[live2bet]

Hi fellow members.
I just bought a 135g and would like suggestions as to what filter should i get. My plan is to keep about 30-40 approx 4" african cicihlids (not planted tank).
Should undergravel filter be included in my consideration?
This would be my first real fish tank so bear with me if i do ask some stupid questions.
Thanks in advance.

 

[moneygetter1]

:wink: No such thing as a stupid question. You're gonna get a variety of ans. from folks w/ many different set-ups. I'm not a fan of undergravel filters & rather prefer a multi or combo approach. Eheim, A/P, Hagen, MarineLand all make quality filters in a number of price ranges. Some will swear by one & curse all others. The combo in my sig works well for my messy gang but it's far from the best out there. If money is no object Eheim is rated tops by most. Some will tell you a sump / wet-dry set-up is the way to go while others have had much success w/ in-line or modular set-ups. There really is no right or wrong as long as the filtration matches the needs of the tank size, turnover ratio & inhabitants. "T"

 

[live2bet]

Thanks for the suggestion.
Don't quite understand but have a rough idea though .
What would your shopping list like if you have my tank and fishes?
(don't like the wet/dry filter thought, is too big of a set up, love the canister, is like plug and play)

 

[moneygetter1]

What would your shopping list like if you have my tank and fishes?
(don't like the wet/dry filter thought, is too big of a set up, love the canister, is like plug and play)

8) It's not often I get to spend other folks money so forgive me in advance. :lol:

1> http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ct ... avaluepack or
1> http://www.petsolutions.com/Fluval-FX5- ... 01813.aspx or
1> http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ct ... sterfilter +

2> http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ct ... owerfilter +

2> http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ct ... head295gph

That was fun!! Can we shop for cars next?? I seen this canary testarossa..... "T"

 

[live2bet]

lol. will get to you regarding the car.
thanks moneygetter1.
will post after i finish researching YOUR shopping list.

 

[live2bet]

I like the 3rd choice better. Prefer not to put all my eggs in one basket

1 XP4
2 Aquaclear 110
2 Maxi jet 1200

How about this....
1 C360
1 Aquaclear 110
1 Emperor 400
2 Penguin
let me know what you think.
btw, why would we need powerhead for?

thanks

 

[moneygetter1]

How about this....
1 C360
1 Aquaclear 110
1 Emperor 400
2 Penguin
let me know what you think.
btw, why would we need powerhead for?

MarineLand C360 is only rated for 100g although I have heard good things about them & combined w/ another filter or two should do OK. The Emp 400 (another M/L product) is a quality power filter & again combined with 1 or two of the others, should work well. My personal preferance of A/C 110 is experience. I've used most of the A/C line & have had little or no problems w/ set-up , maint. or longevity. (my A/C 500 is running close to 5yrs. now) The M/L Penguin line is actually being discontinued but can still be purchased several places. (it's too sm. for your needs) The powerheads is this set-up, as in mine, would be to increase water movement. Quite often in large / long tanks there are 'deadspots'. Positioned correctly they would assist in moving the flow to those areas. Not absolutely necessary but very helpful.
1 XP4
2 Aquaclear 110
2 Maxi jet 1200
Should work very well. Plenty of bio, mech & movement!! I like it..... SOLD!! "T"

 

[live2bet]

Done deal! Thanks.
No need for ugf?
About retailer....understand bigalonline delivery is pretty slow, how true is it base on your exprience?
Heard good thing about aquariumguy.com though.
Tell me what you think moneygetter1.
Thanks.

 

[moneygetter1]

8) BigAl's is a quality discount retailer w/ very good cust. serv. I've heard that slow complaint before but never experienced it. Shop around for the best price & if they have the same model, they will beat the price. (gotta use the phone for that). Because no one place carries everything, I have several resources that I use for different items. Some places might offer free shipping at certain times or buy 2 & get 1 ect. I usually chk. them all before a major purchase.

http://www.petsolutions.com/Aquarium-Supplies+C1.aspx

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/shop.cfm?c=3578

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/cat/exp ... tegory.web

http://www.planetcatfish.com/scripts/aquariumguys.php

http://www.aquariumplants.com/

http://www.marineandreef.com/default.asp

http://www.pets-warehouse.com/aquariumfish.html

http://www.webaquatics.com/FishChannel.shtml

There are a couple of others I use occasionally as well as a couple of local shops for emergencies. Have had no major problems w/ any of the above & the minor miscues were handled promptly by cust. serv. "T"

 

[tekjunky]

Hello...on a tank that size i would use a wet/dry and under gravel jets....you could filter the tank somewhere around 2000 to 2400 gph.

