Canister Filter!

[A.K.A Zak]

you tell em' lol!

???

Apparently, it looks worse than intended? If so, then I apologize as I never meant any of my post to sound that way.

don't be, i was just being funny, i find nothng you just said threatning.

 

[yhbae]

Ok, so here's a test:

On a heavily stocked (overstocked) 55g mbuna tank, what would be the best filtering solution?

(So far, I've been hearing alot of suggestion that points to a combination of a canister and AquaClear)

 

[Tolak]

I was wondering how either one or both would compare to a wet/dry system? I have a 60 gal that I'm working on for my plecos that will need a good filter for these guys.

Tolak

 

[thecichlidaddict]

Why do you say this and why do I see others say this? What is so complicated about a bio-wheel? You take the media out and rinse it and put it back in..how hard is that?

The complication is not in the care required, but something else to go wrong.

No but since air has a million times more oxygen ppm than water, it's better and far superior.

The bacteria does not need more oxygen then it needs. There is more then enough oxygen in the water to support these filters, so it doesn't matter that air has more.

Do you believe that cichlids can produce enough waste to exceed the capacity of canisters?

Absolutely not, as long as you have an appropriate sized filter of course. Canisters hold a heck of a lot of media - more then even cichlids will use.

I was wondering how either one or both would compare to a wet/dry system?

Wet/dry systems offer the best of all worlds, they are truly the best bio-filter available. You will probably want to supplement a power filter for mechanical filtration though.

On a heavily stocked (overstocked) 55g mbuna tank, what would be the best filtering solution?

A Canister/Aquaclear is a really great setup for an overstocked cichlid tank. The media capacity of the canister ensures that you will have more then enough bacteria, and the high flow of the Aquaclear helps with the mechanical filtration and all the waste that the fish will produce.


The fact is, all of the filters on the market work well enough, and whatever you prefer will do the job. They all have strengths and weaknesses.

 

[noop]

so... is it 'safe' to go over the 1 fish inch/gallon rule if you've got a bio-wheel?

 

[A.K.A Zak]

just as long as you fish aren't over 3 inches, and make sure they have plenty of room to turn and swim.

 

[smb]

Smb, I 'd be interested in your thoughts regarding why bio-wheels are an advantage or even necessary with cichlids compared to canisters.  Let me say up front that I know nothing about cichlids.  Do you believe that cichlids can produce enough waste to exceed the capacity of canisters?  I'm not disagreeing, I'd just like clarification of your thoughts.

Sorry I didn't reply sooner, Fisherman. I forgot about this thread but thank you for being polite and also asking my opinion.

I wouldn't say that I think they are more of an advantage or neccessary for cichlids. I think it's personal preference and there's no perfect filter or else we wouldn't have more than one to choose from. I think the Emperor/Pengiun series is the best for any tank.

IME, I think a biowheel is the best there is. I like fact that they are quiet, good water flow, great surface area for beneficial bacteria and compared to canisters, HOB's area lot easier to maintain, imo. There are 4 boxes to put filter floss in. Which is another reason I like them over canisters. IMO, filter floss is the best media there is.

I however disagree with some that say it matters not that water's ability to hold 7ppm compared to air, which is a few million ppm's, makes no difference. Considering beneficial bacteria needs oxygen to thrive, the difference between the two can't be denied.

I know there are others that disagree and that's fine, I never say anything bad about canister filters, and in all actuality after arguing about it and seeing the arguments for a couple years I am reduced to just saying I like the biowheels when a thread asks for it. I'm just so tired of it so I post I like biowheels and move on now. I only replied again because what was said about bio's was not based on anything but personal preference.

Like mentioned all filters have a good/bad. It comes down to personal preference and mine is the Emperor. :smb:

 

[A.K.A Zak]

Like mentioned all filters have a good/bad. It comes down to personal preference and mine is the Emperor. :smb:

i got a piguin also, they are by far the best brand i ever owned, and for christmas i'm getting a 30 gallon bio wheel, but can i put both in my tank, my new bio wheel and my canister. or will that be crowding my tank and cause to much current?

 

[smb]

i got a piguin also, they are by far the best brand i ever owned, and for christmas i'm getting a 30 gallon bio wheel, but can i put both in my tank, my new bio wheel and my canister. or will that be crowding my tank and cause to much current?

It all depends. What fish do you have and exactly what filters do you have?

On my piranha tanks 2 large filters are best because they like the current. On my smallmouth bass tanks 3 large filters are because they love current.

I'm sure community fish wouldn't like this much current tho. So it all depends.

 

[A.K.A Zak]

i know it's sort of small but within the next 2-3 months will get a 30 gallon. i have a green spotted puffer about 2'' from head to tip of tail, i have a 10 gallon pigiun canister filter and gonna' get a 30 gallon bio wheel.

 

[fisherman9844]

Thanks a million smb! I appreciate you sharing your thoughts!

 

[smb]

Thanks a million smb! I appreciate you sharing your thoughts!

Well thank you fisherman, and I appreciate yours as well. That's what the forum's all about.

 

[Relork]

Well I am not sure which is the best , so as a comprimize I got the magnum 350 pro.... it is a canister with a bio-wheel out-put... so I think it is the best of both worlds... not quite so quite but still quite if set up correctly... the water stays clear and the flow is pretty good.

besides the only thing that really matters is my fish are healthy and happy.

 

[Bol]

"The fact is, all of the filters on the market work well enough, and whatever you prefer will do the job. They all have strengths and weaknesses. "

Seems that way to me, too. No offense intended towards anyone, but filter debates seem mostly like Ford vs. Chevy debates.

 

[Cian McLiam]

Im with smb on this one,
Im not sure it comes down to which you prefer or works best for you, its a simple matter of fact that in an aquarium oxygen is a limited resource, plants, fish and bacteria are all competing for it. If you've got a heavy bioload, the heavy feeding that goes with it and all the accumulating waste from decaying plants, food etc then oxygen resources will be at a premium. Couple this with the fact that plants actually consume a good portion of o2 during darkness hours and you could have a problem on your hands. According to the excellent Baensch aquarium atlas, lack of oxygen is either directly or indirectly the largest cause of death in the home aquarium. So why not take the filter bacteria out of the equation completly?
In a bio-wheel system they have access to a completely independent and unlimited supply of oxygen, so in a tank for large cichlids or discus where o2 content in the water is already low due to higher temps then it really is the best choice when combined with good mechanical filtration.
Its not really the filter media area thats the big issue here but the amount of o2 available to all life forms in the tank, if the oxygen isnt there to support bacteria it doesnt matter how much area your media has, it will go unused.
Just my humble 2cent worth (yes we can say that in europe now too, since the euro came in!)

Ken