jaymasta]

yes i definatly want to have plants, Iam not sure what I want to stock in it, and yes I will have a backup filter, probobly one rated for around a 60gal tank, but Iam not sure the reason I picked those to is that they are very close in price at my LFS...but if neither of them is enough on its own maybe I should look bigger.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Unless you are adding co2, there is no reason not to use A power filter on a planted tank. I have had an Emp400 on my 45 since before the first plant went in and its been a jungle ever since.

If you want a single canister filter for the tank consider the Eheim Pro II 2026.

 

[Roan Art]

Unless you are adding co2, there is no reason not to use A power filter on a planted tank. I have had an Emp400 on my 45 since before the first plant went in and its been a jungle ever since.

Sure there is. You'll retain a lot more CO2 in the tank if the surface is not agitated. This is especially important with no or DIY CO2.

I have Emperors and Eheims on my planted tanks. I'm switching over to two Eheim 2026 per tank. The Emporers just cause too much agitation.

If you want a single canister filter for the tank consider the Eheim Pro II 2026.

That's what I have, but I doubt he's looking at that price range.

Roan

 

[Roan Art]

yes i definatly want to have plants, Iam not sure what I want to stock in it, and yes I will have a backup filter, probobly one rated for around a 60gal tank, but Iam not sure the reason I picked those to is that they are very close in price at my LFS...but if neither of them is enough on its own maybe I should look bigger.

No, that's not the reason why I said to have two of them.

One filter, regardless of size, is going to give you "dead spots" in the tank -- places where there is no water circulation. That's important, especially with plants. They need good circulation around the substrate.

If you have two filters, or a filter and a powerhead, you can position both so that the water circulates better. Makes for a healthier tank, happier plants, little or no dead spots.

Roan

 

[jaymasta]

Unless you are adding co2, there is no reason not to use A power filter on a planted tank. I have had an Emp400 on my 45 since before the first plant went in and its been a jungle ever since.

If you want a single canister filter for the tank consider the Eheim Pro II 2026.

Iam not sure about CO2 yet, most likely in the end I'll get it, but to start I probobly won't. The eheims are way overpriced, or at least way out of my price range, I could get 2 of the fluvals, and a bunch of other stuff and still be under the price for one of those at least at my LFS. I'll probobly be getting some of these things online, as the prices seem MUCH cheaper...

 

[Rbishop]

As rg2727 stated, the advertised capability of flow is greatly exaggerated, most often calculated without media in place let alone as it starts doing its job, and the physical filters start to fill up.

I have always cut the touted gph, cut it in half, and gone for a minimum of 5 times tank volume, spread between at least two filters. Often have 8-10 times. A lot of that varience is based on what fish will be/are in the tank.

Though planning is great, especially at proactive stage, vice reactive, you may have to spend a little time on your fish selection.

 

[JoeRags3]

One filter, regardless of size, is going to give you "dead spots" in the tank -- places where there is no water circulation. That's important, especially with plants. They need good circulation around the substrate.

If you have two filters, or a filter and a powerhead, you can position both so that the water circulates better. Makes for a healthier tank, happier plants, little or no dead spots.

Roan

I agree with Roan ENTIRELY on that.. I have a 37 Gallon tank with a Penguin 200 on it. I kept the intake in the center thinking that everything would be great, but noticed all my fish hanging out on one side of my tank and sure enough the other side was not being circulated enough. Since then, I put a powerhead in and have had a happy tank since.