New Tank - Please Help Accessorize - Aquarium Advice

09-29-2007, 09:34 PM

I just purchased a new 36 gallon Bow. I am looking to do freshwater community type fish.

Please recommend a filter and heater for me. Money is not really an object, I just want whats goof for the fish.

Thanks!

blazeyreef · 09-29-2007, 09:59 PM

Welcome to AA! You will learn sooo much here! A 36 bowfront is an awesome sized tank IMO

as for a filter... there are a number of good filters, I would recomend a canister filter, something like an eheim would be a good one, also the fluval's I hear are awesome as well, whatever you choose though I would get one that is recommended for probably 2x the size of your tank...
a heater... the visi-stealth therm is often the most popular, a 150-200w would be fine
hope this helps

theotheragentm · 09-29-2007, 10:47 PM

While money may be no object, check out PetSmart.com and drsfostersmith.com to get some good stuff fairly priced. It will be cheaper than in a brick and mortar store. I agree with the recommendations blaze has set out thus far, but if you're going with a cannister filter, you might want to look into an inline heater. That way you have one less piece of equipment in the tank itself.

Do you have plans for a planted tank? Get some recommendations in the planted forum for lighting. Good luck!

09-30-2007, 09:19 AM

Nope, no plans for a planted tank.

Is the Rena XP2 a good choice for a tank this size?

David14259 · 09-30-2007, 11:09 AM

The Rena XP2 is a good filter, I've used it for a while with no problems, and would work for your tank. If money really is no object, I'd go for the XP3 instead. It will give you a little more water movement and more space for media in the filter.

If you're buying things at Petsmart, don't forget to pricematch! Print out the item from Petsmart.com, and show them the print out at the register and tell them you want to price match, and you'll get the online price for the item. (Which in the case of the XP2, I believe is a good $40-50 cheaper!

Also, if money isn't an issue, I'd go with the Hydor ETH Inline heater. It attaches a heater to the return line from your canister filter, so you don't have to have a heater in your tank. Its $40 and well worth it, in my opinion.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...9&pcatid=11369

09-30-2007, 01:37 PM

I read in these forums that the XP3 may be a little too much flow for my tank, is this true?

theotheragentm · 09-30-2007, 04:04 PM

Yes, the XP3 will probably be too much flow for that tank. There is a valve, where you can throttle it down, but it's best if you size your filter for the flow without throttling it down. You'll be putting back pressure on the system, making the pump work harder. The XP2 would be my suggestion.

09-29-2007, 09:34 PM	#1
Guest Posts: n/a	New Tank - Please Help Accessorize I just purchased a new 36 gallon Bow. I am looking to do freshwater community type fish. Please recommend a filter and heater for me. Money is not really an object, I just want whats goof for the fish. Thanks!

09-29-2007, 09:59 PM	#2
blazeyreef Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 1,579 Images: 1	Welcome to AA! You will learn sooo much here! A 36 bowfront is an awesome sized tank IMO as for a filter... there are a number of good filters, I would recomend a canister filter, something like an eheim would be a good one, also the fluval's I hear are awesome as well, whatever you choose though I would get one that is recommended for probably 2x the size of your tank... a heater... the visi-stealth therm is often the most popular, a 150-200w would be fine hope this helps __________________ Houston "Face Trials with Smiles"-Porter Ellett *My aquariums-3gall betta, 5.5gall nanoreef, 10gall planted,* *29gall planted* *"We are nothing until we make ourselves somthing"* *CTR*

09-30-2007, 11:09 AM	#5
David14259 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Illinois - Champaign/Chicago Posts: 254 Images: 9	The Rena XP2 is a good filter, I've used it for a while with no problems, and would work for your tank. If money really is no object, I'd go for the XP3 instead. It will give you a little more water movement and more space for media in the filter. If you're buying things at Petsmart, don't forget to pricematch! Print out the item from Petsmart.com, and show them the print out at the register and tell them you want to price match, and you'll get the online price for the item. (Which in the case of the XP2, I believe is a good $40-50 cheaper! Also, if money isn't an issue, I'd go with the Hydor ETH Inline heater. It attaches a heater to the return line from your canister filter, so you don't have to have a heater in your tank. Its $40 and well worth it, in my opinion. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...9&pcatid=11369 __________________ David14259 My Tank: 20 Gallon Freshwater High Tech Planted My Plants: Dwarf Sagittaria, Riccia, Crypt Lutea, Rotala Macandra, Corkscrew Val, Blyxa Japonica, Ambulia, Anubias Nana, Flame Moss, Christmas Moss, Echinodorus Parviflorus. My Fish: 1 German Gold Ram, 3 Praecox Rainbows, 1 Otocinclus Catfish, 1 Siamese Algae Eater, 1 Rummynose Tetra, 4 Cherry Barbs My Inverts: Ramshorn Snails, Apple Snails.

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09-29-2007, 10:47 PM	#3
theotheragentm Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,172	While money may be no object, check out PetSmart.com and drsfostersmith.com to get some good stuff fairly priced. It will be cheaper than in a brick and mortar store. I agree with the recommendations blaze has set out thus far, but if you're going with a cannister filter, you might want to look into an inline heater. That way you have one less piece of equipment in the tank itself. Do you have plans for a planted tank? Get some recommendations in the planted forum for lighting. Good luck!

09-30-2007, 09:19 AM	#4
Guest Posts: n/a	Nope, no plans for a planted tank. Is the Rena XP2 a good choice for a tank this size?

09-30-2007, 01:37 PM	#6
Guest Posts: n/a	I read in these forums that the XP3 may be a little too much flow for my tank, is this true?

09-30-2007, 04:04 PM	#7
theotheragentm Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,172	Yes, the XP3 will probably be too much flow for that tank. There is a valve, where you can throttle it down, but it's best if you size your filter for the flow without throttling it down. You'll be putting back pressure on the system, making the pump work harder. The XP2 would be my suggestion.