filter for 55 gal tank?
- Thread starter chkn_hawk23
- Start date
I use cannisters on my 55's - Fluvals. The 204 is rated for 55 gal - the 304 for 75, and the 404 for 100 gals.
Usualy best to overfilter rather than underfilter, so i'd go for the 304. Unless you are overstocked, or have really messy fish, the 204 is up to the job, but the 304 will give you better flow to get the clean water distributed throughout the tank.
(I find the 204 is silent, but the 404 is a bit noisy, so for a really big tank i'd use two 204's or two 304's).
Usualy best to overfilter rather than underfilter, so i'd go for the 304. Unless you are overstocked, or have really messy fish, the 204 is up to the job, but the 304 will give you better flow to get the clean water distributed throughout the tank.
(I find the 204 is silent, but the 404 is a bit noisy, so for a really big tank i'd use two 204's or two 304's).
Yeah - they've changed the design a few times since then TS. Primer pump is built in, but I hardly ever have to use it, and air just whooshes straight through and out in the first few mins of run time. In one year of running a pair of 204's and a 404, I only ever had one slight trickle/leak - re-seated the 'O' ring and it was sorted.
Improvements have been made to the connectors and the lid seating arrangement (although the 203's are still fragile and to be avoided), and the quick release hose arrangement (lift two levers and pull the can) is the same size for for 204's, 304's, and 404's - so swapping cans between tanks takes 2 mins.
Can't beat them for the price, and the construction is pretty bullet proof - spares are easy to get etc.
As Taffy says, the Eheim with the heater built in is a gorgeous machine, but costs 3 times as much.
Improvements have been made to the connectors and the lid seating arrangement (although the 203's are still fragile and to be avoided), and the quick release hose arrangement (lift two levers and pull the can) is the same size for for 204's, 304's, and 404's - so swapping cans between tanks takes 2 mins.
Can't beat them for the price, and the construction is pretty bullet proof - spares are easy to get etc.
As Taffy says, the Eheim with the heater built in is a gorgeous machine, but costs 3 times as much.
3 times? Whoah there! www.aquatics-online.co.uk is the online store I mostly use and it sells the Fluval 404 for £85.99 and the Eheim Pro II thermo for £159.99, so a little under twice the price. Also bear in mind that with the Eheim you wouldn't need the 200-300W heater either.
Canister filters are great. I have two F 404's and have never had any problems. The only downside that I can think of is when you go to maintenance the filter and disconnect the hose from the motor manifold, you'll get a small squirt of water. back pressure or something. HOB"s are great too, but since the impeller is under the intake tube, sediments tend to build up quicker around the impeller housing which (in my opinion) is the main cause for most HOB's not starting back up properly after shutting them down for maintenance. This is just my experience between the two types...
In conclusion, it is difficult to advise you on what type of filter a 55g tank will need without knowing what it will be stocked with. But you can certainly gauge what you will need based upon what people suggest and currently stock in their tanks.
In conclusion, it is difficult to advise you on what type of filter a 55g tank will need without knowing what it will be stocked with. But you can certainly gauge what you will need based upon what people suggest and currently stock in their tanks.
thanks
thanks alot for everyones input. I will be moving my 4 feeder goldfish from there 20 gallon tank to the 55 gallon tank. I just want something that is quiet and will work really well. Im still not too sure what a bio wheel is, but they dont sound as effective. But thanks everyone for the advice, i appriciate it. thanks
thanks alot for everyones input. I will be moving my 4 feeder goldfish from there 20 gallon tank to the 55 gallon tank. I just want something that is quiet and will work really well. Im still not too sure what a bio wheel is, but they dont sound as effective. But thanks everyone for the advice, i appriciate it. thanks
On our 50g tank, we have both a magnum can, the size that is not popular in stores(320?), and a penguin 330 HOB.
Does the job, but fish have to be hungry or the food will get sucked up fairly quickly. Which makes the fish hungry.
I like the undergravel filter on our 20g tank, but would not like to try this in a larger tank.
By the by, how quickly, or slowly should a bio-wheel rotate? It does, and that's about it.
Does the job, but fish have to be hungry or the food will get sucked up fairly quickly. Which makes the fish hungry.
I like the undergravel filter on our 20g tank, but would not like to try this in a larger tank.
By the by, how quickly, or slowly should a bio-wheel rotate? It does, and that's about it.
I have formally supported and recommened the fluval filters. But after having my third leak due to worn out o-rings, one faulty aqua stop/ stem valve thing, and having an extremely difficult time finding parts recently, I would not recommend the fluval. The pet store/s are having a hard time getting parts lately for some reason. Just my opinion.
I just fired up my Fluval 104 and for the moment it's getting an A rating. I'm not a source on filters. I'm really just a newbie all around but I think I'm doing very well. This filter is whisper quiet and makes a pleasant mild current. Of course, if you don't want that you can reduce the turnover rate of the filter with a lever. Installing the filter was cake and as for the priming, it did that itself. I opened the valve and within seconds water came all the way out the output nossle. Of course, in putting it together I had misplaced the O ring. The quick release tube system was a major lifesaver there. I had it fixed within a minute and it hasn't leaked a drop so far. All in all I say it's great. All I can hear is a pleasant babbling, kinda like one of those novelty waterfalls.