Explanation Please!

[1fish2fish]

Hey!
Let's talk filters ok!  Canister filters, Eheim 2126, is that all I am going to need?  Is it really just plug and play?  We are looking to start a 75 gallon tank, viewable from all sides.  We will do 3 holes in the bottom, two for plumbing one for electric.  I like the canister filter as I won't have to have the big overflow in the tank (corner or center) as the person I talked to said with wet/dry you have to have the overflow.  So I am thinking he might be trying to sell me the kitchen sink with everything else he suggested.  Rather then tell me I needed the Eheim 2126, he listed almost $400 worth of "parts" the chemical, mechanical and biological as well as the pump, filter and heater.  So I am wondering after reading if the Eheim really does it all?  This is all new to me as I have used Eclipse recently and undergravel before that.

Thanks for all the wonderful help!!!
Angie :-/

 

[RedTurquoise]

Canister is the all-in-one wonder. It can do bio, chemical, mechanical filtering all at once. All you do is stick the 2 tubes into your tank (you might have to prime it) and plug it in.

Forget the chemical filtering part. Do not need it. I always tell petstore employees, what is the point of chemical filtering when the bio is taking care of ammonia, nitrites and mechanical is taking care of the crap. Chemical might be good for protecting against (so they say) 'ammonia/nitrites spikes'. I say if you are experiencing an ammonia/nitrite spike, either your tank is not cycled and/or something is wrong with your balance. Fix the cause not the symptom. If anything, water changes are the best not chemical crap.

Another thing that petstores sometimes tell people is that you dont have to do much maintanence just to get people to buy, buy, buy. Then they will also sell people so much chemical crap so that they can get away with 'less frequent water changes'. BS! One petstore was giving away 'free' sample of a product that said exactly that, 'less frequent water changes'. I said no thank you, I do water changes everyday anyways.

Therefore, get the canister, fill it with mechanical and bio filtering media (floss, sponges/bio spheres or whatever shape they come in) and you are done.  *thumbsupsmiley*

 

[1fish2fish]

Below is a message that I got, this person is telling me that an all in one system won't work for me.  Does anyone agree/disagree with this?  What I want seems simple, yet everyone is making it seem impossible.  A 75 gallon tank viewable from all sides with no obstructions in the corners or center. UGH!


"The normal style canisters do not do well when setup through the bottom of the tank.  Their turnover rates are slower and the chance of a blowout from the higher water pressure is much greater.   The Rainbows and Ocean clear systems are much preferred for their easier maintenance and higher turnover rates."

 

[RedTurquoise]

An interesting though however it will depend on how you setup it up. If you plan on just 'stubbing' the tubes thru the bottom, you might have a problem. I have a pic that I can e-mail you. Check out the bottom setup. That will work.