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Good Canister Filter and UV Sterilizer for a 55g?

3K views 9 replies 5 participants last post by  fighttest 
#1 ·
Im looking into buying the Fluval 305 or Rena XP2. The Fluval is only rated at 185 gph and the Rena XP2 is rated at 300. There around the same price so which would you choose and why? Also if any other brands are good let me know however im looking to do a canister not a hang-on.

And as far as UV sterilizers go hows the Aqua Ultraviolet 8W advantage 2000? My friend has it on his 75 and his water is crystal-clear.
 
#2 ·
I can't comment on the filters, I'm strictly a HOB guy. As for the UV filter it will only help to combat floating algae, aka green water. Keeping the water clear is a function of having good mechanical filtration in your main filter. Green water is easy to combat anyways as its typically a symptom of an imbalance in the system that needs correction anyways. Fix the problem, black out the tank, and no more algea. The big benefit of a UV sterilizer is for helping to keep the fish healthy, if you've got fish like dwarf gourami's they're just about required. Water quailty comes from your filter.
 
#4 ·
lots of carbon + lots of mech filtration = Crystal clear water simple as that. as far as can filters go i would reccomend anything made by ehim as i have a friend that has the giant one on a 125 and thats all he uses for filtration. he has never had it breakdown, leak or flood. i guess you could say they are the "cadallac" of canister filters. now if your trying to go high tech with a sterilizer and all that you could one up your friend. build a sump filter with inline heater sterlizer trickle system and refugium. now that my friend is the best you can get. VERY PRICEY if you intend to buy all of that instead of build your own sump. many many things on the net about how to do that.
 
#6 ·
what is recommended canister filter media for a 50g planted aquarium. right now iv got biological filter rings in baskets 1 and 2 and carbon in basket 3 ( basket 3 splits into two parts so iv got 2 bags of carbon)
 
#8 ·
alright so ill take that out i was thinking about adding some peat pellets to lower my ph because its 8.2 and iv got some neon tetras are doing fine but i guess it wouldnt hurt have a bit lower ph but i wouldnt want to give them ph shock the ph range for all of my fish combined is around 7.3. i was thinking a polishing pad could do some good too but what are your suggestions
 
#9 ·
well using peat pellets does effectivly lower your PH. However, note that it will stain your water a tea color, since it, like driftwood, uses tannins to lower your PH. You will also need to remember to remove the old pellets and put in new ones as the water slowly returns to clear. The peat will not give a PH shock as it will slowly leech tannins into your water and lower ur PH that way. Its not an instant drop in PH levels. Also, you may want to experiment with the amount of peat. Depending on your water chemistry, the peat may affect your tank a lot or very little.

A polishing pad is basically ultra fine mechanical filtration. It will help with water clarity, as it will filter out even smaller things that foam may miss. However, it doesn't do much else.
 
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