150g New Tank

[FireGirl]

I just acquired this new tank and stand. Currently, I have a 36g Bow Front which houses African Cichlids. I will be setting up the new tank and relocating some of the larger Cichlids to it.

I would like suggestions on which filtration systems may work best with the larger tank. It came with a [acronym:7343bda2b2="Under Gravel Filter"]UGF[/acronym:7343bda2b2], which I plan to incorporate into the system. The 36g tank has a [acronym:7343bda2b2="Under Gravel Filter"]UGF[/acronym:7343bda2b2] which is attached to a Fluval cannister, in addition to the hang-on filter. This setup works great with the smaller tank.

The dimensions for the 150g tank are:
48" - width
24" - depth
30" - height

I have placed this tank in our main entrance - a dramatic effect when you first open the door to enter - and will be visible from my home office. I will attempt to post a few photos.

I look forward to any suggestions. [acronym:7343bda2b2="Thanks in Advance"]TIA[/acronym:7343bda2b2]

Patti

[TankGirl]

This is totally a matter of opinion, and one that gets a lot of discussion time, but I would skip the [acronym:feb6ee42db="Under Gravel Filter"]UGF[/acronym:feb6ee42db], just because it is one more thing to have to maintain, and in a tank that size, running an airline hose under there periodically to suck out the accumulated debris is just not worth it. If you are happy with the one you have, then go for it. Many cichlids are diggers and sometimes it is hard to have a [acronym:feb6ee42db="Under Gravel Filter"]UGF[/acronym:feb6ee42db] with them, so keep that in mind.

I recommend a couple of Rena Filstar XP3 canister filters. Can't say enough good things about them, and Big Al's has the best prices. This is the best price performer, [acronym:feb6ee42db="In my opinion"]IMO[/acronym:feb6ee42db].

Congratulations on this soon-to-be-fabulous tank, and do post some pics so we can drool!

[Menagerie]

I had never used a [acronym:ad79ad15da="Under Gravel Filter"]UGF[/acronym:ad79ad15da], but don't the cichlids try to dig it up?
[acronym:ad79ad15da="In My Honest Opinion"]IMHO[/acronym:ad79ad15da], I would scrap the [acronym:ad79ad15da="Under Gravel Filter"]UGF[/acronym:ad79ad15da] and go with a canister and [acronym:ad79ad15da="Hang On Back"]HOB[/acronym:ad79ad15da], or a couple of canisters. How many fish/what types are you going to be putting into the 150g? How many cichlids/which ones are currently in your 36g?

[TheMadNucleus]

Hi FireGirl,

Yep, this is a loaded question as everyone has their own opinions. However, I like the Rena Filstar XP3 as well - in fact I run one on one of my 55 gallon freshwater.

Something I'd do if I was setting up another [acronym:eefbadc4d4="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:eefbadc4d4] is grab an idea from the [acronym:eefbadc4d4="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:eefbadc4d4] side, i.e. run an overflow box and use a sump. Not sure why this has not caught on in the [acronym:eefbadc4d4="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:eefbadc4d4] arena - but this is the answer to excellent filtration as you are always extracting the water with the highest levels of [acronym:eefbadc4d4="Dissolved Organic Compounds"]DOC[/acronym:eefbadc4d4]. Also this greatly aids in the diffusion of [acronym:eefbadc4d4="Oxygen"]O2[/acronym:eefbadc4d4] into the water. Additionally considering your tanks dimensions, your tank has limited surface area per gallon of water (1152/150 = 7.68 sqIn/gallon, as an example a 125 long has 1296/125 = 10.4 sqIn/Gallon) and the additional surface area of the sump would be helpful.

I wouldn't use a trickle system though or bio-balls (i think this concept has had it's day). I would instead combine the sump approach with the canister approach.

Anyway seems this would be the ultimate: Overflow to a 30gallon sump, run a Blueline or Iwaki Pump (MD55R style) extracting from the sump and feeding into one of the oceanclear or nuclear canisters and then back up to the main tank. These canisters come in a veriety of styles you can even gang them together. You can load them with a huge variety of media and they have a huge capacity (I think something like 5 or 7 gallons).

