Filteration For A 130 Gallon.

[kevin007]

What would be the best filtration for a 130 Gallon tanked hi tech tank? I have in the past brought alot of stuff that I regret buying because it was "just enough" It left my water with "barely satisfied" I brought a internal Fluval 4 Plus for my 55 Gallon, what a POS that was, so i added another HOB by topfin to add to the filteration. Its still garbage. POS + POS = A bigger POS. So, I will not go that route again. For a 130 gallon which choice would you go with? What about a 55 gallon?

1. Fluval FX5
2. Ehiem 2028
3. Filstar XP4
4. Eheim 2028 + Filstar XP4
5. 2x Filstar XP4

 

[OldMan47]

Kevin, either one would work fine for a 130. I think it comes down to personal preferences and cost. I find the XP series very easy to use but have no experience with Fluvals except the 4+ model which is no canister by any means.

 

[england]

hi i have a 150us and have the fluval fx5 and ive found its the best filter to date for me
its so easy to set up and maintaining this filter is soooo easy and it stays primed providing you use it right and every day at one point it shuts down for 1minute and exspels any air trapped in the filter,,,i love it and my tanks the cleanest its ever been

people say if you can and have the knoledge<acess>to making a sump then this would be your best bet,,as you can have so much media and keep the heater in the sump plus if you come across fights you can use the sump to isolate the fish,,,,but iam the same as you,,no knoledge and to much fear

 

[kevin007]

hi i have a 150us and have the fluval fx5 and ive found its the best filter to date for me
its so easy to set up and maintaining this filter is soooo easy and it stays primed providing you use it right and every day at one point it shuts down for 1minute and exspels any air trapped in the filter,,,i love it and my tanks the cleanest its ever been

people say if you can and have the knoledge<acess>to making a sump then this would be your best bet,,as you can have so much media and keep the heater in the sump plus if you come across fights you can use the sump to isolate the fish,,,,but iam the same as you,,no knoledge and to much fear

Is it necessary to drill holes in the tank and stuff? that seems scary to me. Oh for a 130 gallon does any one have any idea what is th idea tank size for the sump?


I recently saw this new product, its like a sump, but its placed ONTOP of the aquarium, water gets pumped up and gravity pulls the water down through all the filter media, its clear and i think its made of glass too. Similar to a sump, but its very expensive +$300. Any experience?

 

[england]

http/www.3reef.com/forums/new-hobby/how-...sump-31712.html

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_overflow.php

 

[Dave Spencer]

Sumps don`t go together with high tech tanks particularly well. I don`t know a great deal about them, but the gaseous exchange that makes O2 available to the bacteria will effectively drive off the CO2. You could turn the CO2 up to compensate for this, but your carbon footprint would be the size of a small country.

The latest thinking is to look to get a turn over of around x 10 to get all the CO2 and nutrients to the four corners of the tank.

The Fluval FX5 seems to have the highest turn over, so you may want to consider two of these. Considering how actual performance falls short of the manufacturers benchmark, you might want to look at something with a higher turn over rate.

Dave.

 

[rabbut]

As Dave says, sumps are very good at dissipating carbon dioxide, and adding oxygen, but that is the opposit of what you want in a planted tank. You best bet is a canister

Tetratec have a EX2400, that would give 4 times turn over. Double two up to give a redundant system and the flow required for an EI tank, but that would set you back £400 near enough for a newly released filter that may be a risk...

The Fluval FX5 would cut it well, but is unproven as yet for long-term reliability, hence is also a risk, especially when you consider Fluvals track record with exturnals.....

Eheim are a proven brand and highly recomended on here, but IME their reliability isn't bullet proof. IMO the 2028 wouldn't be enough. I'd consider a 2080 a better option, particularly doubled upi with a 2028 for flow

Rena XP4's give more torque than the motor can handle, with many users reporting that the impeller shaft and/or the impeller itself snapping on starting after it's been cleaned a few times..... I'd avoid this one...

This is a tough desision to make, mainly on personal preferance. I'd give the Tetratecs a miss here, considering that this is a new model and may turn out like the Rena XP4...

