Single Eheim or Fluval for 120? Rena any good?

Harlock

Harlock

Educated Idiot
Dec 15, 2004
2,405
0
0
52
San Angelo, TX
members.cox.net
Okay. I know the next big tank project for me will be a 120 gallon FW community setup. This will be a tank likely a year or two in the making before I would fill it with water and have the money for plants and fish that I want, but budget and research have to be made at the beginning, so here I am.

I really like the look of the Eheim Professional II series, especially the Thermofilters with the built-in heater. The Eheim 2128 is rated for 158 gallons but of course, I like being well-filtered and never trust the manufacturers estimates of their own products. I have also noticed that most folks with canister filters just "look" underfiltered to me, so is there a different rule in play than the minimum 5 times turnover you see for power filters, etc.? If so, would two of the Eheim 2126 Thermofilters (rated for a 92 gallon) be a sufficiently filtered 120 gallon?

Also, for anyone with a canister filter, please give me your thoughts opn the brand you use. I hear good things about Fluval and Rena has it's fans as well, so I am curious as to what drew you to yuor canister and then how it rates based on your expectations as well as actual performance. Thanks so much!
 
Xp3

I did some internet research on Rena and other units. Did narrow it down to the XP3 based on cost, prime ability, ease of filter change, etc.
After 30 days of use (new user, novice aquarist) I find the XP3 in my case to be quite, easy to prime and easy to change media when required. I do like the fact that I can lift shut off up, remove it with hoses as a unit and take the canister unit to a sink for service. Back to the stand with it, hose unit set back in, shut off back down, set for a minute, and back in service. No priming required.
On initial start up (first day install) it was a little bit noisey at first but that settled down.
Note: You MAY have to drill out the spray bar holes to prevent whistling, some do, some don't. I redrilled and all ok, or don't use the spray bar.
The output line does have a output control.

Bottom line: In my particular case I am very satisfied with this unit.


Changed the Micro filter yesterday (30 days of use) , it had caught a fair amount of "stuff" , seems to be working as advertised.
 
Harlock, I have the fluval 404 on my 65g so I am a little bit overfiltered, but on a 120 I don't think it would do the job. It a great filter, quiet, easy to service and easy to prime. Doesn't come with a spray bar though but if you are going planted you probably won't want one anyway. I think regardless of which brand you opt for you are probably going to need two of them.
 
Eheim sells one that does 500 gallons an hour, the 2260. I have a Project brand canister filter, it's made in Italy and I am not sure if it is available in the USA under another name or not. This is one of the few items I have bought where it far exceeded my expectations. It is rated at 475 gallons an hour so I tested it empty. Almost exactly 475 gallons an hour. I then loaded it with heavy filter media (including 1 full tray of peat) installed my prefilter and I measured it at 370 gallons an hour. :bowing: I also have a second pump doing pure mechanical filtration, but I will be hooking it up to the FBF sometime soon.
 
I like my Fluval 304 for my 45 gal (rated up 75 gal), I would look at 2 404s for this tank and run tham nicely. I finally looked at a running Rena at my local Big Als and found that when I was unhooking the hoses it sprayed a fair bit of water (compared to my Fluval), but this could be a fluke also.
 
I have a 180 with an Eheim 2028 and a 2229 (plus a couple of HOT Mags for mech filtration). The Eheims are great... very well made and totally silent.

Unless very lightly stocked, I'd probably use two 2128s for a 120. I won't run any tank, especially a large one, without multiple and redundant filtration.

HTH,
Jim
 
JSchmidt said:
I have a 180 with an Eheim 2028 and a 2229 (plus a couple of HOT Mags for mech filtration). The Eheims are great... very well made and totally silent.

Unless very lightly stocked, I'd probably use two 2128s for a 120. I won't run any tank, especially a large one, without multiple and redundant filtration.

HTH,
Jim
Click to expand...
Yes I am very into redundant filtration and heating both. ;) I will be running at least two filters on it. The Rena Filstars certainly are inexpensive. I could get two XP3s on here for under $200.00 and have 700GPH filtration... still seems sort of low. I want avoid any HOT filters as I need this tank as flush to the wall as possible to keep the wife happy. ;)
 
Just to chime in about the filstars, I have three of the xp3 canisters that I am using on two tanks. I really like them a lot. It only takes me about 20 minutes to break down, clean, reassemble, and start back up again...for all three of them. I had a Magnum 350 several years ago, and it took me about 20-30 minutes to clean it...yep, 20-30 minutes to clean and reassemble one filter. After that, I swore off canisters for awhile...I'm glad I decided to give the filstars a try.
 
I was wondering about reviews on the canister filters also, was also considering using a sump system also as a filter method using heavily planted tank to do bio filtering using powerheads. or a pump
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom