Wanted: Filter for 135 gallon tank

[Johnsbra123]

I just purchased a 135 gallon reef ready tank. It's drilled in the bottom, and has two over flow boxes. I'm looking to spend 40$.

[mistahoo]

Since it's drilled, I would take advantage of it and buy a wet dry filter. A big enough one for a 135 gallon won't be anywhere near $40 since you gotta buy the filter and the return pump. Also overfiltration is better, so either one rated for about 135 plus canisters or a wet dry that is rated for more than 135 gallons.

[HERM]

Since it's drilled, I would take advantage of it and buy a wet dry filter. A big enough one for a 135 gallon won't be anywhere near $40 since you gotta buy the filter and the return pump. Also overfiltration is better, so either one rated for about 135 plus canisters or a wet dry that is rated for more than 135 gallons.

+1

[Johnsbra123]

I have a 29 gallon tank that I'm going to put under it for the overflow box, then all I need is a filter and a return pump. I will spend 80$ for the two if that's possible?

[mistahoo]

I have a 29 gallon tank that I'm going to put under it for the overflow box, then all I need is a filter and a return pump. I will spend 80$ for the two if that's possible?

I say a 29 gallon is selling yourself short. It's not enough. You could DIY a wet/dry and buy a cheap used tank (a 75 or 55 gallon?) if you're trying to save on money. The pump alone can range from $40-$100 depending on GPH and the brand.

[Johnsbra123]

A 29 gallon should be fine for it. I talked to the guys at fish gallery. How is 29 gallons not good enough?

[mistahoo]

A 29 gallon should be fine for it. I talked to the guys at fish gallery. How is 29 gallons not good enough?

It's minimal. Under filtration. It'll work, but you're going to need to do a lot more water changes.

[Johnsbra123]

Wow, I want to do like once every two months water changes. Is my tank okay for that?

[mistahoo]

Wow, I want to do like once every two months water changes. Is my tank okay for that?

I was thinking at least 1-2 water changes a week. It also depends on what you're putting in there. If you got shrimp loaded in there, then yeah once every two months with that 29 gallon as filtration could work.

[Johnsbra123]

I was going to do 8 Mbuna cichlids, 2 peacock bass.

[mistahoo]

I was going to do 8 Mbuna cichlids, 2 peacock bass.

Bad idea. The Mbunas will probably harass the pbass when they're younger and then the pbass will outgrow them and eat them. One pbass will outgrow your 135 eventually, what will you do after that? With Pbass being such large fish, they also produce a lot of waste and that 29 gallon wet/dry will definitely not cut it.

[Johnsbra123]

What would be a good stock to where I can keep them as adults?

[mistahoo]

What would be a good stock to where I can keep them as adults?

Whatever you like. There's plenty of fish. Research them before deciding on sticking to a fish or else you'll end up with more than you can handle and then end up selling them which I'll probably end up doing if I can't find a big enough tank by the time I need it.

[barrettsline]

Filter for 135 gallon tank

Man, I dont know your situation or what your really wanting to do in this hobby, but starting with nothing and trying to put it together as cheaply as possible is meant for a smaller tank. You've bought a nice tank it sounds like. Put the right amount of money into it and time. As far as fish go, bro go walk every fish store, write down every fish you like and then research them, marking out the ones that you decide won't work for what you want. You need to invest into a wetdry or turn the 29 gallon into one( it will be perfectly fine), and you need a large canister. Like an eheim 2250,2260,2262, you can also go with two smaller 2217's. Or if you just wanna be cheap go but an emperor 400.

I will say this cheap is fine for some aspects of this hobby(lifestyle), but not others. Your fish will ultimately suffer and pay the price.

[moganman]

29 gallon wet dry is plenty big. I have one smaller than that on my 125 and my water is fine and I have over 50 sloppy eaters in my tank. The only thing I would be concerned with the 29 gallon is the footprint of it. You could possibly utilize most of the length for the io balls or the media you choose and leave a little room for the return pump tubing. Like mistahoo and Barrett are saying, it's not gonna be cheap. The most expensive part about setting up tanks is normally the filtration because you want it to be adequate enough for your fish. There are cheaper methods that will work like used HOB filters and finding wet drys on craigslist. Also, if you want to focus on this 135 project, sell some other stuff off to help fund this project so you can do it right.