ok i have a 90 gallon tank. i'm looking to get a new filter and i'm looking at the Fluval FX5. i currently have two aquaclear 500's on there now. i'm setting up a 29 gallon also and i took off one of my aquaclears to put on my 29 gallon so now i need to get a new filter for the 90g. is this a good filter? i've never had any other filter besides the aquaclears. is it hard to set up a canister type filter? i'm looking at kinda redoing my hood and stuff also. i need more lighting for my plants. oh and i have a sand bottom. not sure if that effects anything.
filtration for a 90 gallon
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I have canister filters on both my 55 gallon and 90 gallon tanks. The 55 has an Eheim classic 2213- very good filter, a bit of a pain to deal with, tho. The shutoff valves do shut off, but they don't always hold the siphon enough to prime the filter again right away after cleaning. The good part is that it does not need cleaning too often! Also, with all the media in one basket, it is a bit of a pita to get to the sponge at the bottom to rinse it. I understand the new Eheims are better, but they are pricey.
On the 90, I have a Rena Filstar XP3- great filter! Not exceptionally pricey, easy to set up and get running, primes itself right away every time I clean it. Also does not need cleaning as often as the Marineland h-o-t I used to have on there. Separate baskets for all the media makes cleaning it a breeze.
I tend to like canisters for a couple reasons:
They're quiet, very quiet
For a planted tank, you can position the spray bar well below the tank surface- important if you are adding CO2 as you don't want the surface turbulence to gas off the CO2 you are adding
They give you more options for media- sponges, ceramic media, floss, whatever- it's easy to find a configuration that works for each tank
Now I need one small enough for a 10 gallon tank!
On the 90, I have a Rena Filstar XP3- great filter! Not exceptionally pricey, easy to set up and get running, primes itself right away every time I clean it. Also does not need cleaning as often as the Marineland h-o-t I used to have on there. Separate baskets for all the media makes cleaning it a breeze.
I tend to like canisters for a couple reasons:
They're quiet, very quiet
For a planted tank, you can position the spray bar well below the tank surface- important if you are adding CO2 as you don't want the surface turbulence to gas off the CO2 you are adding
They give you more options for media- sponges, ceramic media, floss, whatever- it's easy to find a configuration that works for each tank
Now I need one small enough for a 10 gallon tank!
How about another aquaclear 500? There can be much said about having duplicate equipment...reduces the number of spare parts and filter media you have to horde and the amount of expertise you have to develop. With the hob filters you can minimize the disruption - surface agitation - to the water if you keep the water level of your tank high. If you are really concerned you can add a piece of vinyl to the water gate that leads down into the water and you will have no problems at all.
I like simple
I like simple
For the money you can't beat going with another AC110. As far as canisters go. I would recomender the xp3.
ok so would two aquaclears filter as a canister filter? i want to build a new hood for my 90g for better lighting. so if i'm gonna change around my filter stuff i want to do it before i build the new hood that way i can build it all to fit. i'm gonna by taking out the mollys and putting them into the 29g and putting cichlids into the 90g. so i could probably just get a smaller filter for the 29g and put the ac110 back on the 90g. the ac110 makes hills in the sand on the 29g even on its lowest setting. i'm still learning here so i'm trying to get all my info striaght. like when buying a filter do you look for flow amount or what? like the Fluval FX5 flows over 900 gph that why i was looking at it because i use it to double as a power head too for a nice current.
you can do that but make sure your dresser is tall enoungh to fit it under it..i just got a pro 3, 3 months ago and have to build a dresser taller with bigger doors so i can stick it under the dresser..