Which filter is better ?

[Tyler777]

Can any of you tell me which of these 2 filters is better for a 125 gallons tank ?

 

[Colin_T]

What fish are in the tank?
What are the tank dimensions?
How much filter media is in each one and what sort of material is it?

 

[Tyler777]

What fish are in the tank?
What are the tank dimensions?
How much filter media is in each one and what sort of material is it?

I don't have any fish in there yet. I don't even have that tank yet either. I'm just getting advice for when I get it n set it up.
The tank will be a 125 gallons n the fish I wanna have will be angel fish, gouramies, some tetras, clown loaches swordtails n patties.

 

[GaryE]

My 120 has an FX2 canister and the largest of the old Aquaclear HOB series running. It had 2 Aquaclears, but one died of old age after 15 years or so. Both the filters pictured would be good secondary filters - something that could run with a larger filter doing the bulk of the work. Neither appears to hold enough media to be useful as a primary filter.
I never run one filter on a large tank. Most of my set ups have 3.

 

[Tyler777]

My 120 has an FX2 canister and the largest of the old Aquaclear HOB series running. It had 2 Aquaclears, but one died of old age after 15 years or so. Both the filters pictured would be good secondary filters - something that could run with a larger filter doing the bulk of the work. Neither appears to hold enough media to be useful as a primary filter.
I never run one filter on a large tank. Most of my set ups have 3.

Thank you for contacting me, but do you know which one would be good for my future 125 G tank ? Regardless if I get 2 or 3 like you have.
The first one looks more traditional n I like the little one but I'm not sure if shooting water like in the picture could be bad for angel fish or other slow moving fish ?
Any knowledge bout that u can share with me ?

 

[Tyler777]

My 120 has an FX2 canister and the largest of the old Aquaclear HOB series running. It had 2 Aquaclears, but one died of old age after 15 years or so. Both the filters pictured would be good secondary filters - something that could run with a larger filter doing the bulk of the work. Neither appears to hold enough media to be useful as a primary filter.
I never run one filter on a large tank. Most of my set ups have 3.

Also cannyou show me a picture of your filter ?

 

[Magnum Man]

I have 2 Aquaclear 70’s, and a full under gravel filter, with 2 power heads ( each would be similar in flow to the power sponge you pictured ) this on a 55 gallon… I direct the flow from the power heads, from the back, to the front, blowing on the short side, rather than the width of the tank… I have 2 angels in this tank, along with a large group of tetras, and dwarf cichlids.. the center of the tank has less current, and the angels usually hang there, but they go into the flow from the filters quite often

 

[Magnum Man]

I’m sure there is a general formula for amount of rated filter flow, per gallon of tank… I’m pretty out of the mainstream box, but my tanks all run 3 to 5 times the gallon size of the tank, per hour, and all have a large amount of air added to the tanks… maybe get a couple recommendations of how much flow you need for the size of tank you are wanting… I do like to use multiple filters, so if one goes down, or you have one shut off, for cleaning, there is still water movement, and aeration

 

[Tyler777]

I have 2 Aquaclear 70’s, and a full under gravel filter, with 2 power heads ( each would be similar in flow to the power sponge you pictured ) this on a 55 gallon… I direct the flow from the power heads, from the back, to the front, blowing on the short side, rather than the width of the tank… I have 2 angels in this tank, along with a large group of tetras, and dwarf cichlids.. the center of the tank has less current, and the angels usually hang there, but they go into the flow from the filters quite often

Can you show me a picture of your filter in the tank ? If it's ok

 

[Magnum Man]

An Aquaclear 70, is similar in style to the hang on tank filter you 1st pictured… under gravel filters are a plate that sits on the bottom of the tank, and the gravel sits on top of it ( and the gravel becomes your biometric, like the sponge on the filter you posted in your 2nd picture… there are risers that come up from the plate, these traditionally had air stones in, that moved the water, but can also have power heads that sit on them, these are usually rated in a gallon flow rate… in my 2nd picture, you can see the power head, on the lift tube ( I use a resin hollow log to disguise the tube… next to that is the filter draw tube from one of the hang on tank filters

 

[Magnum Man]

I’ve been buying the Tidal series filters the most lately… the only negative on them, is they also incorporate a skimmer, which can be really noisy, when your water level starts getting low…
And I’ve been using the hang on filters, rather than the canister filters, because of the ease of cleaning and maintenance.. canister filters typically flow more water, but I get by with multiple hang on tanks, because of the advantages of multiple filters, and ease of maintenance…

If I were setting up a traditional 120, I’d probably start with 2 of these ( or similar )

Amazon.com

 

[Tyler777]

An Aquaclear 70, is similar in style to the hang on tank filter you 1st pictured… under gravel filters are a plate that sits on the bottom of the tank, and the gravel sits on top of it ( and the gravel becomes your biometric, like the sponge on the filter you posted in your 2nd picture… there are risers that come up from the plate, these traditionally had air stones in, that moved the water, but can also have power heads that sit on them, these are usually rated in a gallon flow rate… in my 2nd picture, you can see the power head, on the lift tube ( I use a resin hollow log to disguise the tube… next to that is the filter draw tube from one of the hang on tank filters View attachment 342964View attachment 342965

Thank you for the picture n advice my friend

 

[GaryE]

I use an aquaclear 110, larger but the same idea. You can look up the fluval fx series online.

I don't like the tidals as the media box seems small. How much media you have is the key to a good filter. But I have never run a tidal, and could be wrong.

I tend to grab equipment as it pops up on sale, and have easier access to Fluval products as I do freelance work for them. That's my disclaimer. My 120 has 2 large filters. One of my 75s has a canister and two Aquaclear 70s, and the other also has a fluval canister, a 110 and a no name Chinese HOB that I was given a few years ago, and that has been a reliable workhorse. It has no media except plant roots from terrestrial plants. It's my motorized flowerpot.

 

[Tyler777]

I use an aquaclear 110, larger but the same idea. You can look up the fluval fx series online.

I don't like the tidals as the media box seems small. How much media you have is the key to a good filter. But I have never run a tidal, and could be wrong.

I tend to grab equipment as it pops up on sale, and have easier access to Fluval products as I do freelance work for them. That's my disclaimer. My 120 has 2 large filters. One of my 75s has a canister and two Aquaclear 70s, and the other also has a fluval canister, a 110 and a no name Chinese HOB that I was given a few years ago, and that has been a reliable workhorse. It has no media except plant roots from terrestrial plants. It's my motorized flowerpot.

Thank you. I will check it out on amazon

 

[lottabubbles]

10 years go my Rena-3 canister filter impeller took a dive and Amazon was the ticket to getting rolling again. even bought a new rena-3 as a backup for years down the road. (better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it)