[AcuraLover]

Is there any danger in using a Eheim 2217 as the only filter in a 55 gallon (not heavily stocked) tank? I'm just worried about losing the live bacteria during cleaning. Or if it died for any reason, I'd have no back up or any way to keep the bacteria living. Should I be concerned? :-?

 

[rgr4475]

At 263gph the turnover rate is a little on the low side IMO. I try to have 10x the turn overate or more but I tend to over filter. That being said, you probably can do just the 2217 if you keep up with large weekly water changes. As far as the fear of loosing beneifical bacteria, if you clean the filter with tank water only and not "clean" the bio media, you really shouldn't loose much. Keep in mind the filter isn't the only place the bacteria lives. It's in the substrate and on decorations and rocks etc... The down side of just the canister, is that if it breaks (which they do) then you don't have a filter. With 2 you always have at least one filter running if one breaks.

I have a fluval 305 and an Emperor 400 HOB on my 55g. The HOB is a cheap way to get alot of water turnover (around $40 online) and it keeps the surface of the water disrupted thus oxygenating the water

 

[Glaneon]

I would say the 2217 on a 55 is fine. That's 5x filtration which is plenty. 10x is usually for salt-water.

I run a Fluval 305 (260GPH) on a 70 gallon and it's plenty (and it's a really heavy bio-load).

You will want to get something to move the water around, a cheap way is a Maxijet... but Koralia's are a bit better. Aqueon has some nice high-flow circulators without spending a ton.

 

[dotbomb]

I too think the 2217 would be fine. I run about 5x turn over rate and have a koralia 750 as well in my 100g.

 

[JustusAugustus]

*** had eheim classic canisters for years, and never had one break or stop working...it should be more than enough, but id get a small powerhead i like koralia as well and they arent too pricey (around $35-$45)

 

[eeztropheus]

If you want a secondary source of bio-filtration you can add a sponge filter. But your ehaim should be plenty.

 

[PfunMo]

Ehiem 2217 suits me fine for a 75 gallon that at times gets heavily stocked. There are too many variables to set a value as far as turnover. Tanks are never the same just as tank owners are never the same. If you set up and test the water as you go along, you most likely will find the 2217 does the job well, keeping the bio-load well filtered. If you get lots of fish and/or feed heavy you may find they water quality begins to slip and you have to do more water changing than you like. At that point you continue to do the extra water changing until you add another filter. If you test and watch, filtering is not a crisis situation. It is just something that may need more as time goes by but only you and your methods will tell that story. No need to buy a 3/4 ton truck just to haul groceries. If you wind up needing more, they are easy to buy. Just no need until you find you do need it.

 

[smitty]

If you have the nylon mesh inside the filter. When it is time to clean it rinse it out in aquarium water from the tank in a bucket or something this way you will not shock and kill the bacteria.

 

[punman]

I have had 2217s. Very reliable. But rather than spend $40-60 on a powerhead to move water, I'd buy a small Hang-on-Back filter. It will move water and provide the comfort of a back up in case the 2217 quits or needs major cleaning.

 

[Glaneon]

But then you have to listen to it, change/rinse the filter and get no where near the GPH movement you can get from a powerhead.

HOB's don't get near the movement a powerhead/ciculator can (for the $)