Before I move to Alaska in October, I'd like to buy everything I will need to setup a new 75gal aquarium, since everything is more expensive there including the mail.
I would like to try a Canister Filter for ease and was considering the Marineland C-530 http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/p ... atid=16744. Does anyone have experience with this filter? Would you recommend anything different?
I would also like to try my hand at CO2. Is it necessary to have an automated CO2 probe? If so, I was thinking about http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/p ... catid=9933, vs. http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/p ... atid=15526 to which I can add one later. Does anyone have experience with either of these 2 systems?
I appreciate your input
Canister Filters and CO2 systems
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chris_todd
- Posts: 1118
- Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2008 11:05 pm
- Location: Catonsville
Chris,
Wow, moving to Alaska, huh? That sounds both exciting and terrifying! Good luck! Given the remoteness and probable lack of Local Fish Stores with replacement parts and supplies in stock, you probably want to focus on highly reliable equipment, and having backup parts available ahead of time.
I don't have any experience with either the C-530 or with CO2 probes, so I'm afraid I can't help you there.
My advice would be to get either an Eheim Classic 2217 or maybe a Rena XP3, and for measuring your CO2 levels, just use a drop checker (make sure your regulator uses a high-quality needle valve). I have a 2217 on my 90g and an XP3 on my 75, both are planted. They're enough to get good bio filtration, but you might want to add a Koralia power head for circulation. Plus, they're both pretty easy to service. Eheim has a strong reputation for reliability, and while the Filstars have been on the market much less time, I have had good experiences with them over the last 2+ years.
If shipping costs are an issue in Alaska, I'd play it safe and order some replacement parts at the same time you order the canister filter, especially gaskets, so you'll have them on hand in case something happens (Murphy's law and all that).
Oh, and if refilling a CO2 canister might be an issue, I'd consider get the biggest canister you can get (perhaps even a 20 pound), but have a small one (a 5 lb?) for a backup in case refilling the 20 becomes a logisitical challenge. On the flip side, I don't want to think about the cost of getting all that stuff to Alaska in the first place (whew, a 75g tank, 20 lb CO2 canister, couple bags of planted substrate, plus all the supporting equipment - ouch!).
www.kensfish.com has the best prices on Eheims I've ever seen. He also has Koralia power heads and Filstar canister filters. He also has lots of good fish food with nice discounts on large quantities.
Anyway, that's what I would recommend. Hopefully someone else has some specific experience with the products you referenced. Good luck!
Wow, moving to Alaska, huh? That sounds both exciting and terrifying! Good luck! Given the remoteness and probable lack of Local Fish Stores with replacement parts and supplies in stock, you probably want to focus on highly reliable equipment, and having backup parts available ahead of time.
I don't have any experience with either the C-530 or with CO2 probes, so I'm afraid I can't help you there.
My advice would be to get either an Eheim Classic 2217 or maybe a Rena XP3, and for measuring your CO2 levels, just use a drop checker (make sure your regulator uses a high-quality needle valve). I have a 2217 on my 90g and an XP3 on my 75, both are planted. They're enough to get good bio filtration, but you might want to add a Koralia power head for circulation. Plus, they're both pretty easy to service. Eheim has a strong reputation for reliability, and while the Filstars have been on the market much less time, I have had good experiences with them over the last 2+ years.
If shipping costs are an issue in Alaska, I'd play it safe and order some replacement parts at the same time you order the canister filter, especially gaskets, so you'll have them on hand in case something happens (Murphy's law and all that).
Oh, and if refilling a CO2 canister might be an issue, I'd consider get the biggest canister you can get (perhaps even a 20 pound), but have a small one (a 5 lb?) for a backup in case refilling the 20 becomes a logisitical challenge. On the flip side, I don't want to think about the cost of getting all that stuff to Alaska in the first place (whew, a 75g tank, 20 lb CO2 canister, couple bags of planted substrate, plus all the supporting equipment - ouch!).
www.kensfish.com has the best prices on Eheims I've ever seen. He also has Koralia power heads and Filstar canister filters. He also has lots of good fish food with nice discounts on large quantities.
Anyway, that's what I would recommend. Hopefully someone else has some specific experience with the products you referenced. Good luck!
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Ltrepeter2000
- Posts: 1555
- Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2005 8:22 am
- Real Name: Rob Peterson
- Location: Sterling, VA
- Contact:
I second the recommendation of an Eheim.
I would recommend the new Eheim 2073 as it has an improved sealing system than the older cannisters and provides a little more filtration that you need for the 75 which is always good.
I would recommend the new Eheim 2073 as it has an improved sealing system than the older cannisters and provides a little more filtration that you need for the 75 which is always good.
Robert Peterson
"Mr. Sarcastic"
The work will wait while you show a child a rainbow,
but the rainbow wont wait while you do the work
-Unknown-
"Mr. Sarcastic"
The work will wait while you show a child a rainbow,
but the rainbow wont wait while you do the work
-Unknown-
So I took everyone's advice and think I'm going to go with an Eheim
Pro 3 http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/p ... 4672&r=625 or
Pro 3E http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/p ... 6109&r=625.
Currently I have a 46gal bowfront aquarium with HOB Marineland filters (Pengiun 400 & 280) for a total of 680gal/hr filtration (obviously more than enough filtration). I keep lots of schooling fish and inverts in this tank (approx 70) but it's highly planted, none of the fish are diseased, fins are perfect, etc, etc. (I know I'm going to hear about my fish to gallons of water ratio
).
I am toying with the idea of keeping a few discus in the new 75gal I'm setting up, but don't know if I will be able to break my 'just a couple more fish won't hurt' mentality
.
1. Which filter would you recommend the standard Pro3 or the eletronic Pro E3?
2. Which model would you recommend / how many gal/hr needed?
3. Is there such a thing as too much filtration when I can control the output?
Currently I'm considering the Pro 3 2075 vs the Pro 3E 2078.
Thanks for your help
!!
Pro 3 http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/p ... 4672&r=625 or
Pro 3E http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/p ... 6109&r=625.
Currently I have a 46gal bowfront aquarium with HOB Marineland filters (Pengiun 400 & 280) for a total of 680gal/hr filtration (obviously more than enough filtration). I keep lots of schooling fish and inverts in this tank (approx 70) but it's highly planted, none of the fish are diseased, fins are perfect, etc, etc. (I know I'm going to hear about my fish to gallons of water ratio
). I am toying with the idea of keeping a few discus in the new 75gal I'm setting up, but don't know if I will be able to break my 'just a couple more fish won't hurt' mentality
.1. Which filter would you recommend the standard Pro3 or the eletronic Pro E3?
2. Which model would you recommend / how many gal/hr needed?
3. Is there such a thing as too much filtration when I can control the output?
Currently I'm considering the Pro 3 2075 vs the Pro 3E 2078.
Thanks for your help
!!