The Fluval FX5 is the cheapest option, but hasn't yet been proven. The 2028 IMO won't be enough. The XP4's are supposidly poor reliability wise, though I haven't used this particular model, the Tetratec would work but are expencive and none-proven yet and my Eheim spec is also going to set you back a bit... If it were me, I'd go with a Eheim 2080 and a 2028 doubled up, if it wasen't for my past experience with them... With my past experience, I'd probibly go with an FX5 Fluval, but the choice is yours

HTH
Rabbut

 

[kevin007]

I ended up with a Eheim 2028 and a XP4 but I am gettin worried, still unopened, i can still return it.

I'm REALLY no sure whether i made the correct decision

 

[kj23502]

I have 2 eheim pro II 2028(if that's what your referring to) and I love them. they are so quiet taht I can't tell they are working unless I look at the spray bars and see water movement or put my ear next to the canister

They are great!!!

 

[kevin007]

I have 2 eheim pro II 2028(if that's what your referring to) and I love them. they are so quiet taht I can't tell they are working unless I look at the spray bars and see water movement or put my ear next to the canister

They are great!!!

Can i ask what size your aquarium is? And How clear is the water? Crystal clear? Any floating particles?

Eheim 2028 = $300
XP4 = 200

Total = 500

Should i get 2 XP4s instead?

Or... 3 XP3s for around $500?

 

[Dave Spencer]

For crystal clear water, Google Purigen.

Dave.

 

[kj23502]

Can i ask what size your aquarium is? And How clear is the water? Crystal clear? Any floating particles?

It's 125 gallons. I have filtered it a tad bit more b/c I have african cichlids in it. That's why I have 2 on it. Yea the waters really clear and I really like them.

here's stats of eheim
Eheim Professionel II External Filter 2028:
Aquarium Size: 158 gal
Pump Output: 277 gph
Filter Circulation: 198 gph
Delivery Head: 6`7"
Filter Volume: 1.9 gal
Power Consumption: 25 W
Filter Height: 17.9"
Weight: 12.5 lbs

Eheim 2028 = $300
XP4 = 200

Total = 500

Should i get 2 XP4s instead?

Or... 3 XP3s for around $500?

It's up to you on what you get get. I've heard many a time that if money was not an issue then people would have a lot of eheims.

 

[rabbut]

The XP4 would be the one I'd swap if I were in your situation, they don't have very good reliablility on that model. I don't rate Eheim, but most users think them to be the best on the market...

If you are going to swap either, swap the Rena. If you have $100 spare, get another Eheim An XP3 or two to replace the XP4 would also work The XP3's are great filters, but will need new media before you use. Rena supply bio-chem zorb, an ammonia removing chemical media, that will stop the tank from cycling correctly

HTH
Rabbut

 

[kevin007]

Can i ask what size your aquarium is? And How clear is the water? Crystal clear? Any floating particles?

It's 125 gallons. I have filtered it a tad bit more b/c I have african cichlids in it. That's why I have 2 on it. Yea the waters really clear and I really like them.

here's stats of eheim
Eheim Professionel II External Filter 2028:
Aquarium Size: 158 gal
Pump Output: 277 gph
Filter Circulation: 198 gph
Delivery Head: 6`7"
Filter Volume: 1.9 gal
Power Consumption: 25 W
Filter Height: 17.9"
Weight: 12.5 lbs

Eheim 2028 = $300
XP4 = 200

Total = 500

Should i get 2 XP4s instead?

Or... 3 XP3s for around $500?

It's up to you on what you get get. I've heard many a time that if money was not an issue then people would have a lot of eheims.

sounds GREAT. I'm really diggin the Ehiem now. I'm scared of the XP4 after hearing Rabbut talk about it.. I don't think 2 ehiem is an option becuase its too expensive. I thought it could be my "main" filter while the XP- can be my secondary/backup/extra/whatever.

Do you think the XP3 can do anything CLOSE to what a 2nd ehiem 2028 can?

EDIT: Dave, purigen is great, I have it in all my tanks.

 

[kj23502]

it may...any extra filtration along with the eheim won't hurt