What filter to buy

[Woody]

Looking for some expert (or good novice advice) on what filter set-up would be best for my application. About to set-up a 90 gal tall (36l x 18w x 32d) aquarium for my Lake Malawi Chiclids (Rusty, Kenji, Msobo, Mbuna, Venustus) (splitting up the herd from my 38 gal). I have a lot of experience with larger bio filter set-ups for my 2000 gal Tilapia pond (built my own bio filter using large pool sand filter filled w/ bio media) and have a Marineland 280 bio wheel on my 38 gal bow front. Looking at Eheim 2217, Fluval 405, or even a Fluval fx5 (think it my be too large for 90 gal tank). Leaning toward the Eheim but also might add a bio wheel discharge? The guy I am buying the tank from has a Marineland 400 bio wheel set-up but it makes a crap load of noise & really does not work with this tank well (water splashes on the center glass brace at the top of the tank). Input on experience with these filters, efficiency, ease of use & least trouble with leaks/pump failure. Thanks!!

[supadave]

Either filter will work nicely on a moderately stocked tank . If you plan to over stock your tank , I would get the FX5 or two of the other filters .

[Woody]

Thanks for the input Supadave. That's the way I was leaning with the fx5

[supadave]

No problem... Woody. Trust me....you're going to love that FX5 !! It's a beast !!!!!!

BTW..... go see Andy at Fishland. He has the best price on the FX5...nobody beats his price .

[geoff_tropheus]

Out of that list you posted for your 90 gallon, FX5 is DEFINATELY the best choice.

[Woody]

Thanks guys. The FX5 it is then....I cant wait to get this baby set-up. I brought home a bunch of holy limestone rock from my trip to Wimberley this weekend (my parents land has a bunch of this stuff laying around) I pick-up the tank sometime this week. Now I just have to scape this thing out. I have plenty of long driftwood to choose from (picked-up @ Canyon Lake last year when it was 20 feet low) to go along with the rock.......now I just have to figure out what I am going to use as a substrate.....maybe some black gravel & those black river stones?

[armthehomeless]

I'd recommend using pool filter sand as a substrate . . . it will provide a cleaner look IMO

[stevenallenbarnard]

i run a FX5 on my 120, it works great. i'd do either the fx5 or 2 2217's. it works out to about the same price after you buy the media.

[Gene D]

+1 on the FX5. +1 pool filter sand.

I would recommend leaving the drift wood out of the scape on this tank. Mainly because it will release tannins into the water that will lower your ph. These tannins can also slightly tint the water. Also there is no wood in typical Mbuna habitat.

[Woody]

Thanks for the input guys. I got the fx5 today.....Holy Crap! That thing is like a shop vac!! Definitely looks like it will do the trick! I am going to try it out with Ultra Bio Media & carbon pellets in bags to see how she works. I use this stuff in my tilapia pond in a 19" sand filter (bio media in place of sand) & it has performed very well, always clear water.

The only thing is that Hagen warns against using any media small enough to get to the impeller (you have to bag all carbon, bio, ammo media which I would have done anyway) but from what I have read on other sites, any sand getting in there could damage the impeller causing premature failure of the pump since it is located at the bottom of the case & sand could collect there. Thinking of 1/4" gravel but still undecided on color (white, black or a mix of both)

[Woody]

Got everything hooked up last night, scaped the tank & got the fx5 loaded up with media & its is doing a bang-up job. Really quiet operation after the start-up. It did scare the dog when it stopped after 2 minutes to clear the excess air out of the system . Thanks for the input guys. I'll post a photo soon.

[Woody]

IMG00647-20100629-0804.jpg

[supadave]

Looks great ....Woody !!! I honestly wouldn't change a thing . Now let's see it with your Malawi's in it !!!

[Woody]

Thanks Supadave!!
I posted another photo that I took tonight on a different thread. This tank always had potential but where it was at before, was just not appreciated. It was in a guest bathroom in a high rise apartment?! Now I just need to p/u a heater & I think I am going to rig-up a drain/fill line to the outside, it will be too easy not to do it. Fish will go in this weekend, I know they will like the extra fin room!!

[Woody]

Here's the Craigslist add that I found it on. You can see how bad the stand looked & all the drift wood that was in the tank, even hanging from the top. The canopy was trashed immediately.

http://houston.craigslist.org/for/1781324645.html