Which Filter?

[L018]

Hi everyone

Will soon be investing in a 60x24x24 aquarium, (roughly 150 gallons / 568 litres ). Lighting and heating are taken care of but still haven't made my mind up about which filter to get.

With my budget I can afford to get the Eheim Pro 3 - 2078, which turns over max 1850l/h.

Read somewhere that the filter should be turning over the volume of the tank three times an hour, is this right? As I have also been told (and it stands to reason) that the faster the water is going through the filter the less time there is for biological filtration to occur.

With this in mind would I be better off getting two smaller filters as I have been looking at the tetratec filters and they seem to get rated really well. If so, would 2x Tetratec Ex700 (700l/h) be adequate for my tank or would 2x Tetratec Ex1200 (1200l/h) be better?

Really want to get this right from the start, so as much feedback as possible on experience with any of these filters or just the answer to the question about the turnover would be greatly appreciated.

 

[nukeonekitty]

I have a 6 foot 85 gallon and I went with two smaller filters. I have a Rena XP2 and XP3 on my mbuna tank and the thing is spotless.

 

[DarkEntity]

Id probably go with that Eheim and get something cheaper also just as a backup. You can never have too much filtration.

 

[afishdude]

Id probably go with that Eheim and get something cheaper also just as a backup. You can never have too much filtration.

lol i bet you could have too much filtration... if you had a 2000 lph on a 100l tank... i would think that would be too much filter. it would be white water in there.

 

[2day]

Hi everyone

Will soon be investing in a 60x24x24 aquarium, (roughly 150 gallons / 568 litres ). Lighting and heating are taken care of but still haven't made my mind up about which filter to get.

With my budget I can afford to get the Eheim Pro 3 - 2078, which turns over max 1850l/h.

Read somewhere that the filter should be turning over the volume of the tank three times an hour, is this right? As I have also been told (and it stands to reason) that the faster the water is going through the filter the less time there is for biological filtration to occur.

With this in mind would I be better off getting two smaller filters as I have been looking at the tetratec filters and they seem to get rated really well. If so, would 2x Tetratec Ex700 (700l/h) be adequate for my tank or would 2x Tetratec Ex1200 (1200l/h) be better?

Really want to get this right from the start, so as much feedback as possible on experience with any of these filters or just the answer to the question about the turnover would be greatly appreciated.

Hi. I will be in the same situation within the upcoming of months, in not, very early next year... A big tank like that requires proper filtration, and honestly, a cannister filter is the best for this. I was looking at two eheim pro II 2028's, or a Fluval FX5.

It really depends on what you need, i mean, if you have a bidget, your probably better going with the tetratec filters, or if money is no issue, get the eheim.

I'd look at the Tertatec Ex1200 model...

 

[George Farmer]

This is an interesting question, as I'm also planning a 5x2x2', as a planted discus set up.

I've narrowed it down to two main decision. One big filter or two smaller filters.

Big filters (x1) -

Eheim 2080 Pro 3
Eheim 2260 Classic
Fluval FX5

Smaller (x2) -

Eheim 2028 Pro 2
Eheim 2217 Classic
TetraTec EX1200
Rena XP4

As for turnover, the more the better really. So long as it's distrubuted effectively it won't do any harm.

I'm stuck because I like the idea of just one filter as it's simpler with less equipment in the tank. But I also like the idea of backup and staggered maintenace with two smaller filters...

 

[L018]

great minds think alike, will also be aiming to use this for a planted Discus setup in the future, due to being a newbie am going to stick with a couple of shoals of Tetras and a catfish to begin with though.

I knew I was an indecisive person but this is the decision I'm taking the longest over. As you say both options have their advantages: 1=simpler, 2=backup and staggered changes.

From looking at various posts on these forums it seems that you can't go wrong with the Eheim and I can afford it but the Tetratec seem to be a close second and from looking on their website it does look a brilliant piece of kit for the price, also replacement media are cheaper

At the moment I have to say I'm swaying towards 2x Tetratec Ex1200's but no doubt will change my mind when I read another post praising the Eheim

Thanks for all your responses so far

 

[George Farmer]

I'll be going Eheim. I've never owned one yet but haven't heard a bad thing against them.

At the moment I'm going for ultra-filtration - Eheim 2080 Pro 3 and Eheim 2028 Pro 2. I've managed to save a fair bit on my custom cabinet so the extra cash is going on better filtration and water movement.

The TetraTecs do seem excellent value though, so if budget was an issue I would be strongly considering them.

 

[adamgreen240]

i have a tetratec EX1200 a fluval FX5 and a fluval 305

personally i would recomend that you usea fluval FX5 and a smaller filter such as the Tetratec EX1200

Tetratec = 1200l/h

fluval = 2300 l/h

total = 3500 l/h

6 times tank turnover - which is ok

thanks

adam

 

[vic]

I would strongly recommend that you create your filtration system using 2 canister filters. The redundancy factor is a true comfort. It is highly unlikely that both filters will pack up simultaneously. Filter cleaning can be offset so that you do not risk accidentally terminating your bio-filter. Enhancement of circulation in the tank by running the return for each filter to the centre of the tank and pointed in the direction opposite to the pick up for that filter. In the event that you wish at sometime to have both an in-line heater and an in-line CO2 diffuser you will have two return lines rather than one. The filtration rule of thumb is 5x water volume per hour for cannister filtration. I use 2 xP3's on a 125 USG with good success. As you are likely going to go to discus, you may want to adjust the filter flow through up-wards to say 7 or 8 X's per hour.

 

[L018]

Thanks for the answer regarding volume per hour Adam and Vic Also will be using external heater and CO2 so that is also something for me to bear in mind.

Hmm looks like the 2x Tetratecs may not be enough, so now gotta decide whether to stretch budget to 2x Eheims or go for FX5 plus a Tetratec - too many options I'm never going to be able to make my mind up!!