Smallest filtration setup for 70+ gal?

ndjs

I'm looking at filters for a ~70 gal (265 liters I believe) tank, and would prefer one that is as small as possible. I'm pretty constricted for space...

A Rena XP2 is pretty much the maximum size I can afford to have. It's about the only filtration system I have been able to find dimensions of
(h x l x b in mm): 340 x 240 x 210,
or 13.39 x 9.45 x 8.27 in inches.

Anybody have any other ideas?

leifthebunny

I'm always a fan of Eheim Pro II. Not familiar with the Rena.

herefishy

I have a 70g in which I keep (6) large Tinfoil barbs and (1) 8" plecostomus. I have a ugf powered by (2) Marineland 1140 powerheads running reverse flow, (2) Emperor 400 powerfilters, and (2) Fluval 4+ internal power filters. The powerheads running reverse flow keeps the substrate cleaner by suspending particulates for the power filters to filter from the water. Makes cleaning the aquarium much easier.

mHeinitz57

I run the Rena xP2 right now on my 47 gallon and it rocks. Its only a 75 gallon filter, if you can afford it then go with the xP3 (175 gallon filter). Where are you buying it from? I bought mine from one of the large corporate petstores (we'll call it Metspart ) and I went online first. A lot of the large stores will match prices from other stores but they will definitely match prices of their own online website. Well, the online price at metspart.com was about $40-50 cheaper than their price in store. I printed out the online ad and brought it into the store and they matched the price. On heavy objects like canister filters they lower the online price a bit to compensate for shipping. I would check with the store you are buying it from if they do price matching and then look around...you may be able to get an awesome filter for your budget. I highly reccomend Renas. They are made out of very good material and its a simple design, which means not a lot can go wrong with it.

Mr.Todd

Eheim all the way for canisters. I am running two of them in my 72G that I am setting up... If you want small then get two Penguin Bio Wheel 350s it will cost you less than 80USD and fit right on the back of the aquarium as to save space...

ndjs

hanging on the back isn't really an option for me. I've pretty much decided that I'm going to have to go with a canister. Or an undergravel, but I want sand, and I hate undergravels. It's probably a grudge thing, my old one shocked the crap out of me.

I'll check out the eheims and look into the renas more. I think the eheim is actually a little smaller, but neither is too large.

Is it naive of me to expect a 75 gal rated filtration system to effectively cover 70 gallons by itself? Or should I be looking for two canisters rated at that?


edit: btw, thanks a TON for your advice on shopping for one mHeinitz57!!!

ndjs

Does anybody have any pictures of an Eheim filter in use? Preferably a 2026, but any will do. Thanks. :)

I really need to know how much room I will need above the actual height of the canister itself for tubing and whatnot.

Mr.Todd

In my experience Eheim and other companies rate their filters very liberally. IMHO I would filter to the tune of turing over your aquarium 4 times per hour (i.e. 280G/hr).

I can post pictures of my Eheims tommorow, if you do decide to go the Eheim route then I would suggest paying the extra for the professional series... I have a classic series and a pro and the pro is way more forgiving...


Here is a great deal if you live in the U.S.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...004+2033+22768 :P :P :P

ndjs

Thanks. I hope they still have that deal after a while, because I won't be buying anything too soon. I just like to know what I'm doing before I get started. :)

I've done a good bit of reading up, and it seems most companies rate their filters with no media in them at all, so it's basically just a pump. Insert filter, less water flow...