Filtration Advice

[Travis]

I'm moving everything that is currently in my 33L into a 125g and I need some advice on filtering the 125g. I currently have an Eheim 2215 on the 33L that I will be using on the 125g. A few ideas I have been considering are as follows:

1. Eheim 2215, Eheim 2215, and Koralia Evo. 1400 gph
2. Eheim 2215, Eheim 2217
3. Eheim 2215, Eheim 2217 and Koralia Evo. 1050 gph
4. Eheim 2215, Eheim 2217 and Koralia Evo. 1400 gph

Current Fish: 5 Alto. calvus, 6 Lamp. stappersi, 9 Ecto. descampsii
Also, I plan to add a group of Cyps. to the 125g.

Any advice is appreciated, even outside of the presented box. Thanks.

 

[dustin]

not sure what the gph ratings are on ur eheims but i like to circulate my tanks at least 5 times. So w a 125 u would need a total of 625gph. the koralia 1400 is pushin alot of water but not that its a bad thing. Cant over filtrate imo. Keep in mind I'm no expert just giving you my 2 cents. I run a koralia 1050 on my 150. Gives good surface agitation.

 

[Travis]

Dustin, are you suggesting 625 gph for the canisters alone? That would seem rather excessive to me?

 

[dustin]

No Travis I'm talkin overall circulation. I say two eheim 2215's and a koralia 1050 would be sufficient but I would prob run a 2215 and 2217 w a koralia just because I like to have my water crystal clear. Might just take some experimenting and using what u feel is necessary. I'm just making some suggestions for you

 

[Travis]

All right cool, just wanted to make sure we were on the same page.

 

[dustin]

Yes sir. From my understanding, it's all about circulation and surface agitation. From my experience it must b true because all my tanks are doing well. Hope this helps ya!

 

[minifoot77]

travis tangs ar from a lake and some do not like the strong water movement that those filters can create i use a sponge and a box filter on all my tang tanks....

 

[Travis]

A box filter? Like a pond box filter?

 

[jonclark96]

I would guess a box filter like the old school ones that were standard practice 20 years ago. Plastic box, stuffed with filter floss, and hooked to an air stone to create water movement. Very affordable and efficient, just not the prettiest thing to see in your tank.

 

[minifoot77]

jon has the right idea

 

[Travis]

Yikes, I don't think I want a giant box in my tank. The 2215 doesn't put out that much flow in a 48" 33 gallon tank and that's why I was wondering if I needed to supplement with powerheads?

 

[minifoot77]

i have one canister on a tang tank and it is a fluval 405 on a 55g i got one inch pvc with 1\8 inch holes every one inch across the back of the tank for the output side of the canister

 

[Avatar]

Here's a cheap and very efficient alternative...

Use undergravel filter plates with reverse flow power heads and sponge pre-filters. Serious but subdued water movement, massive filtration capacity and so very very easy to clean. You'll never need to siphon the gravel and you can load the tank with a ton of fish if you so desire.

UG filters got something of a bad rap years ago but when you reverse the flow and use foam to capture particulates before push the water down under and up through the gravel they rock.

 

[Travis]

So, two on a 125g? And hold the powerhead?

 

[Travis]

I am using pfs.

 

[Avatar]

Don't know what a 'pfs' means.

http://www.jehmco.com/html/undergravel_filters.html

If you call Jehmco they can tell you how these are configured but you should be able to get by with two good sized powerheads.

http://www.entirelypets.com/penguin...-EC27-DF11-9DA0-002219319097&mr:referralID=NA

I'd go with larger powerheads for a 125 if you're only using two in which case you might just want to order the reverse flow kits and mount them on larger powerheads.

http://www.cheappetproducts.net/PENGUIN_POWER_HEAD_REVERSE_FLOW_KIT-P49273.html

Running a wavemaker or another powerhead to mix the surface water might be advisable as well if you don't want to mess with a protein skimmer. Seems I recall seeing a hang on filter with 'floating' intake that serves more or less the same purpose.

 

[Travis]

Sorry, I was posting last night from class...pfs = pool filter sand.

 

[UNCLERUCKUS]

I WAS TAUGHT AS A RULE OF THUMB TO ALWAYS HAVE 5X THE TANK VOLUME PER HOUR IN FILTRATION. SO IF ITS A 100G YOU WANT A MINIMUM OF 500GALLONS FILTERED AN HOUR. YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH. FOR A 125 GALLON YOU WANT A MINIMUM OF 625G PER HOUR. NOW ALL YOU HAVE TO DECIDE IS WHAT YOU WILL USE TO DO SO.IF IT WERE ME ID GO WITH A WET DRY AND A EMPEROR 400 OR AC 110. IM ALL FOR EASY MAINTENENCE OF WET DRYS.