Filter Questions

[BBB]

I am going to be getting a 75g tank in a month or so for cichlids and am researching filtration. Would a Rena Filstar XP3 do it or should i get a Aquaclear filter for 110g tanks to go with it?? Also are there any filters that you recommend for a resonable price??

[Dave66]

Personally, I use Fluval canisters. There are two Fluval 405s on my 75, as I can rotate cleaning, and I like the way the filters are set up and perform.
Don't know what you'd consider resonable. The Fluvals I mentioned are around $100 US.

Dave

[BBB]

i read about those and people were having problems with the quality of them it seemed like. My LFS carries those for 200 bucks.

[Dave66]

Hmm wonder why they have problems with them? I've used Fluvals since the mid-90's and found them very durable, properly maintained. I wouldn't be using them if they weren't.

Dave

[Fishguy2727]

Fluvals are definitely a step up from Renas as far as quality goes, despite a few minor problems a few may have experienced. My 75 has a Fluval 405, 404, and a BioWheel Power Pro 30. The Fluvals will be cheapest online. If you are going to use a HOB, it would definitely need to be the AquaClear 110.

What type of cichlids are you doing?

[rsretep]

my 75 has a rena x3 accompanied by a penguin 330 this combo works great for me....water parameters are great....love the rena x3 so many choices on media...stick with the filstar and do an ac 110 you should be good:c5: :c5:

[gm72]

I personally endorse Eheim canisters, but they are pricey. Fluvals are good, and having an AC110 in addition would be a great combination!

[zackish]

All the filters mentioned are good filters. I use a rena xP2 on my 29g and I love it. In my local petco they have all these canister filters on display and I was looking at the Fluval filter and it was designed very well. I would have to agree with Dave on it. However, I think a 405 is more than $100. Bigalsonline is the cheapest place I know of and they have them for $200.
You also need to realize any piece of equipment is going to have bad reviews and good reviews. 9 people out of 10 could have excellent luck with something but that one person might have a leak or something wrong with their filter. They are then going to go online and give it a bad review because of their lack of satisfaction with the product.

[Dave66]

All the filters mentioned are good filters. I use a rena xP2 on my 29g and I love it. In my local petco they have all these canister filters on display and I was looking at the Fluval filter and it was designed very well. I would have to agree with Dave on it. However, I think a 405 is more than $100. Bigalsonline is the cheapest place I know of and they have them for $200.
You also need to realize any piece of equipment is going to have bad reviews and good reviews. 9 people out of 10 could have excellent luck with something but that one person might have a leak or something wrong with their filter. They are then going to go online and give it a bad review because of their lack of satisfaction with the product.

I paid $129.95 each for mine, when I bought a dozen of them when I upgraded from the 404s. I shop for deals; if you look, you can pay a good deal less. I agree that the one with the complaint screams loudest, while those satisfied remain mum.

Dave

[DaleJr08]

I have been running a couple of Fluvals on my 75 for about a year now and haven't had one problem/complaint with them. The run silent as can be and are fairly easy to maintain. IMO if you are going to spend $70 or $80 on a HOB filter then why not spend a little more and have a canister.

John

[BBB]

Well its going to be a lake malawi cichlid tank so i know the water has to be really clean. but i was leaning towards the Rena Filstar Canister because one it seemed like more people were satisfied with the product and two its a lot cheaper. A guy at my LFS who actually knows a little about fish highly reccommended the Fluval 405 over their other canisters. So i might get that filter i guess.
The Aquaclear 110 also to go with it, or should i get a powerhead or something?? Are there any other HOB filters that you recommend over the Aquaclear??

[zackish]

I paid $129.95 each for mine, when I bought a dozen of them when I upgraded from the 404s. I shop for deals; if you look, you can pay a good deal less. I agree that the one with the complaint screams loudest, while those satisfied remain mum.

Dave

you bought 12 thats why ahaha....plus you said you had a wholesale liscense or something in another post?

[Fishguy2727]

Do the AquaClear, it is the best HOB and no need to have a powerhead instead of another filter.

What type of Malawi cichlids?

[BBB]

Well as of yesterday night i was planning on getting a lake malawi cichlids. I was thinking like 3-4 electric yellows, 3-4 red zebra, 3-4 blue johannis, and then i havent decided on others yet. But then my mom said she didnt want fish that all look alike but different colors or something. So now i made a new stock plan with maybe a green serverum, my redtail shark that i already have, a blue gourami, then maybe a pair of kribensis although i dont know if they are compatible with the green severum, and then like a nice school of fish to complete it. I have roughly checked on the compatabilty of these fish and for the most part it seemed most of them would be fine. I will probably post a new thread in the beginners forum about my stocking plan.