MY 180 GALLON AQUARIUM NEEDS A FILTER

cadams

Small Fish
Oct 22, 2002
47
0
0
#21
I'd go with the Filstar XP3 and an Emperor 400. If bought through Big Al's they are only about $130 combined. It never hurts to have both going since you spread out the filtration. I think anything over a 29 you should have at least two different filters going.
 

lightning

Large Fish
Dec 30, 2002
318
0
0
Texas
Visit site
#23
i agree with first deciding what type of fish are going to be kept in the tank, then decide how much filtration you need, i have a 55 with cichlids and have an emporer 400 and a aquaclear 500 , i like both filters and have had no problems with either, only thing about the aquaclear is cleaning the sponge, more trouble than just inserting new media
 

Managuense

Superstar Fish
May 16, 2003
1,204
0
0
43
Springfield, MO
#24
Originally posted by lightning
only thing about the aquaclear is cleaning the sponge, more trouble than just inserting new media
yeah....however!

the emperor cartridges clog MUCH MUCH more quickly than the sponges on the AC's.

6 of one, half a dozen of the other....

both are great filters.
M
 

Apr 11, 2003
406
0
0
Phx,AZ
Visit site
#25
No personl experience here so any one is free to bash me but i Think that a marineland tide pool 2 sump and maybe something else for a little extra mechanical filtration (smaller canister or larger power filter i'd go with AC). Oh yah the tide pool is 150-160 at big als.
 

Pag-dizzle

Medium Fish
Jul 6, 2003
71
0
0
42
Ajax, Ontario
Visit site
#26
Ive used power filters my entire life ... i find that the aqua clears arent that great. they dont take away that much waste and get very very dirty. when u turn it off after like a month it wont turn back on because the magnet gets that mossy. I currently use a tetratec filter with integrated heat. Got to say i love it. Stays very clean and the integrated heat is an amazing thing to have. You just have to live with a little noise from the water.
As soon as i can i will be throwing in an eheim. Its the best way to go.
 

Managuense

Superstar Fish
May 16, 2003
1,204
0
0
43
Springfield, MO
#27
i would take an aquaclear over a tetratec (or whisper) anyday.

look up "tetratec" on any fish forum: www.cichlid-forum.com - www.aqualink.com -- etc. you will see that most people dont recommend them either.

i have an extreme hatred of these filters after a week of using one. this filter is MUCH harder to prime than any other HOB i have used. it is also quite noisy compared to most other HOB's

however, with the heater unit they do have some use for specific types of tanks that other filters really cant do.

but for most purposes, i would never use one of these.
M
 

Last edited:

GDH

Medium Fish
Nov 29, 2002
67
0
0
Visit site
#28
Managuense, do you think a bio-wheel and a submerged sponge the same size would do the same amount of biological filtering? As you may or may not know, the nitrifying bacteria are far more active on the bio-wheel than any submerged media because of all the oxygen. Kind of the same idea as a fire, the more oxygen it has, the harder it works (er, burns). So even though bio-wheels may not have as much surface area as most sponges, the bacterias are far more active and work harder. The sumberged bacterias on a sponge are limited to what they can do because of the amount of oxygen in water.
 

Managuense

Superstar Fish
May 16, 2003
1,204
0
0
43
Springfield, MO
#29
Originally posted by GDH
Managuense, do you think a bio-wheel and a submerged sponge the same size would do the same amount of biological filtering?
yes, but since an aquaclear sponge has a heck of a lot more surface area than a bio-wheel this question is irrelevant.

The sumberged bacterias on a sponge are limited to what they can do because of the amount of oxygen in water.
huh? if you dont have enough dissolved oxygen to biologically filter your tank you have REAL problems.

As you may or may not know, the nitrifying bacteria are far more active on the bio-wheel than any submerged media because of all the oxygen.
this is all just speculation. people have been using non bio-wheel filters for YEARS and say that they see no difference in their nitrogen cycles with them.

check this link to see more of this argument: http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/...=0&postorder=asc&highlight=bio wheels&start=0 http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=18502&highlight=bio+wheels


what most people tell me about emperors sounds like a lot of hype with no real proof..... sounds like they have been spending too much time surfing marineland's website. :)

either way, the emperors are still good filters and the bio-wheels do work. i run 2 on my tank actually..... if it were planted i would go with aquaclears, which work just as well and are cheaper to buy and maintain.
M