I agree with Menagerie on scrapin' the [acronym:eefbadc4d4="Under Gravel Filter"]UGF[/acronym:eefbadc4d4], though I think they get a worse rap then they deserve.

Just some thoughts.

Tom

[FireGirl]

In my current setup for the 36g, I use the [acronym:8e5e49aa6f="Under Gravel Filter"]UGF[/acronym:8e5e49aa6f] which is attached to a Fluval cannister. The cannister is pulling from under the [acronym:8e5e49aa6f="Under Gravel Filter"]UGF[/acronym:8e5e49aa6f] and runs through the filter. I also use the [acronym:8e5e49aa6f="Hang On Back"]HOB[/acronym:8e5e49aa6f] to keep the water nice and clear. As far as the digging issue: Yes, they certainly do dig. However, I have a layer of gravel on top of the [acronym:8e5e49aa6f="Under Gravel Filter"]UGF[/acronym:8e5e49aa6f] which is covered by nylon screen. Another layer of gravel is placed on top of the screen. When they dig, they can only go down to the screen which prevents them from disturbing the layer on top if the [acronym:8e5e49aa6f="Under Gravel Filter"]UGF[/acronym:8e5e49aa6f]. It seems to work really great for this particular tank. In the larger tank, I will be using a larger gravel, such as crushed lava or something larger than what I currently have. This should take care of the issue of the digging.

The Cichlids I currently have are as follows:
1- Cyphotilspia frontosa Burundi
1- Neolamprologus leleupi orange
1- Neolamprologus pulcher "daffodil"
1- Aulonocara baenschi "Benga yellow"
1- Cytocara moorii "hap Morrii" (Blue Dolphin)
1- Metriaclima estherae "red zebra" (currently brooding in the nursery tank)
1- Pseudotropheus aurura Mozambique
1- Pseudotropheus elongates Chewere
1- Pseudotropheus socolofi albino "Snow white socolofi"
1- Pseudotropheus estherae Minos reef
2- Pseudotropheus polit
1- Labidochromis caeruleus "electric yellow"

I will be moving the larger ones to the new tank, such as the Frontosa, the Socolofi , the Hap Moorii, etc. The smaller fish will remain in the 36g tank.

[FireGirl]

Thanks for the input. Your suggestions are fantastic. I will skip the [acronym:c9af32b944="Under Gravel Filter"]UGF[/acronym:c9af32b944] and concentrate on the cannisters vs. the sump setup.

[TankGirl]

Very good suggestion, TheMad, and I am certainly interested in the sump concept whenever I get a larger tank. I've got an XP3 on my 55, and some might say it is overkill, but for me there is no such thing - I love that filter!

[LAGlocker]

Whats the out put on that xp3? I know I have a hot magnum and a whisper [acronym:9c9fdaa6dd="Hang On Back"]hob[/acronym:9c9fdaa6dd] on a 20 [acronym:9c9fdaa6dd="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:9c9fdaa6dd].

[TheMadNucleus]

Thx TankGirl,

I too use that XP3 and love it - and I agree - there is no such thing as overkill on filtration, especially if you care about your little critters. If you have any questions on the Sump concept please feel free to ask away - I've done this in a few tanks one of which was a 125 fresh a while ago. My current [acronym:b12a775ee6="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:b12a775ee6] tanks I did not, and every time I see that film on the surface I shudder. I know you can get some of this with a surface extrator but bottom line - the overflow really is a great approach.

The XP3 is 350 [acronym:b12a775ee6="Gallons per hour"]GPH[/acronym:b12a775ee6] (rated) But I measured mine with media and it barely clocked 280 [acronym:b12a775ee6="Gallons per hour"]GPH[/acronym:b12a775ee6].

Obviously rated while empty

Tom

[TankGirl]

I think most filters are rated while empty ('tis the rumor anyway), and that is why I usually bump up to the next larger filter than what is recommended for my tank. Even though it is a heavily planted tank where you don't generally want heavy water movement it is doing great and I am pleased.

I have an Eheim on my 44 and am equally pleased, but spent a lot more $$ on that than the Filstar.