Tekjunky

 

[live2bet]

Thanks tekjunky.
Would i be able to get a wet/dry and under gravel jets off the rack?
How much would it cost me?

 

[BillD]

I was looking at a tank of that size yesterday that held a colony of about 25 adult Tropheus, and a bunch of Petrochromis, and all it had for filtration was an AquaClear 110 on each end.

 

[swamptrout]

Wet/Dry Sump = DIY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[moneygetter1]

Would i be able to get a wet/dry and under gravel jets off the rack?
How much would it cost me?

:roll: It will cost you a lot less if you build it yourself. There are a lot of DIY members on the forum, unfortunately, I'm not one of them. Might be good to browse DIY forum or search wet/dry or sumps for ideas. As for 'off the rack'
INFO - http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=932

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/artic ... tegory=580

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/artic ... cleid=2171

EQUIP - http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... atid=18367

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... atid=13648

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... atid=12592

I'm no expert on these types of set-ups but they are available for purchase. Others on here can fine tune your needs & choices or give cust. service a call "T"

 

[live2bet]

Thanks everyone for all comments.
I have decided on my filtration system set up.

What do you think?
1x XP4 (bought at petsmart for $170 as they price match with price i got from futurepets.com)
1x AquaClear 110 (there will be one more AquaClear 110 when my stocks are in)
2x Maxi Jet 1200 (still searching for a good price )

If the above set up sounds ok, my 2nd question is where should i put them to have the best filtration and circulation possible?

Question 3 - I'm thinking of doing a fishless cycle so please advise what media should i put in my filters (XP4 and 110) to expediate the cycle? My intention was to get the water cycled and put the whole stock in.

Question 4 - Most hobbylist would use tap water and then add chemical to remove chlorine but i was thinking of using PUR flaucet filtation system to filter the water instead and not put any chemical. Would that work?

All comments and advise are appreciated.
Thanks in advance

 

[gre]

Heres my two cents. I have a 125g I use 3 Rena xp3 filters and two Seio Super Flow Pumps, 1100gph one on each end running at different times during the day, they are off at night. I have two External Thermal Heaters 200w.

 

[moneygetter1]

What do you think?
1x XP4 (bought at petsmart for $170 as they price match with price i got from futurepets.com)
1x AquaClear 110 (there will be one more AquaClear 110 when my stocks are in)
2x Maxi Jet 1200 (still searching for a good price )

If the above set up sounds ok, my 2nd question is where should i put them to have the best filtration and circulation possible?

System should work fine. Avg price for '1200' - $18/20 new. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... catid=4609

Question 3 - I'm thinking of doing a fishless cycle so please advise what media should i put in my filters (XP4 and 110) to expediate the cycle? My intention was to get the water cycled and put the whole stock in.

If you run the filters on a fully stocked tank for a few weeks & then transfer over to your set-up, that would speed things up considerably. (still might get a mini spike but short lived). BioSpira (if you can find it) will shorten your normal wait. As for media, the stock media should do fine. If you want to change or add something, bio would be your best bet. I removed carbon & replaced w/ this http://www.petsolutions.com/Matrix+I101 ... 10274.aspx .

i was thinking of using PUR flaucet filtation system to filter the water instead and not put any chemical. Would that work?

Removes major contaminants from drinking water so I guess it can't be all bad. Contaminants vary from region to region. http://www.uc.edu/gissa/projects/drinkingwater/ (you can quizz your local supplier for most recent tests). Prime or AmQuel+ would be less expensive since the faucet filter needs changin every 100g. I would just treat the tank. "T"

 

[live2bet]

thanks for all comments.
What about placement of my hob, inlet/outlet for XP4 and also the 2 maxijet 1200?

 

[live2bet]

Any advise?

 

[live2bet]

Thanks moneyfetter1, forgot i have a 135g instead of my old 20g, those faucet fliter are costing me an arm and a leg, lol. Any idea how should i place my inlet and outlet for my XP4 and well as my AquaClear 110?