hougie1962
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what is the best filter system to use on tropical set up tank is aqua one ar 850 had tank 3 weeks tank clears then seems to cloud over any help much appreciated
Media is a topic that takes a little bit of work to absorb, so to speak.
At 165L/44G a nice system would be two TetraTec EX700s (rabbut could see if the calcs work out) which would let you alternate on cleanings and have one to back up the other.
An Eheim Pro II 2026 at 950 L/H would be the perfect "just over 5x turnover" size for a single cannister running the tank. There are also various HOB filters that would work in a pair but would have less media volume.
In any case, if you are new to the hobby it will be to your advantage to learn about filter media and then figure out what to pack these filters with or at least understand why you are accepting what the manufacturer is giving you.
Well, at 700lph each, one EX700 should be suffice, or two EX600's (at 600lph each) if you want a redundant system One EX700 would give 4.25 times an hour turn over, which is a good turnover, and two EX600's would give 7.27 times an hour turn-over and hour, which would qualify for "overfiltered" even though it is impossible to have too much filtration
An Eheim Pro II 2026 at 950 L/H would be the perfect "just over 5x turnover" size for a single cannister running the tank. There are also various HOB filters that would work in a pair but would have less media volume.
All the best
Rabbut
Yes, Schmill, Major theory/practice topic there for us hobbyists! I've thought about it a lot. I rather think that the "starter guideline" of 5x most widely passed around here on TFF has got to have come down over time from the discussion and comparison of "manufacturer chart numbers" importantly for L/H (not for recommended max tank size of course, which they routinely exaggerate.) I -don't- think the numbers, then, are coming from raw testing (could be wrong of course, I'm just a guy speculating) therefor I tend to think that, for instance, even if your "real" rate were the lower 2.6 turnover per hour, that what you are getting is really still the better 4x type idea the members "have in mind" so to speak... can that be followed??Well, at 700lph each, one EX700 should be suffice, or two EX600's (at 600lph each) if you want a redundant system One EX700 would give 4.25 times an hour turn over, which is a good turnover, and two EX600's would give 7.27 times an hour turn-over and hour, which would qualify for "overfiltered" even though it is impossible to have too much filtration
An Eheim Pro II 2026 at 950 L/H would be the perfect "just over 5x turnover" size for a single cannister running the tank. There are also various HOB filters that would work in a pair but would have less media volume.
All the best
Rabbut
On this topic, is the '5x' turnover rate something that you should physically be trying to achieve, or is it based on the manufacturers quoted flowrates, and therefore is actually compensating for the theoretical -> Practical losses you get?
For example, (in my own case), I have a Aquis 1200. This is quoted as having a 1200 LpH flowrate, and my tank is 300L, so thats 4x / Hr, lovely jubbly!
However it also mentions once you piece all the bits of information together that this is an 'ideal' situation with a freeflowing filter and 0 head-height.
In practice you are more likely to get 800 LpH from the filter, which now gives me a turnover of 2.6x / Hr, not so close to the 5x target value.
I'm just wondering as it obviously makes a lot of difference, in the 1st instance I'm 'almost there' with my turnover rate of 4x, whereas in the second instance I pretty much need a second Aquis 1200 to get me to the target 5x turnover rate.