Filter And Heater Questions

[CAC]

Ive finally got the go ahead to set-up a large tank downstairs, providing I can afford it and the floor is up to the job (allthough everyone ive spoken to about it has said it will be fine, I want to get a structural engineer to have a look). I plan on having it as a 200 US gallon, 60x32x24" tank.
For filtration, I will need a turnover of 5x, so it will need to be 4000lph. Which is the best way of doing this? I could either use eheim 2217 classics, which have a 1050lph turnover, or I could go for an eheim 2028 professional 2 with the same turnover, but costs £60 more (nearly twice the price) or I could go for the eheim 2227, which has the same turnover as the others, but is wet/dry. I also will use atleast one eheim powerline internal, which has a turnover of 1200lph and costs £10 less than the eheim, but uses more electricity. Would the wet/dry be a better buy, or would an extra 2217 and a powerline be a better, more efficient choice? So which do you think is the best combination of filters?
The other thing is Im going to use two of the 300w jager heaters (best out there IMO, unless anyone has any other ideas?) but I was just wondering where people get heater guards big enough...(I think the ones on ebay are probs too small). Any ideas?

Thanks, Mike

 

[mark7616]

I use hydor theo 400w heaters and the fluval heater guards fit. As for filtration Why dont you get either a eheim pro 3 or a fluval fx5 and run the eheim 2252`s for internals. I run 2 fluval fx5 and 2 2252 on my large tank. I really do rate the fx5 fluval have really done there home work its an excellent bit of kit and also makes water changes a piece of cake and really quick.

 

[CAC]

Ok cool, not sure where to get the fluval gaurds from, there anrent any on ebay, ill try an LFS.
Thanks for the advice mark. The problem with the pro 3 is that it has a turnover of 1700lph but it costs £220, that the price of 3x 2217s which I could get a turnover of 3150 for...Its just doesnt seem worth it IMO. I would really like to use/try the FX5 (its cheap and powerful), but some of the storys you hear about them, Im not sure if its worth it....

Mike

 

[mark7616]

I have had no problems mate I also know lots of people who run them and swear by them. Some of the earlier fluval filters I would give a wide berth but you wont go wrong with an fx5.

 

[CAC]

Yeah I might well give them a try, but I also just saw that windsor aquatics do a sump service. If it isnt too expensve, then I could house much more media, have a larger overall volume, and have no heaters in the tank so it might be an option if it isnt too expensive or difficult...
If I do go with an FX5 then what else do you think I would need in terms of additional filtration? Just one 2252?

Mike

 

[mark7616]

one or 2 its up to you mate.

 

[CAC]

I would probably just go with one, maybe get another at a later date.
Hopefully, the sump will be cheaper than an FX5. Not entirly sure what has to be done to create one, but I know where I can get a 2200lph eheim pump for like £80 (ish) and the tank shouldnt be too much, its just the cost of hole drilling and anything else I dont know about making sumps. Ill have a look through the net now to see how its done.

 

[jayjay]

Yeah I might well give them a try, but I also just saw that windsor aquatics do a sump service. If it isnt too expensve, then I could house much more media, have a larger overall volume, and have no heaters in the tank so it might be an option if it isnt too expensive or difficult...
If I do go with an FX5 then what else do you think I would need in terms of additional filtration? Just one 2252?

Mike

If you do a sump, do a trickle tower as well, much more effective wet/dry.

The flow rate isn't what is important, it's the media you use and how much of it there is really.

If you can get a sump I would, it would help with water quality and you won't need filter guards etc. Also if you do a trickle tower you only need to clean and replace the filter floss instead of cleaning all the media.

How long have people been running FX5's now?

 

[CAC]

Im not sure if they do trickle towers, Im going to email them now because theres quite abit that I need to know....

Cheers, Mike

 

[cane76]

jayjay is right a sump will have a lot more media capacity than multiple cannisters
i wish i had a sump on my big tank

 

[mark7616]

I was toying witht he idea of a sump but canisters are just as fine although I know a sump is better due to the amount of media. Ive been using an FX5 for a year now.

 

[CAC]

I got a reply from windsor aquatics saying they can make the tower and sump, but that I would need to tell them what needs to be done etc. Anyone got any good sites for sump making/info on FW tanks? (There are loads on marine systems, but I dont know what does/doesnt need to be there for a FW one.)

Cheers, Mike

 

[michaelwgroves]

I've got an FX5 on a 900 litre tank, been running mine for over a year with no problems, really quite and better than the EHEIM 2080 PROFESSIONAL 3 for mechanical filtration. Check out this link, really good article. I would still go for the FX5 every time, or two for the same price of one 2080.

http/www.discusforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7080

I had three Hydor Theo 400W heaters for my tank but just could not get them to work together. Ended up with only one in the tank, and that works fine. However, I found the dials bear no resemblance to the actual temperature and this is not a good long term soloution as the heater would burn out.
I've now just ordered two Hydor ETH300 Inline Aquarium Heaters. They are supposed to be really good, far better than internal heaters. Just hook them up on the filter between the outlet and spray bar.

If your looking for a sump I can recommend some guys in West Yorkshire, call Wayne 01274 735690, although it might be over kill unless you are perhaps thinking of upgrading to marine in the future. This is what I have done, my min tank is drilled for trickle towers, but these are capped whilst I have a Tropical tank. I alo have a 250 litre sump beneath ready to go. But at this stage, my FX5 is plenty good enough.

 

[CAC]

So your using just one FX5 on your whole 900litre system? And no other filtration?
Ill have a look at web link too, thanks for that.
TBH I will probably go with a couple of 300w jager heaters, theyre no more expensive (I dont think) and the ones I have had are good.

Thanks, Mike

 

[mark7616]

1 fx5 does a tank upto 1500ltr and has a 3500lph flow rate.