Fresh water filtration

[Aarony]

I am fairly new to the hobby. I have a new 90 gallon tank I am looking to put cichlids or oscars or peacock bass in it . What is the best option for quiet filtration? I was wondering if hooking a canister filter to a under gravel filter would work good but I have never seen it done. I would think pulling all the water through the gravel would help the breakdown of particulates. I don't like filters that hang on the back of the tank .any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Dubs1281]

I am fairly new to the hobby. I have a new 90 gallon tank I am looking to put cichlids or oscars or peacock bass in it . What is the best option for quiet filtration? I was wondering if hooking a canister filter to a under gravel filter would work good but I have never seen it done. I would think pulling all the water through the gravel would help the breakdown of particulates. I don't like filters that hang on the back of the tank .any advice would be appreciated.

I don't think that the canister to the undergravel will work. I would suggest a very large canister. Look for how many gallons per hour the filter does, and reduce that by at least 25% because that will be the flow with the filter media in it. Try to have the tank cycle through 8 times if you choose african cichlids, and 10+ for a single oscar. A peacock bass will not fit in a 90 gallon.

 

[FishBoy185]

I'd reccomend an Fluval and/or Eheim canister filter. IMO don't go with an undergravel filter. You say you don't like Hang on back but I find them really useful for a tank over 20 gallons so along with a Fluval/Eheim canister I'd reccomend an AquaClear 110. Its a very good and quiet hang on back filter.

 

[Aarony]

I am trying to keep it as quiet as possible due to being in a room with tile floors and bad acoustics . I will look at the 110s and a canister . And I couldn't fit a 4 inch peacock in a 90 gallon tank for at least a year or so?

 

[Dubs1281]

I am trying to keep it as quiet as possible due to being in a room with tile floors and bad acoustics . I will look at the 110s and a canister . And I couldn't fit a 4 inch peacock in a 90 gallon tank for at least a year or so?

I don't know how fast they grow. I would suggest tons of African cichlids, or an oscar.

 

[bshenanagins]

I don't know how fast they grow. I would suggest tons of African cichlids, or an oscar.

You could keep a peacock in a 90 for a while, but they get huge and are not practical for most people. Why worry about rehoming? There's lots of beautiful SA an CA cichlids to choose from.

 

[NeMox69x]

I use a wet dry for my planted tank it cycles the best I personally believe

 

[NeMox69x]

Considering I've had canister and hang on backs

 

[Aarony]

Ok I will go with the canister and two aqua clear 110. My local stores say to not use a under gravel filter . Do most of you agree? What brand canister would you buy ? They sell marine land , hydro, cascade.

 

[Ian086]

Ok I will go with the canister and two aqua clear 110. My local stores say to not use a under gravel filter . Do most of you agree? What brand canister would you buy ? They sell marine land , hydro, cascade.

Underground filters are pretty old school. You want to remove the junk, not hide it in the gravel. For that size tank, you could go for a Fluval FX5/6. This could do away with the need for HOBs or just use one HOB, stuffed with polyfil for that extra sparkle.....

 

[Aarony]

At 300 the fx5 is a little out of my price range at the moment

 

[Thumper828]

The aquaclear 110 is an awesome filter. You can really customize your filter media.

 

[Aarony]

What is decent priced 48 inch led light?

 

[Ian086]

What is decent priced 48 inch led light?

Assuming you don't need it for plants, check out Ebay. A Chinese fixture or even the RGB strips, with remote......

 

[Aarony]

No plants just cichlids I plant on artificial plants so they are no maitenence . There's alot of negative reviews on the Chinese ones saying they aren't efficient and wrong color light.

 

[Ian086]

No plants just cichlids I plant on artificial plants so they are no maitenence . There's alot of negative reviews on the Chinese ones saying they aren't efficient and wrong color light.

There is also a lot of people who are very happy with them. You could search the threads here or start a new one and get some advice off people who own some. Remember a lot of electrical equipment comes from China already, some of it just has a 'brand' name on it to sell it. A major tablet and games console comes to mind!!. Chinese products have come a long way in recent years....

 

[Aarony]

Ok I found a killer deal online for the marineland double bright led light and would the cascade 1500 filter be good it's on sale 98$? Also grabbed aquaclear 110 for 60$ . Now on to a heater and decor. What do cichlids seem to do better with sand , fine gravel, large gravel?

 

[Ian086]

Ok I found a killer deal online for the marineland double bright led light and would the cascade 1500 filter be good it's on sale 98$? Also grabbed aquaclear 110 for 60$ . Now on to a heater and decor. What do cichlids seem to do better with sand , fine gravel, large gravel?

Not sure about the lights or cascade filter but I know the Aquaclears are excellent filters and sand would be my No.1 choice for cichlids...