Canister Filters

[greyboysix]

I'm thinking about buying a canister filter for my new tank. There are going to be cichlids in there, and I keep hearing that they're a pretty messy bunch. I already have a filter (Penguin Bio-Wheel 350) that is oversized for my 29 gallon, but was thinking of using a canister in conjunction with it. Originally, I was going to get a diatom filter for occasional polishing needs (once a month or so) but saw on many canister filters that they have polishing (micron) filters you can get. Do they work as well as Diatom filters? Also, perhaps a more practical matter, can you attach a gravel vacuum to a canister filter? That would be reason enough for me to get it, I think. I like to take my time when I'm vacuuming the gravel in a tank, and the gravel filter I have now just works on a hi-low syphon into a bucket. By the time I feel I've done a proper job, I'd probably also have to change out 90% of my water. Haha.
And, yes, I realize I've gone back on my earlier promise of stopping with the stupid questions! Sorry!

 

[theotheragentm]

Double filtering would work nicely. A Rena XP1 would be a nice cannister filter to work with for your tank. It would give you extra filter space and more current.

I don't know what you mean by attached a gravel vac to the filter. Gravel vacuuming would be the same, regardless of what filer you have. Look into getting a Python for your water changes. Just search the forums and you'll find some information on it. If not, ask around and someone can explain it.

 

[greyboysix]

Thanks

yeah, the Rena's seem to be highly recommended. The only one anyone has anything bad to say about are the Eheim's, and even then, it's only 'cause they're expensive. When my Dad had his big tanks up and running (back in the 80's) he had a coupple of big Eheim canisters and they did a great job.

When I mentioned the gravel vac, I was wondering if I can attach it to th intake of the canister. But, only when I'm going to be vacuuming the gravel. I don't want to keep it hooked up like that permanently. I've seen the Python thing, and I've heard raves about it, but I'm just not that crazy about wasting all that tap water is all. If that's the only way I can do it, then that's the only way I can do it. But, if I can hook the vacuum right up to the canister, why not do it that way? No waste, should be great suction.... We'll see.

 

[BrianNY]

Well the point of doing a gravel vac is to remove the waste products from the environment and replace with fresh clean water. Any filter would become clogged/polluted if that much waste were run through it. No cannister filter could handle it.

 

[jsoong]

The Marineland Magnum 350 (that I had) comes with instructions on how to hook up a gravel vac. However, I don't think this is a good idea. The micron filter did a good job of polishing the water (you can also charge it with diatom powder to make it into a true diatom filter), but in my tank it clogs up in just a day or so. Therefore, I only use it a few hours at a time when I made a mess in the tank, and not for routine 24/7 use like they suggested in the instructions. Now if the filter gets clogged up quickly just filtering the water, imagine how quickly it would clog up with a gravel vac .... I suspect that you would have to clean the filter several times before you are done & that would be a PITA!

PS - my Magnum came with the tank used, if I were to buy a canister today, I would go for either the Rena XP or Fluval. I find the Magnum very fiddly in use. It works great as a diatom filter though.

 

[greyboysix]

Thanks again

Thanks again, guys. Good advice all.

 

[mom2reds]

I also would not recomend the magnum filter I have one running on my big tank and it is a pain in the rear to clean I would also get the XP's if I could.

 

[greyboysix]

Rena XP1

I just walked through the door with a brand-spankin'-new Rena Filstar XP1! Setting it up right now...

 

[theotheragentm]

You, sir, are a compulsive individual. I love it!

Where did you get it? I hope you knew that PetSmart price matches. Print out the website and take it in store. It's too late for the one you bought, but you could go buy one and return it on the more expensive receipt if you didn't get it cheaper.

 

[greyboysix]

I get it from my dad

What can I say? I'm beginning to understand why my dad was so fanatical about his fish tanks. I guess I get it from him. I mean, if I'm going to do this, why not do it all-the-way right? I'd go out of my way to make any other pet as happy and healthy as possible, so why not the fish, right?

Yeah, I knew all about PetSmart's price matching policy, much to their dismay. Several of the kids at my high school work there, and they told me all about it. Each time I need to go there, I go on the web for a few minutes, browse around, and get the lowest price. The manager always groans. Today, he said, "You know, you could just get it off the web." So I told him, "And you could just stop marking up your in-store prices by 80%." (I'm not usually that flippant, but I had to work a basketball game and two wrestling matches, which made me groucy) I brought in a print out from their on-line place that had the XP1 at $61.99, and their shelf price was $109.99. Bandits...

I'm off to the specialist LFS tomorrow to pick up some big rocks for the aquarium. Hopefully they'll have what I need. That Jim Hall guy is supposed to be there, so he should steer me in the right direction. But, if not for the help all you guys give me, I wouldn't be so far along anyhow! Thanks!