Equipment suggestions

We want to replace the hanging side filters on our 55 gallon freshwater tank with a cannister filter but can't find aquarium cover and lights to accommodate side mounted intake and outflow tubes. Any suggestions?

Spaztess said:

We want to replace the hanging side filters on our 55 gallon freshwater tank with a cannister filter but can't find aquarium cover and lights to accommodate side mounted intake and outflow tubes. Any suggestions?

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you can just have half a cover or get a cover that has removable parts

Go internal filters. They are the best.

itiwhetu said:

Go internal filters. They are the best.

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I tried an external gizmo.....hated it

Gone back to internal filtration.....Aquael Turbo 2000

Infinitely adjustable in media choices and flow. I have a 2000 in my 53 gallon, bought an extra can for it so its a double can so mixing and matching the media can be swapped about to suit the needs of everyone. You can choose whether you want to use the huge foam with the powerhead on its own or add a can for media plus foam or run it with can only or double up the cans....brilliant piece of kit, I swear by them, not expensive either

Spaztess said:

We want to replace the hanging side filters on our 55 gallon freshwater tank with a cannister filter but can't find aquarium cover and lights to accommodate side mounted intake and outflow tubes. Any suggestions?

Click to expand...

Just make some small cuts at the side of the cover.
You can use a mini saw to cut it.

Or you can get 1-2 internal filters as others had suggested.
Personally, I prefer two filters for backup purposes, for more filter medias and for more effective filtrations since I guess your tank is a 4ft long.
Put one filter at each end.
(The advantage of canister is it has more filter medias).

Internal filter will solve your problem.
It has fewer parts and it doesn't have intake, output tubes and hoses that require cleaning every now and then.

You also don't have to worry about water leaking out from the canister or motor overheated since the filter is always inside the water.

Putting a HOB, hang on back on the side requires you to change the support for the glass covers that come with most of the tanks in North America, and also makes the placement of the light difficult as well. I have done it in the past but I had to cut down the glass covers, add a second cross piece on the tank to support the now shorter glass covers, then build a custom florescent canopy. The suggestion to use a canister filter seems the best plan of action. Might be initially more expensive but I think better in the long run.